catalyst-chicago.org

When it comes to financial equity among the city's public schools, the numbers speak for themselves. A Catalyst Chicago investigation into how the district distributed its funds to schools in the fiscal 2005 budget found 27 percent getting more than a fair share, and 19 percent getting less.

Excitement about books is the norm at Norwood Park Elementary on the far northwest side. Here, students often bring a tower of books to librarian Nancy Volkman, who reaches over to feel the child's muscles and asks if the student can carry them before checking the books out. Many schools tie the number of books students can check out to their grade level, but Volkman rarely imposes such a ceiling.

Renaissance 2010, Mayor Richard M. Daley's signature effort to turn around failing schools, has kicked into gear amid leadership turnover both inside and outside the school system.

John Ayers, who as executive director of Leadership for Quality Education (LQE) was a leader in charter school law and development, tendered his resignation in December. Greg Richmond, who spearheaded charter school development inside the system, resigned in early February.

Multiple sources say both decided to quit after they saw significant parts of their portfolios moved elsewhere.

Children with behavioral and emotional disorders can pose significant discipline problems for schools. But these students can become self-disciplined if they are taught the right decision-making and problem-solving skills, says Shari Demitrowicz, principal of Lawrence Hall Youth Services Therapeutic Day School. The school serves some of the most troubled special education students who have been referred from Chicago Public Schools. Demitrowicz talked with writer Alejandra Cerna Rios.

How do you teach troubled young people to manage their behavior?

MOVING IN/ON The creation of New Schools for Chicago by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago has prompted several personnel changes. New Schools for Chicago is the organization that will raise private funds for Renaissance 2010 schools and oversee distribution of private funds to Renaissance 2010 schools. Phyllis Lockett Martin, executive director of the Civic Committee's Financial Research and Advisory Committee (FRAC), has become executive director of New Schools for Chicago.

Desde la perspectiva del presupuesto estudiantil, las escuelas con menos estudiantes pobres y las escuelas con matrícula selectiva tienen presupuestos acolchados. Al otro extremo de la escala de financiamiento, es más probable que las escuelas grandes y sobrepobladas, muchas de las cuales son Latinas, reciban menos.

To analyze the equity of funding among Chicago's public schools, Catalyst adapted an online tool created by researchers affiliated with the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University.

Through research, the Annenberg initiative had determined that most districts do not distribute funds equitably among schools, and are unaware of those inequities because of complex funding formulas and accounting practices that make them difficult to assess.