We, the undersigned, stand in unwavering solidarity with CAUSE – the Chicago Alliance of Urban School Educators, and demand immediate reform of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) “Do Not Hire” (DNH) list.

We believe the current DNH policy is a violation of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution, which guarantees all individuals equal protection under the law and prohibits the government from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process. Being placed on a DNH list—without the opportunity to be heard, to appeal, or to defend one’s name—strips educators of their right to earn a livelihood, tarnishes reputations, and undermines the foundational principle of fairness.

The DNH list has been weaponized, particularly against Black educators, union members, and mandated reporters, and has been used as a tool of retaliation and discrimination. Educators have been placed on this list due to subjective evaluations, unverified allegations, and political motivations—without any consistent policy or legal threshold. This lack of accountability and transparency fosters racial inequity, silences dissent, and worsens Chicago’s ongoing teacher shortage, especially in schools that need the most support.

Even with recent removals from the DNH list under Mayor Brandon Johnson, the underlying issue remains: there is no lawful, transparent, or standardized framework for how the list is applied. The absence of clear policy leaves CPS vulnerable to civil rights litigation, damages public trust, and harms the educational future of our students.

CAUSE offers a solution grounded in legal and professional integrity:
The DNH 4 Pillars — a clear, fair standard that limits DNH placement to four objective criteria:

Criminal Conduct – A conviction of a criminal offense that legally disqualifies an individual from working in public schools.
Licensure Status – Suspension or revocation of teaching credentials by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Child Welfare Investigations – A substantiated DCFS finding of child abuse or neglect.
Background Check Failures – Failure of required employment background checks as outlined by CPS or state law.
These criteria are legally sound, non-discriminatory, and aligned with existing employment and child welfare law. Adopting them will not only reduce legal exposure for CPS, but will restore dignity, justice, and faith in our school system.

We, the undersigned, call on:

Mayor Brandon Johnson
The Chicago Board of Education
Dr. Macquline King, Ed.D., Interim CEO of CPS
to adopt the CAUSE DNH 4 Pillars immediately and implement due process protections for all CPS employees.

Let us be clear:

Protecting teachers protects students.
Due process is not optional—it is a constitutional right.
Racial justice and professional integrity must be at the heart of CPS policy.
We demand reform. We demand justice. We demand the restoration of the rights of our educators.

Signed,
CAUSE – Chicago Alliance of Urban School Educators
Dr. Rosita Chatonda, Founder & President
Dr. Marlo Barnett, Executive Director
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