Now that more than 25,000 Chicago Public Schools teachers and staff have walked off the job, parents are making alternate arrangements for their children.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the school district's CEO announced Wednesday morning that Chicago Public Schools had canceled all Thursday classes and activities in anticipation of the Chicago Teachers Union moving forward with a strike.
Here's where parents can take their children:
YMCA Locations
Several locations will be open for children and parents from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fees will vary depending on locations and "Schools Day Out" programs will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. The organization said it plans to offer "affordable rates to help working parents keep their kids safe and engaged when school is not in session."
High Ridge YMCA 2424 W. Touhy Ave., Chicago, IL 60645
Irving Park YMCA 4251 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60641
Kelly Hall 824 N. Hamlin Ave. Chicago, IL 60643
Lake View YMCA 3333 N. Marshfield, Chicago, IL 60657
Leaning Tower YMCA 6300 W. Touhy Ave., Niles, IL 60714
McCormick YMCA 1834 N. Lawndale Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
Local
Rauner Family YMCA 2700 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
South Side YMCA 6330 S. Stony Island, Chicago, IL 60637
West Communities YMCA 6235 S. Homan Ave., Chicago, IL 60629
North Lawndale YMCA 3449 W. Arthington, Chicago IL 60624
Safe Haven locations
SOUTH SIDE
Allen Metropolitan CME CME church-- 10946 S. Lowe
Alliance for Community Peace… 7740 S. Eberhart ave
Brightstar Comm outreach… 333 E. 35th St.
Christian Fellowship South.. 107 24 s. Ewing
Concord Missionary Baptist Church 6319 S. Kimbark
St. Sabina … 1210 W. 78th place
Grant Memorial .. 4017 S. Drexel
Hartzell Memorial United Methodist Church… 3330 S. King Drive
Institute for Positive living 435 E. 35th street
WEST SIDE
Chance after Chance Ministry, 305-09 N. Cicerco
Chicago Tabernacle of the Assemblies of God, 3231 N. Cicero
Corinthian Temple Church of God and Christ. 4520 W. Washington
Greater Holy Temple Church of God and Christ, 246 N. California
Heirs of the Promise ministry.. 4821 W. Chicago Ave.
Home of Life Community development 4650 w. Madison st.
Hope Community church-- 5900 W. Iowa St.
Care Ministries 4925 W. Division street
Jesus Word Center church 4224 W. 13th Street
NORTH SIDE:
Grace and Peace 2100 N. Kildare
Family Empowerment Centers 1533 W. Devon
Grace and Peace 2100 N. Kildare
Salvation Army
Freedom Center
825 N. Christiana Ave., Chicago, IL 60651
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Regular after-school program runs 4-7:30 p.m.
Will serve light breakfast, lunch, snack (as well as dinner for those who stay for after school)
No charge
Chicago Lawn Corps
5950 S. Spaulding Ave., Chicago, IL 60629
9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
No charge
Will serve lunch
Can take up to 50 children
Kroc Center
1250 W. 119th St., Chicago, IL 60643
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
$15 daily charge // $50 weekly per child
After-school care will be offered from 3-6 p.m. for an extra $20
Will serve lunch and snack
Can take up to 200 children
Community Centers
KLEO Center: 119 E. Garfield
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
No fee
Chicago Public Libraries
Chicago Public Libraries will also open, along with a limited number of parks, which will offer additional children's activities for the day, the mayor's office said. Find a location that will be open nearest to you here.
Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club
The Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club in 2500 block of West Irving Park Road will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the duration of the strike, a spokeswoman said. Families that are not already enrolled in the club’s after-school program will be charged $60 per day. Financial assistance is available.
Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium is extending its day camp learning program for Chicago families as an alternative to traditional child care during a potential teacher’s strike, an aquarium spokeswoman said. Starting Oct. 17, the program will run on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free child care. After care is also included from 3-5 p.m. The program is only for CPS students in grades K-5. It will cost $100 per day ($90 for members). Parents or guardians can register their children for one or more days. In the event of regular class resumption, pre-paid program fee registrations for all non-strike days will be automatically refunded to the original method of payment, according to the aquarium.
Marillac St. Vincent Family Services
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, students affected by the strike will be welcome at Marillac St. Vincent. Breakfast, lunch, and a snack will be provided, and students will be given an opportunity to participate in gym activities, computer lab work, homework and tutoring services, and arts and crafts.
All parents who already have children enrolled in activities at the organization's facilities can drop their children off beginning on Thursday at either of the group's locations.
The organization has locations at the Marillac Social Center, located in the 200 block of South Francisco Avenue in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side, and the St. Vincent DePaul Center, located in the 2100 block of North Halsted in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.
El Valor
In partnership with the Peggy Notebaert Nature museum, El Valor will offer STEM-based activities at all three of its Chicago locations, according to a Facebook post.
The programs will be offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for children ages 5-12. Breakfast, lunch, and a snack will be provided to kids, and parents are advised not to send their children with food from home.
There will be a charge of $15 per day for the program, and money will be collected at the door, the group says. All programs will be on a first come, first serve basis, and will be limited to 20 children.
