Union vote ends strike by teachers in Chicago

Original article in The Wall Street Journal by Stephanie Banchero.

CHICAGO—Chicago teachers union officials voted Tuesday to end a strike that halted classes for 350,000 students and illustrated the intensifying national debate over how teachers are evaluated, hired and fired.

The tentative deal calls for student performance on tests to make up 25% of teachers evaluations—which previously have been based on principals' observations—this year and next, and to make up 30% in year three—in line with state law. That figure would rise to 35% in the fourth year—marking a victory for Mr. Emanuel.

Under the deal, teachers would be ranked into four categories. Those in the lowest tier, "unsatisfactory," could be fired in 90 working days if they don't improve—although they can appeal their evaluations. Teachers in the second-to-lowest category, "developing," would be moved to the "unsatisfactory" ranking after two years unless they gain at least one point annually on the evaluations, which have a 100-to-400-point scale.

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