Yeah, newsletter is long again, folks, but well worth it… Since last week’s RYH newsletter (sent Friday morning), COVID-19 or coronavirus has taken over the news. Note: this newsletter was completed at 11PM 3/11 and scheduled to send at 6AM 3/12. Below are some links to find updates, information on the virus, and the latest news on COVID-19 in our schools. 

UPDATE: On March 5, around 1:45PM, CPS announced that they are extending the LSC nomination deadline to Friday, March 13, 3PM. Everything you need to to apply for your school's LSC can be found at this CPS LSC Elections webpage.

LSC nominations are officially closed! We have created a LSC webpage where folks can learn about LSC 101, LSC Campaign Basics, LSC Voting and Effective LSC Practices. Please take our LSC survey, which will help us continue to grow our resources and LSC support!

The CPS LSC Elections webpage has a timeline of what to expect between now and LSC elections which are Wed, April 22 (elementary schools) & Th, April 23 (high schools).

We need your Special Education questions!  RYH is working on creating an online resource to help families navigate Special Ed in CPS and would love for you to fill out this survey in English and Spanish. Please share this survey with your contacts!

Strike Update: 

Last night CTU’s House of Delegates set Thursday, October 17 as the possible start of a teachers’ strike. This is the same day that SEIU Local 73 (school district staff) and Chicago Park District workers could start strikes.

WBEZ: Chicago Teachers And Two Other Unions Set Strike Date

Sun-Times: 35,000 Chicago teachers, school support staff and park district workers set joint strike date

As we noted in our email blast sent last week: This does not mean there will definitely be a strike. We urge both sides to take every measure possible to avoid a strike.

Make sure you follow us on social media this summer! Find out how here.

In a historic election, Lori Lightfoot was elected mayor on April 2. For now, the mayor still controls the school system. On September 5, 2018, we released this statement: Rahm’s not running- What does that mean for the public schools? In it, we reflect on our time with Rahm and we list the ed policies we have deep concerns about. We stand by this list and look forward to Mayor Lightfoot using it as she works with all stakeholders - students, parents, educators, and community members -- to reimagine Chicago Public Schools. More on what parents want from our new mayor, here.

Chalkbeat Chicago: Lori Lightfoot is Chicago’s next mayor — which means big changes are coming to schools and check this out: Letters to Lori Lightfoot: Tell Chicago’s mayor-elect about your school

We attended and spoke at the March 27, 2019 monthly meeting of the unelected CPS Board of Education meeting. Our prepared statement is below. You can find our live tweets from the meeting here.

Before the meeting, we participated in a press conference with parent leaders from across the city and from various community-based organizations. You can find the media alert here, video of the press conference here, and statements from the press conference here.

Earlier in 2019 we shared the exciting news about staffing transitions in RYH and RYHA as both organizations grow. Earlier this week Raise Your Hand began the search for our next Executive Director. Now we need your help.

When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior they send the message that it is not acceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time. 

Parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.  – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.stopbullying.gov

The purpose of the Raise Your Hand Bullying Toolkit is to help families navigate the CPS Anti-Bullying Policy that is found in the CPS Student Rights & Responsibilities 2019-20 (SRR) booklet and the CPS Policy Manual - updated June 29, 2019. The Student Code of Conduct (SCC) is found within the SRR and begins on PDF page 11 or SCC page 1. CPS Factsheets on the SCC: English | Spanish | Polish 

Within our Toolkit, other resources are provided when appropriate.

The Toolkit also keeps the following CPS Student Bill of Rights in mind (found in the SRR, pages 1 - 6):

Every student has rights. A right is a freedom or protection that a person has. Rights define what is allowed of a person or owed to a person. Your rights are part of you regardless of your age, race, creed, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, citizenship/ immigration status, weight, sexual orientation, physical and/or emotional condition, disability, marital status, or political beliefs. Your rights belong to you and cannot be threatened or taken away. The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Student Bill of Rights (SBOR) is a living document that spells out the rights that every student has and that everyone, including students themselves, should respect. 

SAFE, SECURE, AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Feel mentally and physically safe and secure in school, and to report any incident that makes them feel unsafe or insecure, including sexual assault, inappropriate remarks, grooming, groping, inappropriate behavior, verbal assault, bullying, or any other type of harassment.1, 2, 3 - Students also have the right to receive regular updates about actions taken in response to their report of not feeling safe. (page 5 of SRR)

If you are not a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) family, much of the below also applies to you. According to the webpage, Illinois Anti-Bullying Laws & Policies from www.stopbullying.gov, Illinois school districts must adopt bullying prevention policies and these policies “must contain key policy and procedural elements.” Your district has a Student Code of Conduct (SCC), and your school may have its own policies that work within that. Check out your district’s website as well as your school’s. Physical SCCs and school handbooks can also be helpful - this is true for both CPS and non CPS schools. 

Remember you are not alone when your child is bullied. There are resources out there to help guide you. We have seen an uptick in parents and students speaking out about bullying at school. Please contact us directly at info@ilraiseyourhand.org if you have any questions about the information provided below or have tried-and-true resources that you think we should add. So do reach out with your resources, experiences, suggestions, and questions. 

Immediate Help

• Bullying is Sexual in Nature: CPS Office of Student Protections and Title IX or 773-535-4400
• There has been a crime or someone is at immediate risk of harm:  911
• Someone is feeling hopeless, helpless, thinking of suicide:
  • Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline online or at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• The CPS SRR now has a Referral Resources section (p. 62-64)

Disclaimer: The Raise Your Hand Bullying Toolkit is made available to provide guidance and general information on responding to bullying and the CPS Student Code of Conduct (SCC), CPS Anti-Bullying Policy, Illinois Anti-Bullying Laws & Policies, and StopBullying.gov. The RYH Bullying Toolkit is not a substitute for professional medical or legal advice and the suggestions below are not necessarily appropriate for every situation. At some point, you may need to seek psychological, psychiatric, or legal assistance. All of the documentation you’ve gathered as a result of following the guidance below should be shared with these outside professionals. Although RYH will try to keep this toolkit accurate and up-to-date, we will have no obligation to do so. RYH disclaims any liability for actions taken or not taken in reliance on the guidance and information contained in the toolkit.

What Should I Do If My Child Is Being Bullied? - A RYH Toolkit for Parents

Click here for the entire 9 page Toolkit. It is a downloadable and printable pdf. 

©2020 Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education