Alternative Schools

Fall 2009

Chicago’s alternative schools for dropouts face myriad challenges and are barely making a dent in the problem. Advocates are eyeing federal stimulus funds to give schools more resources, and alternative charters are in the works. But CPS has yet to develop a strategy.

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Second chance for dropouts Sarah Karp On day two of her second try at high school, Brianna Gibson is full of resolve. In a windowless classroom with a world map on the wall and history books on the shelves, the young woman slides into a desk, offers up a smile and says she thinks that the small alternative school she chose is going to be a good experience. The teachers seem nice, she says. They would take time to explain assignments, something the teachers at her former high school didn’t seem to want to do. Brianna adds that she doesn’t know many of the other students, but in her mind, that’s a plus. Being anonymous... alternative schools > Read More
Unintended outcome Sarah Karp When then-state senator Miguel del Valle passed a law in 2004 that raised the compulsory school attendance age to 17, he hoped it would force schools to fight to keep 16-year-olds from dropping out. But by all accounts, some 16-year-olds continue to leave Chicago high schools. And the change in the law had an unanticipated problem: When it came to alternative schools, the options for these young people were limited. Alternative schools are supposed to serve only students who have formally dropped out. Since 16-year-olds could no longer do that, schools were confused about... alternative schools > Read More
Missing: Black and Latino boys Sarah Karp In Humboldt Park’s Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, one stairwell is adorned with pictures of Puerto Rican male activists with quotes beneath that speak to the men’s cultural pride and pain. Principal Matt Rodriguez says he wants to communicate that the school—overall, one of the higher-performing alternative schools in Chicago—is a place where the oppression his students may feel is understood. Indeed, the school is named after one of the leading political figures in the Puerto Rican independence movement. Rodriguez hopes that the pictures and quotes resonate with the... alternative schools > Read More
WebExtra: A philosophy of engagement Phuong Ly During her senior year, Ashley Bond stopped attending classes for nearly two months. She didn’t care, because it seemed to her like nobody else did. At home, she says, she had a strained relationship with her foster mother; at Morgan Park High School, the large classes of 30 students made her feel like just another face in a crowd. But then a mentor urged her to transfer to Bronzeville Alternative Academic Center, now known as Innovations High School. Once enrolled, Bond hardly missed a day. She joined the student council and became active on the prom committee. The... alternative schools > Read More

Letter From the Editor

Dropout recovery: Tough job, but someone's got to do it

By: Lorraine Forte

As a writer and editor, I have a rule: Avoid the use of catch-phrases, clichés and jargon in articles whenever possible. Readers are better served by vivid illustration—with anecdotes, data, telling details or colorful quotes—than by overused or vague expressions.

Sidebar

Cash the key question in alternative schools expansion

By: Sarah Karp

Alternative education in Chicago is set to undergo a sea change, and one issue is certain to become paramount: Money.

Alternative education in Chicago is set to undergo a sea change, and one issue is certain to become paramount: Money. The number of alternative schools could balloon under the state’s new charter law...

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