Chicago Schools Stay Open on May 1 After Teachers Union Standoff

Chicago schools will remain open on May 1, 2026^[1], after a standoff with the Chicago Teachers Union over a proposed class cancellation.

The decision matters because it balances the union’s demand for a day off to support International Workers’ Day protests with the city’s responsibility to provide uninterrupted instruction to more than 350,000 public‑school students.

Union leaders had threatened to call off classes on May 1 unless administrators allowed teachers to escort students to demonstrations across the city. City officials responded that a blanket cancellation would disrupt exam schedules and transportation logistics—issues they said could not be ignored, and they offered a compromise that keeps classrooms open while permitting field trips to authorized protest sites.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office said the plan preserves instructional time and respects workers’ rights, while CTU President Jesse Sharkey said the union will assist teachers who wish to accompany students to the May 1 rallies.

On May 1, schools will operate on a normal schedule, and principals may approve field trips to designated International Workers’ Day events. Students who opt out of the trips will remain in class, and attendance will be recorded as usual.

The standoff began last week when the CTU filed a formal request to cancel the day’s instruction, citing the historic significance of May 1 for labor movements worldwide. The request triggered a series of meetings between union representatives, the Chicago Board of Education, and the mayor’s office.

Education advocates argued that a single day off would set a precedent for future political interruptions, while labor groups warned that refusing the request could be seen as a rebuke to workers’ solidarity. The compromise reflects a middle ground that allows civic participation without sacrificing curriculum goals.