catalyst-chicago.org

On a crisp mid-October morning, 18 students from Hamline Elementary grab their coats and walk to Chavez Elementary four blocks away. An unremarkable event in most neighborhoods, perhaps, but in Back of the Yards the idea of walking from one school to another would not even have been considered just a few years ago.

Four to five gangs dominate the area, and violence was so prevalent back then that youngsters could easily become targets of random gunfire if they dared to venture beyond the landmarks separating gang turfs.

It was a first for both the city and the Chicago Archdiocese when Francis Cardinal George and Mayor Richard Daley joined forces last July to raise money for CPS' Second Chance Alternative High School.

"They may be at odds about other stuff," says the Rev. Bruce Wellems from Holy Cross/Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. "But they have been together on this one."

The Board of Education is expected this month to approve operators for about half of the 13 additional charter schools it is authorized to open.

In April, the Illinois Legislature doubled Chicago's charter school quota, raising it to 30. The School Board quickly approved two new charters, Chicago Children's Choir Academy and KIPP Ascend Academy, leaving 13 to go.

Twenty-five community groups, non-profit organizations and educational institutions are in the running. But Greg Richmond, CPS chief officer of new school development, says only five to seven will be approved now.

CPS is re-examining how it counts and reports high school dropouts in response to a recent analysis of state data that shows more kids are leaving and the rate is growing.

The analysis, released by a grassroots community organization in West Town, found that 17.6 percent of CPS high school students dropped out in 2002. CPS reports a lower rate—14.4 percent—in figures it provided to the Illinois state report card.

This past summer I facilitated all my new hires to participate in the summer orientation afforded Lawndale community schools based on the anticipated school needs.

The first day of school began with full staff participation in developing our mission and vision statements and case studies from the perspective of a new teacher for the entire learning community during our professional development activities.

On the second day of school, each new hire was introduced, not only to their mentors, but also their lifeline, which is an additional support teacher within the school.

Some principals have made improvements on the official process.

Linda Sienkiewicz, principal at Audubon Elementary in Roscoe Village, says she tries to visit classrooms for an entire lesson of 30 to 40 minutes, although that time frame is not required. She also has a conference beforehand, also not required, and asks the teacher for a focus area in which they would like particular assistance.

Last month, state Sen. Miguel del Valle introduced a bill that would prohibit high schools from permanently dropping chronic truants from their rolls.

Under the proposed law, chronic truants between the ages of 16 and 19 who are failing could be dropped from school attendance rolls for only one semester. Schools would then be required to re-admit those students, or so-called pushouts, if they choose toreturn.