CORE Endorsement Memo

CORE Endorsement Memo

1. The Core Ideological Litmus Tests

To win their support, your platform must explicitly align with their foundational pillars:

  • Anti-Privatization: You must be prepared to fiercely defend traditional, publicly funded public schools. CORE explicitly positions itself against corporate interests, privatizers, and charter expansion.
  • Progressive Revenue: They reject regressive taxation. They expect candidates to back progressive funding mechanisms—specifically advocating for taxes and fees on banks, corporations, and the super-wealthy to fully fund schools in Black and Brown communities.
  • Social Justice Curriculum: They value education that raises "social justice consciousness," promotes equity, and fosters active political engagement among students.
  • A "Strong Contract" Advocate: They expect board members to view a robust CTU collective bargaining agreement—ensuring high compensation and optimal working conditions—as the direct mechanism for creating a high-quality learning environment.

2. Radical Transparency & Open Governance

CORE was built on a promise to democratize institutions. They pledge to aggressively seek "open governance" within CPS. Expect them to grill you on how you will make board decisions, financial spending, and administrative policies fully transparent and open to public debate.

3. The Power of Their Endorsement Discipline

Understanding how their internal discipline works gives you a massive strategic advantage. CORE's membership rules require total loyalty once an endorsement is made:

  • No Fractured Support: If CORE endorses you, no CORE member is permitted to run against you or campaign for your opposition. Any member who filed to run must immediately withdraw.
  • Exclusive Loyalty: CORE members are banned from joining any other caucuses designed to elect education candidates.
  • Campaign Impact: A CORE endorsement triggers a highly disciplined, unified block of campaign volunteers and voters who are constitutionally bound to pull in the same direction.

4. Who Actually Votes on Your Endorsement?

If you are pitching to a room of CORE members, know the hierarchy of who holds the voting power:

  • Regular Members Hold the Pen: Only active or retired CTU (and ChiACTS Local 4343) members who pay CORE dues can vote on your endorsement.
  • Associate Members Are Allies, Not Voters: Parents, community champions, and labor allies can become "Associate Members." They can attend meetings and advocate for you, but they cannot vote on internal endorsement slates. Focus your primary persuasive efforts on the rank-and-file educators in the room.