U-46 Board of Education Approves Contract for Paraeducators 

ELGIN - School District U-46’s Board of Education and the membership of the District U-46 Educational Assistants (DUEA) union agreed on a new four-year contract, which the Board officially approved at its meeting Monday night. DUEA represents more than 700 employees, including the district’s paraeducators, who assist students in both the classroom and individually.

The new agreement modernizes contract language, enhances working conditions, provides expanded professional development, and adjusts compensation structures.

In U-46, paraeducators work in general education settings, special education programs, early childhood classrooms, Dual Language classrooms, and libraries. DUEA also represents sign language interpreters, piano accompanists, and home school liaisons, who enhance communication between the school and students from multilingual families, ensuring compliance with educational standards and regulations.

The agreement provides the following salary increases on their base pay for DUEA members:

• $2.25 in the 2025-26 school year
• $2.25 in the 2026-26 school year
• $1.25 in the 2027-28 school year
• $1.00 in the 2028-29 school year

With the salary increases, the hourly wage for paraeducators will vary from $20.23 an hour to $29.58 an hour in the 2025-26 school year, depending on experience and job classification. By the 2028-29 school year, the hourly wage for paraeducators will vary from $24.73 an hour to $34.08 an hour, depending on experience and job classification.

“This is a collaborative agreement that recognizes the important role our paraeducators and other members of DUEA play in our students’ education,” said Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Johnson.

Rather than the three categories members were previously assigned, the new contract classifies members into two categories, A and B. Paraeducators who were previously in Category C will receive a one-time $1,250 stipend. The contract provides other stipends, up to $2,500, depending on where the paraeducator stands on the “step” pay schedule.

Sign language interpreters and piano accompanists are paid under different salary schedules.

The contract establishes a mentor program to be developed jointly this school year by district officials and DUEA leaders, with a goal of launching it for the 2026-27 school year. The program would be designed to attract and retain employees, and participation would be optional for new hires.

The new agreement updates the work calendar to provide additional time for professional learning, reflecting a shared commitment to ensuring that all bargaining unit members have regular, ongoing opportunities to grow in their practice, supporting both student academic achievement and social-emotional well-being.

DUEA President Tina Pizzitola said the union’s membership voted overwhelmingly to ratify the agreement on September 10.

"We were seeking an agreement that allowed our members to feel confident in their profession, as well as begin a path to appropriate compensation,” Pizzitola said. “With the new agreement including expanded onboarding, mentoring, and professional development language, along with the new salary structure, we feel this agreement does that."

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School District U-46, the second largest public school district in Illinois, serves families in 11 communities: Bartlett, Elgin, Hanover Park, South Elgin, Streamwood and Wayne, as well as portions of Carol Stream, Hoffman Estates, St. Charles, Schaumburg, and West Chicago. In total, the district encompasses 90 square miles within the Fox River Valley, approximately 45 minutes northwest of downtown Chicago, and includes communities within Cook, DuPage and Kane counties. Nearly 34,000 students attend the 56 District schools and programs. To learn more, visit the U-46 website, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.