Cassandra West | catalyst-chicago.org

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Bilingual Education

Research shows that Latinos who remain in bilingual programs long term risk falling behind in the middle grades and failing once they reach high school. CPS is taking long-awaited steps to launch dual-language programs, a strategy that is gaining steam nationally to help students become proficient in their native language and in English.

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Cassandra West

In the News: Neighborhood schools beat turnarounds on ISAT February 22, 2012 By: Cassandra West An advocacy group, Designs for Change, has analyzed ISAT scores and found that many high-poverty neighborhood elementary schools are out-performing turnaround schools. Read More \| (6) Comments	In the News: CPS' parent engagement not connecting February 21, 2012 By: Cassandra West Despite a well-publicized commitment to involve parents in the city’s public education system, some of them are not happy with how Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his school team are following through. And some say they are still not familiar with the new Office of Community and Family Engagement, according to the Chicago News Cooperative. Read More \| (1) Comments
In the News: Piccolo parents end 1-day protest February 20, 2012 By: Cassandra West Community activists and parents at Brian Piccolo Elementary Specialty School in West Humboldt Park ended an overnight campus sit-in Saturday staged to protest a vote scheduled Wednesday on whether to designate Piccolo a turnaround school. (Tribune) Read More \| (0) Comments	In the News: CTU makes a bold bid for raises February 17, 2012 By: Cassandra West The Tribune reported last night that it has obtained documents indicating that the Chicago Teachers Union is asking for raises amounting to 30 percent over the next two years, the opening salvo in heated contract negotiations with school officials. Read More \| (2) Comments
In the News: CTU unveiling its education plan February 16, 2012 By: Cassandra West The Chicago Teachers Union plans to unveil its comprehensive plan to strengthen the quality of education in Chicago Public Schools during a news conference at 9:30 this morning. Read More \| (1) Comments	In the News: Emanuel: No ties to agenda supporters February 15, 2012 By: Cassandra West Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Tuesday that he didn't direct a political consulting firm with close ties to him to organize faith and community groups in support of his education agenda, nor was he aware the company was doing so. (Tribune) Read More \| (7) Comments
In the News: CPS failed to enforce furloughs February 14, 2012 By: Cassandra West Chicago Public Schools failed to enforce its mandatory furlough policy last school year, costing the cash-strapped district at least $460,000 when nearly 400 employees — principals, assistant principals and central office staff — did not take the required number of unpaid days off, according to an independent audit report obtained by the Tribune. Read More \| (1) Comments	In the News: CPS' cooperation with Consortium essential February 13, 2012 By: Cassandra West In order to truly serve the children of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools must be willing share essential and sufficient data with The University of Chicago Consortium on School Research that will ensure it continues producing the solid and insightful research that "educators and policy makers actually can use to make good decisions," Catalyst founder and publisher Linda Lenz writes in an op-ed published by the Sun-Times. Read More \| (0) Comments
In the News: Suburban schools lag bilingual ed needs February 10, 2012 By: Cassandra West The rapid growth of Latino and other immigrant populations in Chicago’s suburbs is outstripping the ability of public schools to provide bilingual programs mandated by Illinois, and government financing for the programs is shrinking, state records show, according to a Catalyst Chicago story that appeared in the New York Times. Read More \| (0) Comments

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