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CPS Board Meeting Recap
Janice Jackson was approved as the new CEO of CPS at the board meeting.
Sun-Times: Janice Jackson confirmed as $260K chief of the Chicago Public Schools
WTTW Chicago Tonight: CPS Board Approves Janice Jackson as New CEO
RYH spoke about numerous issues including clout contracts that should be looked at, the new space utilization formula that mysteriously has added capacity to 96 schools that didn’t get additions, and more. We also spoke at an earlier hearing.
RYH Statement on CPS Request for Waiver to IL School Code Ethics Law to Hire New COO
RYH Statements From the January 2018 Unelected BOE Meeting
Read more on the space utilization changes from our friend Jeanne Marie Olson of Apples 2 Apples. She has written 4 new blog posts this week. We recommend you start with the first (Official School Capacity changed in many schools since 2012… why? (Part 1)) and we do recommend you read all four.
Meanwhile, during the Board meeting, students from the four high schools in Englewood that CPS is trying to shutter went to the University of Chicago Lab School to see if they could get a tour of the school and enroll there next fall.
Hyde Park Herald: High school students, parents, and education activists stage action at the U. of C. Lab School
CPS Special Ed Investigation
The IL House held a six-hour hearing on special education last Friday. We do have video: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
WBEZ: Chicago Schools Chief: Cost A Driver In Special Ed Overhaul
The IL State Board of Education (ISBE) is investigating CPS around special ed policies and practices. It’s important that they hear from parents who have trouble with IEP compliance for their children.
If you are a parent who has had trouble getting services for your child including service delays or denials, transportation issues or denials, and withdrawal of a paraprofessional or denial of one, please fill out this Google form (in English and Spanish) and we’ll be in touch with you. Printable form here in English and here in Spanish. You can email the printed form to info@ilraiseyourhand.org or send it via the US Postal Service to IL Raise Your Hand, 73 W. Monroe #221, Chicago, IL 60603.
If you have questions and are not ready to fill out the form, email us at info@ilraiseyourhand.org. RYH will also be doing a series of “Know Your Rights Workshops” on the south and west sides in March and April. If you’re interested in attending, please email us.
Citywide LSC Candidate Summit 2018
LSC Elections information is posted here. Please consider running for your LSC!
In addition, please attend the Citywide LSC Candidate Summit on Saturday, February 10, 9:30am - 1:30pm at NTA Elementary, 55 W. Cermak. RYH is a sponsor with many other community organizations. You can find the Facebook event page here. You can register to attend here. You can download a flyer in both English and Spanish here.
School Ratings Forum
In partnership with multiple organizations, we are hosting a public forum: What Makes a School Great...And Do Level Ratings Measure It? Chicago schools live and die by their level ratings. Ratings drive enrollment and resources and are used to justify closings. What if communities created a rating system to help schools, students and families? What would a rating system designed to decrease sorting, segregation, and inequity look like?
Monday, February 12, 7-9:00pm, Kenwood High School, 5015 S. Blackstone Avenue
Find out more about the forum & RSVP here. Please share the Facebook event page to your own page, invite people, and share on your school’s Facebook page. Download a pdf flyer to print here.
In other news
Chicago Magazine: CPS Says Englewood Residents Support a Plan to Close Its Schools. Here's What Really Happened
WBEZ: Study: School Closing Plan Hurts Poor, Black Students
Why I left- Former Noble Educators share their stories
Sun-Times: CPS releases data on how schools use their space, saying 200+ underused
Chicago Tribune: ‘What am I going to do with... scores from two years ago?’ State finally releases 2016 science test results
Salon: DeVos speech shows contempt for the agency she heads
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Englewood Plan Proving to be Tough Sell for some Residents
Sun-Times: Four Chicago public schools getting washers and dryers to help students in need
Sun-Times: Letter to the Editor: More support needed for early English learning students
Upcoming Events
⟹ CPS Public Hearings on CPS Proposed School Actions
At the link above, click on the “School Actions” tab for full list of proposed school actions as well as a hearing for each proposed action.
Starting Th, January 25, 2018, Various Times & Dates
NTA Hearing: Monday, January 29, 6-8:30pm
Harper, Hope, Robeson & TEAM Englewood HSs Hearing: Tuesday, January 30, 5:30-8 pm
Hirsch HS colocation with a new charter school Hearing: Wednesday, January 31, 5:30-8 pm
Speaker registration begins one hour before the hearing start time. Speaker registration ends one half hour after the hearing start time.
All Hearings are at CPS, 42 W. Madison.
⟹ Education Policy in the Trump Presidency One Year In
Fri Jan 26, 3-5pm
Galvin Auditorium, 6339 N. Sheridan
⟹ Citywide LSC Candidate Summit 2018
LSC Elections are coming in April 2018. Find out how to run and learn about current educational issues in Chicago.
Sat Feb 10, Doors open at 9:30am for Breakfast; Program runs from 10am - 2pm.
National Teachers Academy (NTA), 55 W. Cermak
English flyer. Spanish flyer. Downloadable flyers.
⟹ What Makes A School Great? Public Forum
Hosted by Raise Your Hand, Fair Test, CTU, CTU Foundation, CUE, Generation All, Parents 4 Teachers
Mon Feb 12, 7:00pm
Kenwood High School, 5015 S. Blackstone
Please RSVP at the link above!
Mon Feb 19, 6:00 - 8:00pm
DePaul Student Center, Room 120B
Registration is required and will open on Monday, January 29th at https://goo.gl/forms/gMviJk86LRSXQoYx1.