28-8. Class Size Teacher Assistant Positions

By June 30th of each year, the Joint Class Size Assessment Council shall project the number of teacher assistant positions necessary to provide class size relief for the following school year. Utilizing Article 28-5 funding, CPS shall retain that projected number of teacher assistants through the end of the first quarter and centrally assign them through the Article 28-3 automatic support process. If the projected number of teacher assistant positions for the following school year is fewer than the number of teacher assistants currently employed, temporary teacher assistant positions in excess of the projected need will be laid off in seniority order, excepting Class Size teacher assistants assigned to schools with a continuing projected need for the next year, who will be retained at the same school. If the number of teacher assistant positions temporarily retained based on the projection exceeds what is required for automatic class size support, any temporary teacher assistant positions in excess of those assigned will be laid off after the end of the first quarter in seniority order, unless they are entitled to an extended retention period as set forth below.

CPS shall make best efforts to assign each teacher assistant to their prior-assigned school if such a position is projected to be available. Otherwise, Principals in schools receiving class size relief must interview three (3) teacher assistants from the remaining temporarily retained teacher assistants prior to considering other candidates. Class size teacher assistants’ eligibility for temporary retention and assignment from one year to the next shall be contingent upon agreement to accept school assignments.

At the end of the first quarter, the BOARD shall provide the UNION with a list of class size teacher assistant vacancies filled by temporarily retained teacher assistants between the immediately preceding June 30 to the end of first quarter period. If fifty percent of those vacancies have not been filled by temporarily retained teacher assistants, the BOARD will extend the retention period for a number of temporarily retained teacher assistants until the end of the second quarter.

Assignments for extended central retention shall be based on seniority. The number of temporarily retained teacher assistants assigned for extended central retention shall equal the difference between the numerical value of fifty percent of the class size teacher assistant vacancies filled during the immediately preceding June 30 to end of first quarter period and the actual number of vacancies filled by temporarily retained teacher assistants. Temporarily retained teacher assistants assigned for extended central teacher assistant retention and who are not hired by the end of the second quarter shall be laid off, but remain eligible for rehire.