CHICAGO – The Chicago Teachers Union has approved a plan to close down the city's schools on April 1 to bring attention to education funding and contract issues.
Union delegates voted in favor of the plan Wednesday.
Chicago Public Schools officials say a walkout would be illegal because it isn't in line with the state-mandated process for a teachers strike.
The school district faces a $1.1 billion budget deficit and has no contract with the union. It's getting no income from the state because of a budget impasse between the Republican governor and the Democratic-controlled Legislature.
Earlier this month, the district announced that employees will be required to take three unpaid furlough days during the current fiscal year to save $30 million.
The district has roughly 400,000 students.