Wednesday Morning News CPS Budget Hanging in the Balance Catalyst
In the coming weeks, CPS could reap money from a gambling plan that could bring in school construction money. Meanwhile, Jan. 4 is the deadline for the governor to sign a bill that would increase the state’s per pupil funding level.
Teacher Payroll Program Messes Up Pensions WBBM
This morning, dozens of retired teachers plan to protest outside Chicago Public Schools board headquarters complaining about the problems they’ve had getting the proper amount of money in their pensions.
More Chicago public schools underused Sun Times
New data indicates that 147 of 417 neighborhood grade schools are anywhere from one-half to more than two-thirds empty. That compares with 30 or 40 underused schools in 2000.
Poor neighborhoods hurt students more than low income, study finds Tribune
Researchers found that children in Chicago who spent most of their lives in segregated, low-income communities posted lower verbal scores than did children who lived in better communities. This was true whether the children's families were low- or middle-income.
High Schools Neglected Under NCLB Catalyst
Low-performing high schools are not getting help from NCLB, a panel of educators said recently. Schools need more funding and accountability beyond test scores.
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Wed Dec 19, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Wednesday Morning News
Clearly Chicago has experienced a significant enrollment decilne at the elementary school level. It has not yet hit the high schools with full force, but will in the next few years. I honestly believe the demographic analysis discussed in the Tribune article does not adequately address the decline in the number of Hispanic families in the city. It over focuses on Black communities, while there is still over crowding in Hispanic communities these numbers will fall off too with time.
The CPS needs to be rational and part of that rationality is using existing facilities for students from over crowded communities. Building schools in communities that currently are overcrowded but which will soon not be as more and more Hispanic families leave Chicago for suburban areas closer to their work makes little sense. This has happened on the northside where several schools were expanded, only to see enrollment declines after the annexs were built due to the elimination of rental units in those communities that housed significant numbers of Hispanic students. This decline will also have an impact on charters and other Ren 2010 schools eventually. The CPS needs to slow down both building and closings and look where we are going as a city given the costs of housing that are forcing more and more families to leave Chicago.
Rod Estvan
The CPS needs to be rational and part of that rationality is using existing facilities for students from over crowded communities. Building schools in communities that currently are overcrowded but which will soon not be as more and more Hispanic families leave Chicago for suburban areas closer to their work makes little sense. This has happened on the northside where several schools were expanded, only to see enrollment declines after the annexs were built due to the elimination of rental units in those communities that housed significant numbers of Hispanic students. This decline will also have an impact on charters and other Ren 2010 schools eventually. The CPS needs to slow down both building and closings and look where we are going as a city given the costs of housing that are forcing more and more families to leave Chicago.
Rod Estvan
Wed Dec 19, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Wednesday Morning News
We've been overcrowded out here on the SW Side for quite some time now and its getting bigger and bigger. I don't see this problem ending anytime soon. We have families moving out, but when one family moves out another two take their place.
Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 4:09 PM
Poor Neighborhoods hurt poor students
I've been emphasizing the relationship between poor neighborhoods and poorly performing students for many years in my efforts to help comprehensive, volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs grow in these neighborhoods. You can view some of our maps at http://www.tutormentorprogramlocator.net/programlocator/default.asp
Volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs can create an expanded network of adults who take an interest and help kids grow up and the programs can provide expanded enrichment and learning opportunities. Most important, as kids begin to finish high school volunteers can also help kids into college or into jobs.
Without such a network of support, we'll keep seeing the same types of outcomes. Readers can learn more about tutoring/mentoring and find links to various tutor/mentor programs in the Chicago area by visiting http://www.tutormentorconnection.org
Volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs can create an expanded network of adults who take an interest and help kids grow up and the programs can provide expanded enrichment and learning opportunities. Most important, as kids begin to finish high school volunteers can also help kids into college or into jobs.
Without such a network of support, we'll keep seeing the same types of outcomes. Readers can learn more about tutoring/mentoring and find links to various tutor/mentor programs in the Chicago area by visiting http://www.tutormentorconnection.org
Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 4:42 PM
Wednesday Morning News
Wait! What?? Poor neighborhoods=poorly performing students?? What the...I think a LOT more research must be done. In fact, I'd be willing to consult on a project like this for, oh, a relatively low fee in comparison to what was probably spent already.
Perhaps after we're done with THIS study, we can work on whether being poor affects one's nutrition--because I know THAT'S something I need data analyzed over and over to come to a conclusion about...
Perhaps after we're done with THIS study, we can work on whether being poor affects one's nutrition--because I know THAT'S something I need data analyzed over and over to come to a conclusion about...
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