Late last year, a federal testing agency released yet another set of scores for Chicago—those on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, NAEP for short. They didn't get the media attention that the "Iowa's" or the ISAT do. The Chicago Tribune ran a report on the front page of its Metro section, and the Sun-Times buried a short on page 12. That's too bad because NAEP provides the best measure of how Chicago's over-all reform efforts are doing.
Late last year, a federal testing agency released yet another set of scores for Chicago—those on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, NAEP for short. They didn't get the media attention...
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At Triumphant Charter School in Back of the Yards, Sheneka Harris isn't just another 6th-grader—she's a "first-year scholar." As such, she and her classmates are expected to uphold the school's "scholar culture," a set of tough academic and behavioral standards designed to set early adolescents on the road to success in high school and college.
At Triumphant Charter School in Back of the Yards, Sheneka Harris isn't just another 6th-grader—she's a "first-year scholar." As such, she and her classmates are expected to uphold the school's "...
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It's the first day of the Chicago Debate League's mid-season tournament, and Christina Marin of Kelvyn Park High is stuck "going maverick," or debating solo. While her partner visits Champaign-Urbana on a college tour, Marin's on her own crafting the arguments she'll present on this year's topic, national ocean policy. And she's on her own devising strategy for the moment when her opponent might make an argument she's never heard before, yet must refute within minutes.
It's the first day of the Chicago Debate League's mid-season tournament, and Christina Marin of Kelvyn Park High is stuck "going maverick," or debating solo. While her partner visits Champaign-Urbana...
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Chicago schools have long been awash in test scores, but the numbers were in such an unfriendly form that neither schools nor parents found them very useful for improving achievement.
The Grow Network is designed to change all that. Imported from New York City at an annual cost of $2 million, Grow is an Internet-based program that analyzes test scores for teachers and parents and provides suggestions to both on what to do next.
Its report to teachers answers three questions: How did my students do? What do they need to learn? And what learning tools are on the Internet?
Chicago schools have long been awash in test scores, but the numbers were in such an unfriendly form that neither schools nor parents found them very useful for improving achievement.
The Grow...
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CPS officials expect to complete in February an analysis of the Step Up to High School initiative, to determine whether to offer the program again this summer.
About a third of eligible freshmen (2,200 out of 7,000) enrolled last summer in Step Up. Eligible students posted scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills that were above the cutoff for promotion to high school, but still below average.
CPS officials expect to complete in February an analysis of the Step Up to High School initiative, to determine whether to offer the program again this summer.
About a third of eligible freshmen (2,...
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Organizers of a citywide education summit scheduled for Feb. 21 plan to tackle the inequities suffered by Chicago's public schools.
"We need to deal with the issue of quality education, but we also need to deal with the issue of equity," says Andy Wade, executive director for Chicago School Leadership Cooperative. The group is coordinating the one-day conference with help from Cross City Campaign for Urban School Reform.
Organizers of a citywide education summit scheduled for Feb. 21 plan to tackle the inequities suffered by Chicago's public schools.
"We need to deal with the issue of quality education, but we also...
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In a new book, 11 actors in Chicago's ongoing school reform saga join researchers and editors of the Harvard Education Letter for a new look at the key issues and forces that have shaped the past 15 years of work to improve the nation's third largest school district.
"School Reform in Chicago: Lessons in Policy and Practice" was edited by Catalyst contributing Editor Alexander Russo and published by the Harvard Education Press.
In a new book, 11 actors in Chicago's ongoing school reform saga join researchers and editors of the Harvard Education Letter for a new look at the key issues and forces that have shaped the past 15...
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Two more charter schools are expected to be on the agenda for approval at the School Board's February meeting, CPS officials report.
In December, the board was expected to grant up to half of 13 new charter slots available in Chicago. But only two, Namaste School in McKinley Park and the Chicago Mathematics and Science Academy in Rogers Park, were approved and are expected to open in the fall.
Two more charter schools are expected to be on the agenda for approval at the School Board's February meeting, CPS officials report.
In December, the board was expected to grant up to half of 13 new...
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AT CLARK STREET Connie Bridge, former executive director of the Council on Teacher Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has been appointed to the vacant position of chief officer of reading at CPS... Betty Cittadine, College Bridge program director for CPS, has been elected chair of the Illinois ACT Council. The 15-member council serves as a liaison between the high school and college communities, and the regional and national offices of ACT. Cittadine has been a member of the council for three years ... Genita C.
AT CLARK STREET Connie Bridge, former executive director of the Council on Teacher Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has been appointed to the vacant position of chief...
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Es el primer dĂa del torneo de media temporada de la liga de debate de Chicago, y Christina Marin de la secundaria Kelvyn Park debate sola. Su compañera está en una gira de la universidad y Marin hilvana los argumentos que presentará sobre el tema de este año, la polĂtica nacional oceánica. Al mismo tiempo va creando su propia estrategia para el momento en que su oponente haga algĂşn argumento que no haya escuchado antes, pero que debe refutar en minutos.
Es el primer dĂa del torneo de media temporada de la liga de debate de Chicago, y Christina Marin de la secundaria Kelvyn Park debate sola. Su compañera está en una gira de la universidad y Marin...
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Las Escuelas PĂşblicas de Chicago (CPS, por sus siglas en inglĂ©s)han estado inundadas en resultados de exámenes, pero los nĂşmeros estaban en una forma tan desfavorable que casi nadie sabĂa quĂ© hacer con ellos.
Grow Network está diseñado para cambiar todo eso. Importado desde la ciudad de Nueva York a un costo anual de dos millones, Grow es un programa basado en la internet que analiza los resultados de exámenes para padres y maestros y provee sugerencias a ambos sobre qué hacer después.
Las Escuelas PĂşblicas de Chicago (CPS, por sus siglas en inglĂ©s)han estado inundadas en resultados de exámenes, pero los nĂşmeros estaban en una forma tan desfavorable que casi nadie sabĂa quĂ© hacer...
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Looking to the upcoming General Assembly, early childhood advocates in Illinois have set two major goals, winning an increase in funding for the state pre-kindergarten program and winning renewal of a program that has helped stem staff turnover in child care centers. Here are summaries of these proposals:
Looking to the upcoming General Assembly, early childhood advocates in Illinois have set two major goals, winning an increase in funding for the state pre-kindergarten program and winning renewal of...
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WHAT IT MEANS: Early childhood centers draw funding from multiple sources, including state-subsidized child care, Head Start and state pre-kindergarten.
WHAT IT ACCOMPLISHES: The centers can improve their offerings by taking advantage of the particular benefits of each source, for example, the social workers required by Head Start and the certified teachers required by state pre-k. Also, half-day programs can be combined to create full-day programs.
WHAT IT MEANS: Early childhood centers draw funding from multiple sources, including state-subsidized child care, Head Start and state pre-kindergarten.
WHAT IT ACCOMPLISHES: The...
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Triumphant students say the school's "scholar culture" has had a big impact on their educational goals and their interactions with each other and with teachers. Here, 8th-graders talk about that impact.
Q. What's it like to learn in classrooms that have 6th-, 7th- and 8th-graders mixed together?
Theodore Jackson: Three-year scholars (8th-graders) are able to help new kids.
Jeremiah Murray: They have to set examples of quietness, learning, experience, and so forth.
Theodore: Every age range shows you something.
Triumphant students say the school's "scholar culture" has had a big impact on their educational goals and their interactions with each other and with teachers. Here, 8th-graders talk about that...
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Spencer Gould is one of eight black men who teach at Triumphant, thanks to the extra effort Helen Hawkins makes to recruit them as role models. A 1993 graduate of Morehouse College, Gould has been involved in the school since its founding. After a stint in the Marines, he returned two years ago to teach language arts and social studies.
Spencer Gould is one of eight black men who teach at Triumphant, thanks to the extra effort Helen Hawkins makes to recruit them as role models. A 1993 graduate of Morehouse College, Gould has been...
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Peirce Elementary is sold on the Grow Network.
"It allows teachers to make decisions about their own curriculum, their own instruction, their own groupings of students," says Paula Rossino, principal of Peirce School of International Studies in Edgewater.
"At grade-level meetings, we've taken a look at the strengths and weaknesses of that grade level," she adds.
Peirce Elementary is sold on the Grow Network.
"It allows teachers to make decisions about their own curriculum, their own instruction, their own groupings of students," says Paula Rossino,...
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