Chicago, Teachers Have 'Framework' to End Strike

The city's nearly weeklong teachers strike appeared headed toward a resolution today after negotiators emerged from marathon talks to say they had achieved a "framework" that could end the walkout in time for students to return to class Monday. Chicago School Board President David Vitale said the "heavy lifting" was over. He declined to say where each side compromised and stressed that union delegates still must vote to formally end the strike.

Vitale said the agreement gives children the time they need in the classroom and teachers the respect they deserve. Robert Bloch, an attorney for the Chicago Teachers Union, said union leaders expected to complete the contract language in time to present a final package to 700 union delegates sometime Sunday. The walkout, the first by Chicago teachers in 25 years, canceled five days of school for more than 350,000 public school students who had just returned from summer vacation. (More Chicago stories.)