CTU Responds to New CPS Background Check Policy

CTU on new CPS background check policy

Members with due process rights are better empowered to protect students, says CTU Vice President.

CHICAGO, IL — The following statement can be attributed to Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey.

“We support common sense changes to CPS’s policies, just as we support our members’ rights to due process. Student safety and due process are mutually affirming – because workers with due process rights and protections on the job are better empowered to advocate for and protect our students.”

“Our union has been advised of CPS’ plans to re-run background checks of our members, as part of their effort to respond to their appalling failures to protect students from child abuse. CPS has reported that about 30% of our members – those who were not fingerprinted by Accurate Biometrics – will need to be re-fingerprinted as part of this policy. CPS has assured us that this new round of background checks is designed explicitly to identify issues related to child safety concerns, and we will be on the alert for any effort to target members outside of the scope of this review.”