Next year's round of budget cuts are on the table and according to one watchdog group, Chicago Public Schools has whittled its shortfall down to $45 million. A few months ago, the projected deficit was over $300 million. An increase in base level funding from the state is expected to net the district $100 million.
The rest is a combination of raising lunch fees, reducing costs at central office, tapping cash reserves and, the worst part, cutting programs in reading, math, special education and early childhood education.
Next year's round of budget cuts are on the table and according to one watchdog group, Chicago Public Schools has whittled its shortfall down to $45 million. A few months ago, the projected deficit...
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Fundraising for public schools in New York City has reached unprecedented heights over the past three years. But Chicago has nothing to be ashamed of, district officials say.
"New York is much bigger," says Alyson Cooke, director of external resources for the Chicago Public Schools. "They ought to be able to generate more money."
Fundraising for public schools in New York City has reached unprecedented heights over the past three years. But Chicago has nothing to be ashamed of, district officials say.
"New York is much...
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Parents at Norwood Park Elementary, like those at any public school, worry about whether Chicago Public Schools has enough money to provide the best education for their children, But unlike others, they have someplace else to turn: local businesses and their own deep pockets.
Parents at Norwood Park Elementary, like those at any public school, worry about whether Chicago Public Schools has enough money to provide the best education for their children, But unlike others,...
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Inside a skating rink, flashes of light bounce across the floor as loud music thumps a rhythmic beat and children skate in clumps, squealing as popular songs play.
Karla Hylton and other mothers who belong to the parent-teacher organization (PTO) for Owen Scholastic Academy watch the commotion from a table near the door, where they collect $5 admission from skaters and their parents. In just a couple of hours, they will collect enough to cover the $450 expense of renting the rink.
"This is just a fun activity for kids," Hylton says.
Inside a skating rink, flashes of light bounce across the floor as loud music thumps a rhythmic beat and children skate in clumps, squealing as popular songs play.
Karla Hylton and other mothers...
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As school budgets shrink, two CPS principals whose schools are just a couple blocks apart on the South Side have decidedly different approaches to how they fill in the gap.
Principal Senalda R. Grady of Pirie School in Chatham says going after private dollars is the only way to get what she thinks her students need to be successful. That includes items that the district doesn't pay for, such as listening centers, computers and hands-on materials for science.
As school budgets shrink, two CPS principals whose schools are just a couple blocks apart on the South Side have decidedly different approaches to how they fill in the gap.
Principal Senalda R. Grady...
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After the Illinois Legislature raised the compulsory school attendance age to 17 from 16, the School Board launched a media blitz to announce a new attendance and truancy policy that included a controversial provision requiring parents to sign a consent form before a child drops out.
Bill Leavy, executive director of Greater West Town Community Project, says he believes the law has at least lit a fire under schools to do more to keep kids from leaving.
But some kids who tried to get back in school initially had a difficult time doing so, he adds.
After the Illinois Legislature raised the compulsory school attendance age to 17 from 16, the School Board launched a media blitz to announce a new attendance and truancy policy that included a...
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The news that only 6.5 percent of Chicago Public Schools graduates earned a college degree by their mid-20s grabbed front-page headlines for the Consortium on Chicago School Research, which tracked college participation rates for the classes of 2002 and 2003 using data from the National Student Clearinghouse.
The report is the first to follow graduates of a major urban school system to find out how many go to college, where they enroll and how many graduate.
Beyond the dismal college graduation rate, the Consortium found that:
The news that only 6.5 percent of Chicago Public Schools graduates earned a college degree by their mid-20s grabbed front-page headlines for the Consortium on Chicago School Research, which tracked...
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The recent report from the Consortium on Chicago School Research about the aspiration-attainment gap in the Chicago Public Schools highlights many important issues that deserve careful consideration. Unfortunately, the mainstream media's reporting did not fully reflect the positive developments that have emerged in recent years that are worth noting.
Overall, the report keeps the focus where it should be, on providing students with the academic preparation they need to succeed in college and to be full participants in today's knowledge society.
The recent report from the Consortium on Chicago School Research about the aspiration-attainment gap in the Chicago Public Schools highlights many important issues that deserve careful consideration...
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Thanks to Catalyst and Alexander Russo for stirring the pot and keeping the small schools discussion alive. I am perplexed, however, by the gaping disparity between the one-sidedly negative "Improving Teaching Is a Low Priority at Small High Schools" and the actual conclusions of the Consortium on Chicago School Research study.
Many of the problems both Russo and the Consortium study describe are what happens when any reform gets captured by a top-down bureaucracy and is taken "to scale" by the big foundations.
Thanks to Catalyst and Alexander Russo for stirring the pot and keeping the small schools discussion alive. I am perplexed, however, by the gaping disparity between the one-sidedly negative "...
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NEW TEACHERS DISMISSED Principals are not renewing the contracts of 1,062 untenured teachers next fall, angering the Chicago Teachers Union. Under the current contract, which was negotiated by the previous union leadership, teachers can be dismissed without cause during the first four years on the job. Last year, about 1,100 untenured teachers were dismissed, but 700 of them later found jobs in the system. CTU President Marilyn Stewart warned of a potential strike unless the issue is resolved in next year's contract negotiation.
NEW TEACHERS DISMISSED Principals are not renewing the contracts of 1,062 untenured teachers next fall, angering the Chicago Teachers Union. Under the current contract, which was...
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Problems with violence and discipline are nothing new at Kennedy High, says senior Dan Zaragoza, who participated in last month's student-led protest for better security at the Garfield Ridge school. This year's freshmen, including transfer students from the attendance areas of schools that closed, were especially disrespectful and unruly, he says. Zaragoza, vice-president of student government, talked with writer Cassie del Pilar.
There was a lot of press coverage of the protest. How was it organized?
Problems with violence and discipline are nothing new at Kennedy High, says senior Dan Zaragoza, who participated in last month's student-led protest for better security at the Garfield Ridge school...
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Of the $7.5 million Renaissance Schools Fund says it has given to schools to date, over $4.7 million went directly from corporations to schools, and a sizeable chunk of the rest was targeted to particular schools through the group's matchmaking efforts.
Most of the companies below support certain schools or charter networks; two provide general support to the Renaissance Schools Fund itself.
Of the $7.5 million Renaissance Schools Fund says it has given to schools to date, over $4.7 million went directly from corporations to schools, and a sizeable chunk of the rest was targeted...
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Las noticias que sólo el 6.5 por ciento de graduados de Escuelas Publicas de Chicago ganó un grado de colegio a su mediados de los años 20 agarraron titulares de primera página para el Consorcio en la Investigación de Escuela de Chicago, que rastreó precios de participación de colegio para las clases de 2002 y 2003 datos de utilización del Banco de liquidación de Estudiante Nacional.
El informe es el primero en seguir a graduados de un sistema escolar urbano principal para averiguar cuantos van a la universidad, donde ellos se matriculan y cuantos se graduan.
Las noticias que sólo el 6.5 por ciento de graduados de Escuelas Publicas de Chicago ganó un grado de colegio a su mediados de los años 20 agarraron titulares de primera página para el Consorcio en...
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La ronda del próximo año de recortes presupuestarios está en la mesa y según un grupo de perro guardián, Escuelas Públicas de Chicago ha rebajado su déficit gradualmente a 45 millones de dólares. Hace unos meses, el déficit proyectado era más de 300 millones de dólares. Se espera que un aumento de la financiación de nivel baja del estado gane neto el distrito 100 millones de dólares.
La ronda del próximo año de recortes presupuestarios está en la mesa y según un grupo de perro guardián, Escuelas Públicas de Chicago ha rebajado su déficit gradualmente a 45 millones de dólares....
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