Thousands of Chicago Teachers Union members flooded the Loop on Wednesday for a rally on day five of their ongoing strike. (WTTW News)

The ongoing Chicago teachers strike has already cost students six days of classes. But with upcoming deadlines for students prepping for college, Chicago Public Schools leaders are expressing a sense of urgency in getting students back into school.

The Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU Local 73 hold a massive demonstration in the Loop on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 -- day five of the Chicago teachers strike. (WTTW News)

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied and marched on city streets outside City Hall on Wednesday morning as Mayor Lori Lightfoot delivered her first budget address.

Emely Gramajo, a senior at Solorio Academy High School. (WTTW News)

There is still no deal between the city and the Chicago Teachers Union, and the strike is raising specific concerns for some high school seniors. Meanwhile, a former teacher-turned-presidential hopeful rallied with the CTU on Tuesday morning.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks with reporters about the Chicago teachers strike, now in its third day, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2019. (WTTW News)

In a letter sent Monday to CTU President Jesse Sharkey, Mayor Lori Lightfoot urges the union to halt its work stoppage while negotiations continue because “our students and families are sacrificing a great deal that cannot be recovered.”

Parents across the city again have to figure out what to do with their children who attend Chicago Public Schools. We check in with four parents of CPS students who joined us last week ahead of the expected strike.

The Chicago Board of Education is postponing its regular monthly meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, until the teachers union and SEIU Local 73 end their ongoing strike. In a statement, the board said this allows district leadership to focus on negotiations.

Chicago teachers hold signs and walk the picket line on day two of a strike on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (WTTW News)

Negotiators for Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union failed to come to a contract agreement despite weekend bargaining sessions, though both sides agree progress has been made.

Chicago teachers take to the picket lines. Will the city delay the start of legal pot sales? A federal probe into ComEd widens. And the Bears try to bounce back against the Saints. 

Chicago Public Schools teachers formed picket lines for the second day Friday as the city and Chicago Teachers Union continued contract negotiations.

As teachers hit the picket lines for the second day, the city called on Chicago Teachers Union leaders to spend more time at the negotiating table in order to reach a deal. 

Chicago teachers marched Friday on the second day of the CTU's strike. (WTTW News)

The Chicago Teachers Union expects all of its members to be on picket lines during their ongoing strike. Breaking ranks could cost teachers their job.

As Day One of the teacher strike ended, Chicago Teachers Union leadership strongly criticized claims made by Mayor Lori Lightfoot that the union lacked urgency to end the work stoppage.   

Bargaining sessions between the Chicago Teacher's Union and the city started late and ended early on Thursday, the first day students missed classes with their teachers on strike, causing Mayor Lori Lightfoot to question the union’s sense of urgency. 

Teachers and support staff on the picket line Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019 in front of Little Village Academy. (WTTW News)

Chants of “fair contract!” and “Mayor Lightfoot, get on the right foot!” rang through the air outside Chicago Public Schools around the city on the first morning of the Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU support staff walkout. 

CTU President Jesse Sharkey speaks during a rally Wednesday.

It's official: Chicago Public Schools teachers are going on strike after CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union failed to reach a contract agreement. Teachers and support staff planned to hit the picket lines at 6:30 a.m. Thursday. 

“Chicago Tonight” speaks with four parents of CPS students who have different opinions about the negotiations between the city and its teachers union. 

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey appear on “Chicago Tonight,” separately, on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2019.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson said they believe the Chicago Teachers Union’s House of Delegates will vote to go on strike Wednesday evening.