catalyst-chicago.org

CBS2 investigation suggests Steinmetz and BEST high schools may be counting ghost students to inflate budgets.

For 10 months, an inspector general investigation has been underway into alleged fraud at B.E.S.T., yet there has been no action. [Dropout Terrence] Figures says nobody has contacted him, even though he's living proof of ghosting in the school system.

The problem may not be limited to B.E.S.T. Paula Adams, a former Local School Council member at Steinmetz Academic Centre High School, and Sammy Tenuta, a former security guard at the same school, both claim Steinmetz also had numerous ghost students.

* Stock preschool supporters gather 2,200 signatures to save one of the only two early education programs in Chicago for disabled students. (Pioneer)

* Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield with education spending a top concern, says governor’s chief of staff. (WBEZ)

Some Springfield observers tell Catalyst that lawmakers are likely to pass a six month budget to delay any real action until after the election cycle. That would mean Chicago is forced to slash some 6,200 3,200 teachers.

Chicago’s Excellence In Teaching pilot program seeks a deeper conversation in teacher evaluations and a better definition of quality instruction. (CNC)

According to an evaluation of the first year of Excellence in Teaching by the Consortium on Chicago School Research, about half the participating principals noted improvements in teachers’ instructional approach.

The consortium’s report on Excellence in Teaching shows that the new ratings for teachers are starting to spread across a wider range. Of the ratings given to Excellence in Teaching teachers through March 5, 3 percent were “unsatisfactory,” 21 percent fell into the “basic” category, 55 percent were “proficient” and 21 percent were “distinguished.”

* Chicago schools must market themselves to keep enrollment up. (WBEZ)

* Hundreds of students walked out of classes yesterday to protest budget cuts. (Tribune/ABC7)

* A working group convened by CPS is looking for consensus on South Loop overcrowding solutions. (Chicago Journal)

* Eight Forty-Eight spoke with education historian Diane Ravitch yesterday.

* Five CTU presidential candidates formally debated after the union’s April House of Delegates meeting. (Substance)

Douglass Academy student shot and hospitalized on his way to school. (Tribune)

It happened seven months after school officials announced an ambitious plan to stem youth violence, which has claimed 24 public school students this school year...The program is active in 13 Chicago neighborhoods but has not yet been implemented in the Austin neighborhood, on the city's Far West Side.

[The] shooting illustrates to some what an enormous task it is to guarantee safe passage under any plan.

* Upgrade in nutritional guidelines for Chicago schools released today. (Sun-Times)

Improvements include requiring whole grains to be served daily at lunch, setting a goal to reduce sodium by 5 percent annually and taking doughnuts, Pop-Tarts and items with "dessert or candy-type" ingredients off the breakfast menu. In addition, dark green or orange vegetables would have to be served at least three times a week, and starchy vegetables would be limited to once a week.

* Chicago schools, parks and YMCAs launch Get Fit Chicago, a healthy eating and exercise program. (ABC7)