Every week we send out an email blast which is a wonderful summary of the week's education news!
Sign up on our homepage so you can stay informed. Below is this week's email.
Chance the Rapper can’t move Rauner on funding solutions, donates $1M to CPS
The big news story this week was that Chance the Rapper met with Governor Rauner in an attempt to discuss CPS funding, didn’t get anywhere in terms of solutions (shocker) and then ended up donating $1M to CPS, while also offering to donate 10% to CPS of future proceeds made to his own not-for-profit organization.
Sun-Times: Chance the Rapper tweets out thanks for #CPSsupport
DNAInfo Chicago: Chance the Rapper Gives $10K to These Nine Schools
RYH Action - 3 upcoming meetings
Join our sister-org RYH Action to get informed and involved on important ed issues this legislative session. We are connecting parents and concerned citizens by neighborhood so that you can advocate more powerfully as a group. Come learn about the issues, meet other parents in your community and get some tips on how to advocate. You can RSVP here.
- Bronzeville- Sat. 3/11 at 1pm
- Logan Square- Thurs. 3/16 at 6:30pm
- Portage Park - Sat. 3/18 at 1pm
PARCC testing update
We’re hearing that a lot of schools are giving parents and students misleading information about PARCC and opt out. Here’s some key facts:
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Every student may refuse PARCC either verbally or in writing as Janice Jackson informed principals in writing on March 2nd. There are no consequences for refusal.
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This year’s PARCC scores will NOT be used for selective enrollment admissions according to CPS Chief Ed officer Janice Jackson. Watch her statement at the January Board of Education meeting here.
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No school, district or state has ever lost funds for low-participation on state testing, and more than 160 schools in CPS did not have 95% participation in 2016. CPS as a whole has not met the 95% rate since 2014.
If you are told your child is not allowed to refuse the test, verbally or in writing, please let us know at info@ilraiseyourhand.org or via 413-OPTOUT.
Much of the data in recent CPS privacy breach belonged to private school students
The Sun-Times reported on two breaches of student data last month. What wasn't covered in that story, however, is that the data shared improperly as part of financial information on the CPS website was mostly from non-CPS students enrolled at private schools. More than 50 schools had students with personally-identifiable information in these files. The breach raises lots of questions about CPS' internal controls on sensitive student data.
You can find a list of schools and recommendations for parents whose children’s data may have breached in this post on the national Parent Coalition for Student Privacy website.
ESSA accountability
The renewal of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act passed Congress in December 2015 as ESSA. The Obama administration finalized the regulations to implement the law at the end of last year. This week Congress voted this week to repeal some of those regulations, in particular those covering teacher preparation and school accountability plans.
The national teachers unions had opposed the final teacher preparation regulations. And many state education officials, including IL's State Superintendent Tony Smith, had criticized the accountability regulations for imposing requirements that Congress had intended to leave to states to determine, especially regarding the requirement for 95% participation on annual testing.
In contrast, many civil rights organizations favored the regulations because they specified how states should meet ESSA provisions regarding students of color, students with disabilities, and English-language learners.
Robert Schaeffer of FairTest put it best when he told the New York Times: "The regulations were an overreach [but] total repeal is an overreach."
Repeal of the regulations throws into uncertainty the plans that each state is drafting for ESSA implementation, including Illinois' plan which is scheduled to be submitted to the US Dept of Education next month.
New York Times: Obama Education Rules Are Swept Aside by Congress
Politico: Senate dumps Obama rule for holding schools accountable
CPSuccess!
A few stories featured this week on our Tumblr:
Portage Park Elementary student is AMAZING as WGN TV’s Weather Forecaster!
Woodson Elementary celebrates Black History Month
Northside College Prep’s Filipino Dance Troupe, Isang Hakbang, wins Battle of the Bamboo
Southside Occupational High School Teachers and SECAs participate in the Polar Plunge
Note: Many, many educators from so many schools participated in the Polar Plunge to benefit the Chicago Special Olympics!
Please follow #cpsuccess on Twitter, too, for even more stories!)
In other news
Ray Salazar's The White Rhino blog: Chicago Public Schools parent says not to base high-school selection on test scores
Sun-Times: CTU considering another one-day strike, this one on May 1
DNAInfo Chicago: After Roof Blows Off Juarez School, Pilsen Parents Demand Answers From CPS
Slate: "That Place was Like a Prison" “Camelot Education takes the students public schools have given up on. But the for-profit company’s approach to discipline has led to allegations of aggression and abuse.”
Note: Camelot Education was recently in a WBEZ story as part of their recent series on alternative schools in CPS, Costly Alternatives.
Sun-Times: Noble charter school staff seek to unionize
Sun-Times: ASPIRA charter union reaches tentative agreement to avoid strike
The Chicago Reporter: Rauner, Emanuel getting more than they bargained for with charters
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