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Education
PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
6:40pm
Tue Apr 30

CPS Lunchroom Workers Call For Healthier Food In Schools (VIDEO)

Education

About a dozen school lunchroom workers protested outside Chicago Public Schools’ headquarters today and called on the Board of Education to phase out its frozen food model and provide healthier meals for students. Progress Illinois was there for the rally.

Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
4:48pm
Tue Apr 30

Education Experts Question CPS Clout List Kept Under The Duncan Administration

A list kept under former Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan’s administration of clout-heavy Chicagoans and public officials looking to get kids into some of the city’s top schools was made public last week.

Some education experts say the log is another example of the intense competition for too few high-quality school seats in the city and the disparity in education and economic investment in Chicago neighborhoods.

“The fact that there’s so many people who want to get into those schools shows that the people really want a quality education, and the system should be responsive instead of disinvesting in various school communities,” said Eric “Rico” Gutstein, faculty associate with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Collaborative for Equity and Justice in Education.

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
12:49pm
Tue Apr 30

Delano Elementary Supporters, Ald. Ervin Blast Academic Performance Of Proposed Welcoming School

Supporters of Delano Elementary and Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) once again raised concerns about the Chicago Public Schools’ disclaimer that kids will be welcomed at Melody Elementary next year if Delano closes.

Under CPS' plan, Delano's teachers may be fired at the end of the academic year and the school turned into Melody Elementary as part of the the district's plan to address its reported underutilization problem. CPS says Delano is half full.

Although both of the West Side schools have CPS' second highest, Level 2, academic performance rating, Melody is on academic probation and Delano is not.

"I understand that there may have been higher levels of growth from Melody school, but guess what, they had a low point to come from," Ervin said at a public hearing last night regarding the proposal.

"It’s conceivable that you will make greater gains, because you have a larger distance from where you can make gains from." Read more »

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
10:49am
Tue Apr 30
1 comment

Low Turnout At Ryerson's CPS Public Hearing Suggests Parents Are 'Giving Up' (VIDEO)

Yesterday’s public hearing for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) proposal to close Martin Ryerson Elementary saw less than 10 attendees and only three speakers, leading one grandparent to believe the Humboldt Park community has resigned to the inevitable.

“People are giving up, CPS has made their mind up; I’m here speaking, but it’s not going to do any good,” said Katherine Wilson, a grandparent of three Ryerson students, ages 10, seven and four. She represented the only Ryerson parent or grandparent to attend yesterday's event.

“They say power to the parents, but we don’t have a voice in what CPS does.”

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
12:39pm
Mon Apr 29

Uptown Residents Rally Against Proposed School Closures, Gentrification (VIDEO)

Quanzina Haynes plans to pull her children from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) district if the Chicago Board of Education votes in favor of closing their school, Graeme Stewart Elementary.

“The closure for me would really mean a hardship for my family, because I feel I have no choice but to enroll my kids in a Catholic school,” said Haynes, 33, a single mother of two sons, ages eight and 10.

Read more »

PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
5:36pm
Fri Apr 26

A Look At How Charters May Fare If CPS School Actions Are Approved

Education

The Chicago Public Schools’ plan to shakeup and shut down a record-breaking number of neighborhood schools in June will likely lead to further charter school expansion in the city, education policy experts and activists predict.

Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
10:58am
Fri Apr 26

Ald. Graham, Austin Community Make Final Push To Save May And Armstrong Schools

Ald. Deborah Graham (29th) said she was upset to see three of her neighborhood schools "pitted" against each other at a Chicago Public Schools' hearing last night regarding the possible closure of May and Armstrong elementary schools.

Under CPS' proposal, students at the two Austin schools would fold into Leland Elementary, which would take over May's current building in the fall.

“Tonight was the first time I really witnessed this process pitting schools against each other,” Graham said. "It is disheartening, and it puts each of the schools in an awkward situation. How can we create the comradery that we need to have a successful school? I think that’s in real jeopardy." Read more »