Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union are no closer to reaching an agreement that would put teachers back into the classrooms of the nation's third-largest school system. Sources for both sides disagreed on the size of the money gap, with the union saying that the district needed to find another $38 million and the district saying that the what the union was asking for would require another $100 million. Both sides negotiated through the weekend, with Janice Jackson, the school district's chief executive officer, joining in for the first time.

The contract that the union agreed to expired in June. The union has sought a 16 percent pay raise to be phased in during a three-year period; the district has said that it could pay that but would need five years in which to find the money. Both sides have agreed to a certain extent on the need for caps on class sizes, an increase in staffing, and other issues, such as an increase in school librarians and nurses and a plan to investigate providing more affordable housing for school workers.

It was the longest strike in the city since 1987, when a 19-day strike occurred, and the first time that Chicago teachers have gone on strike since 2012.

The talks did bring one agreement. The district and the union for more than 7,500 classroom assistants, custodians, and security guards have reached consensus on a deal, the details of which have yet to be announced. Despite the agreement, the Service Employees International Union said that its members would not return until teachers did.

Many parents were still struggling to find child care. Schools remained open to provide three meals a day. Teachers were not at work, but administrative staff were. School buses were not running. Some students reported to school, and at least one teacher had crossed the picket line and was instructing students; the vast majority of those students who were at school during the schoolday were not in teacher-led sessions.

As well, because school was not in session, student athletes were missing out on competition, including state playoffs. Students on soccer and tennis teams have already missed out on playoffs tournaments, and the football playoffs start November 2.

The city Board of Education canceled its monthly meeting and will not meet until the city and the union reach an agreement. Teachers went on strike a week ago.