Community schools support immigrant students, strengthen democracy by Carlos Azcoitia August 16, 2010
Immigration and community-focused schools reflect and strengthen the core values of democracy in America. Both are just and wise investments. Our country was founded on the principles of freedom and economic and educational opportunities.

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A 'bottom-up' approach to make after-school programs more effective by Montana Butsch June 22, 2010
Despite modest increases in the number of available after-school opportunities for our young people over recent years, the demand for quality programs far outpaces the supply.  According to Chapin Hall, an independent policy research institute, and the Chicago Out-of-School Time (OST) Project, there are only enough publicly funded opportunities to reach a little more than one-third of Chicago’s teens.  Last summer, the number of applicants to the City’s YouthReadyChicago summer jobs program was more than 70,000—for fewer than 30,000 jobs. 

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New principal prep law will create visionary leaders focused on students by Judy Erwin June 9, 2010

It’s all about student success.

That is all anyone needs to know to appreciate the need, the scope, and the value of the School Leader Reform Act signed into law recently by Governor Pat Quinn to totally reform the way Illinois selects, trains, and certifies educational leaders to be principals in our schools.

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Suspended because I ‘didn’t know when to keep [my] mouth shut’ by David Stovall June, 2009
From kindergarten to 4th grade, I had serious problems in school. It started the day I came home and told my father that Columbus had discovered America, something that I had just learned in school. Instead of being excited about my “good news,” he had a reality check for me.
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Use stimulus funds to expand vision for high-quality early education by Eboni Howard and Celina Chatman-Nelson May 18, 2009
Our nation is making unprecedented investments in supporting young children’s development and well-being. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides more than $2 billion in one-time funding to expand and improve Head Start and Early Head Start; more than $2 billion for high-quality child care for parents seeking employment or pursuing higher education; and a significant earmark for early intervention and special education services for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. States are also eligible to receive additional stimulus dollars for early childhood education.
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