Imagine yourself as a teenager living in one of the city's tough neighborhoods. In a fairer, more ideal world, when you got to school, you'd be in a sanctuary where, at least for the day, you could escape the troubles of the community, broaden your horizons and prepare for a better future.
Yet for too many teens, and even younger schoolchildren, schools aren't the sanctuaries they should be.
Imagine yourself as a teenager living in one of the city's tough neighborhoods. In a fairer, more ideal world, when you got to school, you'd be in a sanctuary where, at least for the day, you could...
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"Choices in Little Rock," a social studies curriculum developed by the non-profit education organization Facing History and Ourselves, examines a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement: the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Ark. Unlike traditional history courses, in which students memorize dates and events, this curriculum asks students to make connections between the choices young people faced in the past and those faced by students today. This year, Facing History will train more middle school teachers to teach the Little Rock course.
"Choices in Little Rock," a social studies curriculum developed by the non-profit education organization Facing History and Ourselves, examines a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement: the...
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Outside Mather High, a security guard reports that a student handed a knife to a friend during a gang disturbance. At Julian High, some teenagers who were furious at a school policy banning hooded sweatshirts get into an argument with security guards, leading to one student's arrest for assault. At Medill Elementary, a student pulls out a black gun and points it at a classmate. Officials later learn the weapon was a BB gun.
Outside Mather High, a security guard reports that a student handed a knife to a friend during a gang disturbance. At Julian High, some teenagers who were furious at a school policy banning hooded...
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Some parents and educators worry that too many security measures create a scary, prison-like environment in schools. But others argue that such tactics do keep students from bringing weapons inside and let them know that wrongdoing will not be tolerated.
School officials, activists, students and parents do have other ideas about how to make schools safer without more metal detectors and security guards. Here's a sampling:
Some parents and educators worry that too many security measures create a scary, prison-like environment in schools. But others argue that such tactics do keep students from bringing weapons inside...
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Like the airplanes landing at nearby Midway Airport, noisy students cram into Hearst Elementary School's auditorium on June 7 to celebrate the end of a different kind of journey, the completion of another school year. Rewards large and small, from MP3 players to $10 gift certificates, go to those who essentially traveled furthest—the students with the highest marks or biggest gains on standardized tests.
Like the airplanes landing at nearby Midway Airport, noisy students cram into Hearst Elementary School's auditorium on June 7 to celebrate the end of a different kind of journey, the completion of...
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"Data Wise"—a book based on collaborative work between Boston Public Schools and Harvard Graduate School of Education faculty and students—lays out eight steps to help schools improve teaching by better analyzing student work and test results. The process could impact Chicago directly, as CPS is considering hiring "Data Wise" researchers as consultants. Here's a look at the process:
PREPARE
Step 1: Organize for collaborative work
Train a small group of people who will lead the way on the collection, management and analysis of student data
"Data Wise"—a book based on collaborative work between Boston Public Schools and Harvard Graduate School of Education faculty and students—lays out eight steps to help schools improve teaching by...
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In the September 2007 issue of Catalyst Chicago, you published a guest column from Martin "Mike" J. Koldyke, retired founder of Frontenac Co. In his comments, Mr. Koldyke waxed eloquently about the evolution of his involvement with school transformation in Chicago. Many of his points are well-taken. However, there was one statement made by Mr. Koldyke that we found extremely troubling.
In the September 2007 issue of Catalyst Chicago, you published a guest column from Martin "Mike" J. Koldyke, retired founder of Frontenac Co. In his comments, Mr. Koldyke waxed eloquently...
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Recently, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan jointly announced an expansion of "community schools" and other coordinated after-school activities as a way of creating safe havens for Chicago's children.
Though community schools do provide safe environments for students beyond the regular school day, they provide so much more for students and their families, enabling kids to succeed at school and beyond, and strengthening communities.
Recently, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan jointly announced an expansion of "community schools" and other coordinated after-school activities as a way of...
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Thank you for printing an excerpt of Catalyst Chicago's interview with me in your September issue. You continue to shed valuable light on the issues of teacher quality that are central to The New Teacher Project's mission.
One aspect of our conversation that did not come across clearly in the printed interview is the extraordinary progress Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has made in recent years on teacher hiring and transfer.
Thank you for printing an excerpt of Catalyst Chicago's interview with me in your September issue. You continue to shed valuable light on the issues of teacher quality that are central to The New...
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Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools officials say they spent a significant amount of time negotiating over charter schools and Renaissance 2010 during talks in August.
Yet only one provision—the formation of a new committee to look into new models for performance schools—directly addresses the controversial program.
Behind the scenes, however, the union's opposition to charters appears to be changing.
Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools officials say they spent a significant amount of time negotiating over charter schools and Renaissance 2010 during talks in August.
Yet only one...
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This fall the district has launched an initiative to standardize reading curricula in hopes of curbing the negative impact of mobility on reading instruction and achievement.
The initiative has begun with 150 elementary schools that volunteered to be part of the first cohort. Over the next three years, 150 schools will be added annually, adopting one of the two reading programs the district has selected.
This fall the district has launched an initiative to standardize reading curricula in hopes of curbing the negative impact of mobility on reading instruction and achievement.
The initiative has begun...
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Chicago Public Schools will expand its community schools effort over the next year with an infusion of $7.5 million from CPS and between $700,000 and $800,000 from Chase Bank.
Funding for the schools became a question mark this year, when three-year grants from the Campaign for Community Schools ran out. The Campaign primarily raised funds from private sources to seed the community schools, which also receive money from the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers program.
Chicago Public Schools will expand its community schools effort over the next year with an infusion of $7.5 million from CPS and between $700,000 and $800,000 from Chase Bank.
Funding for the schools...
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NEW PRINCIPAL PROGRAM Teach for America-Chicago and the Harvard Graduate School of Education have joined forces to recruit, train and place top Teach for America alumni as principals in some of CPS' lowest-performing schools. The prospective principals will be recruited into a special master's program at Harvard and then enter a one-year residency under the tutelage of a CPS principal. The program is expected to train 10 new principals a year.
NEW PRINCIPAL PROGRAM Teach for America-Chicago and the Harvard Graduate School of Education have joined forces to recruit, train and place top Teach for America alumni...
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