Rebecca Harris | catalyst-chicago.org

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School closings

As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.

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Rebecca Harris

CPS, other districts pilot state kindergarten assessment December 21, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris CPS is one of more than 30 districts piloting a new three-times-a-year state assessment for kindergarteners, known as the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey. Read More \| (27) Comments	Five Chicago agencies win early childhood construction grants December 19, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Five community agencies in Chicago, and nine elsewhere in the state, have won early childhood construction grants. One of three $5 million grants around the state will go to Christopher House – a community agency located in Belmont Cragin. The organization will demolish its current building and create new classrooms and offices. Korean American Community Services in Irving Park received an $847,625 grant to expand slots for 2- to 5-year-olds. Other early childhood centers in Roseland, Englewood and Chatham received smaller grants. Read More \| (0) Comments
Illinois awarded Early Learning Challenge funds December 06, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Illinois has won $34.8 million in the federal Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grant contest, the U.S. Department of Education announced today. Read More \| (0) Comments	Chicago misses out on Gates money for charter compact December 05, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Chicago was left out of a round of district-charter collaboration grants announced today by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The reason: the city’s turnover in schools leadership. Read More \| (1) Comments
Parents, teachers air testing concerns at forum November 30, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris A growing number of parents seem to be intrigued by the idea of “opting out” from CPS tests, but are wondering about the implications of not having their children sit for the exams. About 75 people attended a Raise Your Hand forum on testing Thursday night. Also, a Facebook group called Opt Out Chicago now has about 100 members. Read More \| (4) Comments	New performance tasks show promise, but also problems November 30, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris This fall, CPS launched “performance tasks” – short assessments for nearly every subject and grade level that will be used in teacher evaluations. Read More \| (0) Comments
Union goes on the offensive against charters November 30, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Now that CPS has its school closings deadline extension in hand, the Chicago Teachers Union has fired another volley in the battle over school closings. Read More \| (24) Comments	Promise Neighborhood dollars could boost early childhood in Roseland November 26, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris By the end of the year, a social service agency in Roseland will know if it has won funding to implement its Promise Neighborhood plans, part of a federal strategy to coordinate and strengthen services in the poorest communities. Read More \| (0) Comments
Parent organizing efforts gain steam November 14, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris On the morning of the November board meeting, school closings are on everyone’s mind. But 15 parents and CPS alumni, affiliated with Stand for Children, New Schools for Chicago, and Education Reform Now, have gathered to ask the district to open more high-quality schools. Read More \| (3) Comments

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