Current Issue

School closings

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

Rebecca Harris

December 21, 2012

 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.

December 19, 2012

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.

December 06, 2012

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.

December 05, 2012

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.

November 30, 2012

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.

November 30, 2012

This fall, CPS launched “performance tasks” – short assessments for nearly every subject and grade level that will be used in teacher evaluations.

November 30, 2012

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.

November 26, 2012

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.

November 14, 2012

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.

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