March 27, 2019

Duckworth Meets with Chicago Teachers Union Members

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) members today about improvements to workforce readiness and career preparation programs in public schools. Duckworth and the Chicago teachers discussed the importance of expanding career awareness and technology instruction for middle school students and increasing apprenticeship and job opportunities for high school seniors. Photos from today’s meeting are available here.

“Providing students with the opportunity to explore different career paths and develop necessary technical skills is essential to preparing them for the future while helping strengthen our state’s economy,” said Duckworth. “I’ll continue collaborating with educators to improve career and technical education for all Illinois public schools.”

In February, Duckworth met with and supported striking CTU members from Chicago International Charter School, who received pay raises and class size limits in a four-year contract which was agreed upon for 200 educators. Duckworth has been a supporter of expanding education opportunities in her time in the Senate, introducing the Community College to Career Fund Act last year to make education more affordable for students pursing degrees in high-skill industries. She also introduced the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools Reauthorization Act in 2017 to help increase access to on-campus child care for student parents.

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