Two years ago, Farragut High social studies teacher Charles Kuner and former colleague Matthew Katz, a lawyer who taught in the school's legal careers program, began working on a project that would serve the community as well as educate their students. The end result was the David Cerda Legal Clinic, named after a Farragut graduate who was the state's first Latino judge and Latino appellate court justice. Students in Kuner's class help volunteer lawyers with legal research and also learn about public policy-making and government.
Two years ago, Farragut High social studies teacher Charles Kuner and former colleague Matthew Katz, a lawyer who taught in the school's legal careers program, began working on a project that would...
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For two years, members of the Illinois Early Learning Council deliberated the best strategies for creating a statewide system of high-quality preschools for 3- and 4-year-olds. What they came up with is a list of recommendations that lay the foundation for a two-year program to serve poor families and children who are otherwise at-risk of failure in school.
For two years, members of the Illinois Early Learning Council deliberated the best strategies for creating a statewide system of high-quality preschools for 3- and 4-year-olds. What they came up with...
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When my oldest daughter started in the Chicago Public Schools some 14 years ago, I was thrilled that our school system celebrated diversity by including physically disabled children in regular classrooms.
When I returned to the public schools as a substitute teacher last year, it didn't take long for me to observe that mainstreaming, which had started out as such a good idea, had become a serious problem, endangering not only special education children but those in regular education as well—producing disastrously unequal and ineffective results.
When my oldest daughter started in the Chicago Public Schools some 14 years ago, I was thrilled that our school system celebrated diversity by including physically disabled children in regular...
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The Chicago Public Schools are required by federal and state law to improve student performance on standardized tests, which are used to make crucially important decisions about the future of schools.
The Chicago Public Schools are required by federal and state law to improve student performance on standardized tests, which are used to make crucially important decisions about the future of schools...
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Three phrases stand out in large, white letters on the long blackboard: "To abstain," "sexual activity" and "subliminal seduction." Close to 50 freshmen shift in their desks, watching the teacher or talking to their peers in the crowded, windowless classroom at Kenwood Academy.
Three phrases stand out in large, white letters on the long blackboard: "To abstain," "sexual activity" and "subliminal seduction." Close to 50 freshmen shift in their desks, watching the teacher or...
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Last year, applicants for Renaissance 2010 schools ran a three-tiered gauntlet to win approval.
First, they faced a team of experts from inside and outside the system. Next, some schools had to sell themselves to a Transition Advisory Council made up of community representatives. Finally, schools competed for startup funds from New Schools for Chicago, the business-backed nonprofit group that is funneling private support for Renaissance 2010 schools.
Last year, applicants for Renaissance 2010 schools ran a three-tiered gauntlet to win approval.
First, they faced a team of experts from inside and outside the system. Next, some schools had to sell...
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Instead of the daily physical education classes mandated by the state, a Catalyst Chicago telephone survey found that one to two days of gym class per week is the norm in elementary schools.
No recess is also the norm. Fewer than one in five schools—18 percent—provide daily scheduled recess for all kids, and only about one in 16—6 percent—provide for a recess of at least 20 minutes, the survey found.
Instead of the daily physical education classes mandated by the state, a Catalyst Chicago telephone survey found that one to two days of gym class per week is the norm in elementary schools....
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After Catalyst Chicago requested an interview with the Illinois State Board of Education to ask why the state's daily physical education requirement was being neglected in the city's public schools, Chief Education Officer Barbara Eason-Watkins swiftly sent an e-mail directive instructing top staff to make sure schools comply with the law.
After Catalyst Chicago requested an interview with the Illinois State Board of Education to ask why the state's daily physical education requirement was being neglected in the city's public...
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Last June, senior Veronica Mejia of Farragut High opted not to receive her diploma at graduation to protest the school's high student fees—about $300 for seniors.
Mejia says she couldn't afford to pay because her mother had lost her job and the family had to depend solely on her stepfather's paycheck from construction work. "We had to cut down on everything. We were living check-to-check," says Mejia. "I couldn't ask my mom to pay the fee. I couldn't."
Last June, senior Veronica Mejia of Farragut High opted not to receive her diploma at graduation to protest the school's high student fees—about $300 for seniors.
Mejia says she couldn't afford to...
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Bajo la presión de la Junta Estatal de Educación de Illinois, los oficiales escolares de Chicago le han ordenado a las escuelas que busquen el tiempo diario de por lo menos 15 minutos para la actividad fÃsica.
La directiva, la cual originó con la Oficial Ejecutiva de Educación Barbara Eason-Watkins, debido a una investigación hecha por Catalyst Chicago sobre por qué a las escuelas de Chicago se les permitÃa desatender un requisito estatal para la educación fÃsica diaria. De hecho, en un correo electrónico a un deputado superior, Eason-Watkins citó la conversación con Catalyst.
Bajo la presión de la Junta Estatal de Educación de Illinois, los oficiales escolares de Chicago le han ordenado a las escuelas que busquen el tiempo diario de por lo menos 15 minutos para la...
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El estado requiere clases de educación fÃsica diarias, pero una encuesta telefónica de escuelas primarias hecha por Catalyst Chicago encontró que una o dos clases de gimnasia a la semana es la norma.
El receso es una rareza. Menos de una en cinco escuelas—18 por ciento—provee recreos diarios para todos los niños, y solo una en 16—6 por ciento—provee receso por al menos 20 minutos, la encuesta encontró. Estos resultados están basados en llamadas a 487 escuelas.
El estado requiere clases de educación fÃsica diarias, pero una encuesta telefónica de escuelas primarias hecha por Catalyst Chicago encontró que una o dos clases de gimnasia a la semana es la...
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Tres frases sobresalen en letras grandes y blancas en la pizarra: "Abstenerse," "actividad sexual," y "seducción subliminal." Cerca de 50 estudiantes de primer año se mueven en sus pupitres, mirando al maestro o hablando con sus compañeros en el salón abarrotado y sin ventanas de la Academia Kenwood.
Tres frases sobresalen en letras grandes y blancas en la pizarra: "Abstenerse," "actividad sexual," y "seducción subliminal." Cerca de 50 estudiantes de primer año se mueven en sus pupitres, mirando...
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