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Catalyst In Focus

Foundation cash boosts education advocacy

May 17, 2012

The confluence of foundation funding to these education advocacy groups has raised concerns among critics, who ask whether such donations amount to working in lockstep to influence policy. The groups have similar positions on some key policy issues, such as the expansion of charter schools and the development of teacher evaluations based in part on student test scores.

Tags: education reform

From security guard to teacher

May 09, 2012

By: Rebecca Harris

Michael Vargas held down three jobs while he studied to become a teacher through the Grow Your Own program, an initiative that aims to create a more diverse teaching force. In CPS, newer teachers are now more likely to be white, with Latinos like Vargas the most under-represented.

Tags: equity, teacher training, teachers

Opinions

Cloud computing raises student privacy concerns

May 14, 2012

By: Jon Bernstein

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) recently made a critical decision that many schools systems are making around the country: to move massive amounts of student data to a more cost-effective storage system of computer servers often referred to by technology experts as the “cloud.” On its surface, the decision seems rather benign. Cost savings…check. Ease of use…check. Streamlined services…check.

Tags: technology

Community Calendar

May 23 (All day)

Student Progress Reports Sent Home, School Board Meeting

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May 23 (All day) - May 25 (All day)

Redmoon Youth Spectacle 2012: The Commitment Project

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May 28 (All day)

School Closed, Memorial Day

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May 30 - 7:00

An Evening with Thomas L. Friedman

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Catalyst Notebook

Tuesday, May. 22, 2012 2:27 PM

Strike authorization vote likely before end of school year

By: Sarah Karp

Wednesday afternoon the Chicago Teachers Union is planning a massive rally to protest the current CPS contract proposal, which they call “unreasonable.” No strike authorization vote will be taken at the downtown event, but such a vote will likely happen before the end of this school year.

CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey says the vote is a “bargaining tool,” and emphasized that a strike date would not be set until after a final proposal is on the table, which won’t happen until the middle of the summer.

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Tuesday, May. 22, 2012 8:54 AM

In the News: Selective seats planned for new S. Side HS

By: Cassandra West

Chicago Public Schools plans to add 100 selective enrollment seats this fall at the new South Shore International College Prep, the district said.

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Monday, May. 21, 2012 1:43 PM

School closing lawsuit goes to court this week

By: Rebecca Harris

UPDATE:A judge has put off until Friday his decision about whether a lawsuit against school closings and turnarounds will be able to proceed.

If it does, the case will be heard on May 30 and 31 rather than on Wednesday, as had previously been planned.

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Monday, May. 21, 2012 8:11 AM

In the News: Comer Youth Center gets a spotlight

Education reporting over the weekend was completely eclipsed by coverage of the NATO meeting in Chicago and the concurrent protests, but there was one bit of news involving students: first lady Michelle Obama showing off the Gary Comer Youth Center on the South Side to the spouses of heads of state.

Video from the Tribune.

Video from ABC 7 News.