About a dozen religious leaders on the South and West sides urged CPS and teachers to come up with a contract by the end of the day.

"The mayor, the teachers union, the board of education need to stay in that room and resolve this," said Bishop Larry Trotter at news conference at Sweet Holy Spirit Church. "It doesn't need to go past today."

Trotter, whose church is offering a safe haven for students while school is not in session, said the strike is jeopardizing the education and safety of local youth. The strike puts "our children back on the street so they can be the target of bullets," he said.