Children with special needs have had unique challenges with remote learning, including insufficient services provided (e.g., 1:1 aides cannot provide individualized assistance over a group Google meet) and an inability to access the curriculum remotely.

The CTU has raised concerns about the level of safety in our schools and CPS and the CTU are currently renegotiating metrics related to the spread of Covid in schools. These metrics would require remote learning if certain thresholds are breached on a school or district-wide basis.

However, special needs kids in cluster programs, despite being in separate classes and having difficulties accessing the curriculum remotely, are not considered separately in these metrics. The early return to in-person learning for cluster students in 2021 showed that they can be safely educated in person while other students are educated remotely.

We are requesting that CPS and CTU consider the unique needs of special education students in their negotiations, including setting and measuring separate metrics for cluster programs, and allowing those programs to remain open if possible, even if general education students within a school return to remote learning. This will allow all kids to receive a free and appropriate public education, while promoting the safety of our schools.

Please sign this petition and reach out to CPS (ceo-martinez@cps.edu, https://www.cps.edu/about/departments/executive-offices/) and the CTU (https://www.ctulocal1.org/contact/