http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/ The highly unofficial inside scoop on Chicago schools -- all day, every day. Copyright 2008 Catalyst-Chicago - District 299: The Chicago Schools Blog en-us http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/811/Friday_Morning_News http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/811/Friday_Morning_News Mother Says 11-Year-Old Daughter Assaulted In School Stairwell WMAQ School officials said Thursday there was an investigation into allegations that a sixth grade girl was sexually attacked in a South Side charter school. New Elgin schools chief plans to draw on CPS experience Chicago Tribune Torres, now an area administrator with the Chicago Public Schools, is the U-46 School Board's top choice to lead a district that is striving to improve ... Chicago parents may soon see their kids' grades online Medill Reports by Joshua Pollock Chicago Public Schools are set to launch a new Web-based grade book next school year. The system will enable parents to view their child's ... Teachers describe crumbling schools Chi-Town Daily News Three Duprey teachers yesterday pushed Chicago Public Schools to make improvements to Humboldt before the new school year begins. Their comments came at the ... Better schools = better pay for teachers? The Jackson Citizen Patriot Chicago Public Schools is among the schools currently testing a program called TAP, or Teacher Advancement Program. Basically, there are lead teachers (who ... Looking for friends of Irving `Pro' Boim Change of Subject - Chicago Tribune Blog He started as a substitute in the Chicago Public Schools, moved to a staff job at the old St. Mary School in Evanston and ended up in my hometown of Ann ... Paralympics gets a boost in Chicago school's gym Chicago Tribune, United States - (Tribune photo by Milbert O. Brown / May 8, 2008) By Carlos Sadovi | Tribune reporter Steering and pumping her wheelchair forward with one hand while ... Fri, 9 May 2008 08:54:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/809/Waiting_For_ISAT_--_Predicting_The_Results http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/809/Waiting_For_ISAT_--_Predicting_The_Results It's getting closer to the time when schools first see their unofficial ISAT scores -- way before they are publicly announced or officially approved by the state. When do you think the scores are first going to start trickling out? Are scores going to be up or down for your school (or the whole district) this year? Were there any changes in the tests or the format that would make the scores go up or down independent of student achievement? Your ISAT-related predictions, hopes, rumors and gossip are all welcome. Just for fun, I predict that the scores are flat or even down, but not so much that Duncan or Daley have to do anything about it. No one loses their jobs. Except those at low performing schools, of course. Fri, 9 May 2008 08:52:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/810/Firings_At_Farragut http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/810/Firings_At_Farragut I'm told they're firing PATs at Farragut (and lots of other places): Yesterday, the principal of Farragut notified 12 PAT teachers that they would not be returning next year. The names of several teachers have shocked the faculty and students. They are extremely dedicated teachers who likely have been fired because they were either too popular or about to receive tenure....Farragut apparently has more firings than any other school and the principal has clearly demonstrated that if you are an innovative, independent teacher, she does not want you in her school. There is a climate of fear now in this school. When I heard of the teachers who had been fired, I was more than stunned. I have no idea who will be next and clearly, anyone is vulnerable to being fired at the whim of this woman. Read below for profiles of some of the teachers who are being let go, according to a PAT teacher at the school. What's going on at your school? What else could or should principals be doing assuming they have to let folks go because of enrollment projections? Try and get rid of tenured teachers? Thu, 8 May 2008 23:59:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/808/CPS_Charter_Schools_Performance_Report_Now_Online http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/808/CPS_Charter_Schools_Performance_Report_Now_Online Announced earlier this week as part of the press release on the RAND study, the Chicago charter schools performance report is now out and online as a PDF. It's put out every years by the Office of New Schools and can be accessed through the following link. I haven't looked at it yet, but wanted everyone who's working in and thinking about charters to know it was there. UPDATE: The folks at UNO didn't waste any time in sending out a press release highlighting how they did, on average (not sure if campus-specific info is available). Click below to see the text. Thu, 8 May 2008 12:43:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/795/Voting_For_District_299 http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/795/Voting_For_District_299 If you're reading this post, I'm guessing you like this blog. At least some of the time. So why not make it official and vote for District 299 on this stupid "best education blog" contest that they're having in DC (Summit Poll)? Or, vote for someone else -- there are some really good blogs listed. Just vote. Two clicks and you're done. Until the next day, when you can vote again. Thu, 8 May 2008 12:05:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/805/Best_Posts_From_The_Other_Blog http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/805/Best_Posts_From_The_Other_Blog "Hurricane" Phillips Takes Gates Foundation By Storm The new Gates guru answers come questions. Pandering To Voters: Gas Tax Vs. Ending NCLB How "ending" NCLB is worse than a gas tax holiday RTI -- The Next "Reading First"? Responding to "Response To Intervention" Paige Vs. Spellings: A Different Black Man, A Different White Woman Spellings is Obama, and Paige is Clinton Cooking The Books -- Not Just An Education Thing Unemployment rates and GDP calculations are also way off. A Snap Of Steve Barr's Fingers, A Magic Bill Gates Spray Can I choose the Magic Bill Gates spray can. Teacher Bloggers At EDIN08 Summit Can Kick My Ass Will Okun, Teaching In The 408 and others to appear in DC Thu, 8 May 2008 11:48:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/806/Golden_Apple_Foundation_Honorees http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/806/Golden_Apple_Foundation_Honorees Know anyone on the list? Me, neither. Congrats to all of those involved. From CPS: Six Chicago Public Schools teachers celebrated National Teacher Appreciation Day by receiving the 2008 Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence in grades 4 through 8 Tuesday; eight others were named Teachers of Distinction. It is the most Golden Apples for CPS since 1996. Mayor Richard M. Daley and CPS Chief Education Officer Barbara Eason-Watkins surprised Brooke Thompson, music teacher at Peirce School of International Studies Tuesday morning with the award and a basket of apples. Also surprised Tuesday morning were Monica Gil, 7th grade, Gray Elementary; Samina Khan, 6th-8th grade science, and Donnell White, 7th-8th grade math, Clark Academic Preparatory Magnet High School; Natalie Neris-Guereca, 5th grade, Pershing West Magnet School; John Nieciak, 6th-8th grade language arts, Sheridan Math and Science Academy. Clark Academic is the first CPS school to have two winners in the same year. This year also marks the first time that three CPS schools had two finalists each: Clark, Pershing and Sherman School of Excellence. The teachers were among 31 Chicago area finalists – 13 from CPS – culled from 850 nominees in the annual competition sponsored by the Golden Apple Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to recognizing and developing excellence in teaching. The prestigious award includes a tuition-free spring term sabbatical at Northwestern University, a personal computer from IBM, $3,000, and membership in the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, a group of 220 expert teachers who work together to ensure that all children have the excellent teachers they deserve. For the second year Golden Apple announced Teachers of Distinction, second-tier award recognizing superior and laudable teaching. Eight of the 13 Teachers of Distinction are from CPS, including: Margaret Burns, 5thgrade, Gallistel Language Academy; Jennifer Cho, 4th grade, National Teachers Academy; Lisa Espinosa, 7th grade, Ruiz School; Virginia Kogen, 7th-8th grades, Madero School; Mary Meade, 1st-8thgrade, science teacher, Christopher School; Mark Nelson, K-8thgrade, fine arts, Stone Academy; Esther Ohito, 6th-8thgrade, English, Pershing West Magnet School; Claudine Randolph, 5thgrade, University of Chicago Charter School – Donoghue Elementary. Thu, 8 May 2008 11:33:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/807/Thursday_Morning_News http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/807/Thursday_Morning_News Students Rally for Cinco de Mayo College Bowl WBEZ A few teachers at Highland Park High School have been on a mission to integrate Chicano history into their teaching. Chicago's Unique Program Makes Teachers Out of Moms New California Media, CA - Editor's Note: To solve the chronic teacher shortage problem in its public schools, Chicago is reaching deep into its own neighborhoods. Gov to unveil $150 million anti-violence plan today Sun Times The initiative, dubbed Community Investment Works, represents the governor's first tangible response to the wave of shootings in the city that have left 24 Chicago Public School students murdered this school year. Study: Charter schools may improve graduation rates Chicago Tribune "We're very pleased to hear how well our charter school students are prepared for their future," said Arne Duncan, CEO of Chicago Public Schools. Edge Found for Chicago's Charter High Schools EdWeek A new first-of-its-kind analysis suggests that in Chicago, at least, charter school students are more likely to graduate from high school and enroll in college than similar students in regular public high schools. Study: College More Likely for Charter Students New York Sun Students who attend charter high schools are substantially more likely to graduate and go on to college than students who attend traditional public schools, a new study of Chicago schools found. Thu, 8 May 2008 09:18:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/804/Renaissance_Schools_Fund_Meeting http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/804/Renaissance_Schools_Fund_Meeting It's a busy day in Chicago school reform circles, what with the CTU delegates meeting taking place (see below) and the Renaissance Schools Fund Symposium going on as well. The symposium event took place downtown at the Mid-America Club and was titled "Free To Choose, Free To Succeed." It featured panels on going to scale, facilities issues, turnarounds, roles for private funders, and more. Click below for program details, or click here to see the website. Feel free to tell us how it went if you were there. Or even if you're there now. We know you read this blog. We won't hold it against you. UPDATE: Sorry -- this was yesterday, not today. Wed, 7 May 2008 17:04:00 CST http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/803/What_Happened_At_Today%27s_Delegates_Meeting%3F http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/803/What_Happened_At_Today%27s_Delegates_Meeting%3F Today is the big day for the CTU delegates meeting, and I can't wait to hear what happens -- what's discussed, what motions are offered or rebuffed, and what if any new information comes out from the proceedings. Longtime CTU members are distressed with the dysfunction within the union leadership (though much the same is happening in the District of Columbia, it's worth noting). Rank and file members are wondering WTF is going on and feeling like there's not enough leadership on key issues like jobs, wages, school closings, and the like. So tell us what happened if you were there. Wed, 7 May 2008 16:53:00 CST