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Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, says she isn’t stepping down over an “inappropriate” joke she made about Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

While her remarks were insensitive, they were just 120 seconds of her 35-minute speech at a social justice event in Seattle last month, Lewis said Wednesday. (Sun-Times)

The Tribune's story on Lewis' press conference Wednesday quoted Julie Woestehoff, executive director of the parents' advocacy group PURE, who said the union president's toughness is needed in a time of crisis. "[Lewis]  and the union are in an uphill battle; teachers all over the country are under attack by very powerful people, including Rahm Emanuel," Woestehoff said. "Just taking the calm and measured approach is not going to fight off the slings and arrows that are coming at you."

Chicago Public Schools approved at its monthly meeting Wednesday an initiative to move to a single application process for all CPS high schools starting next fall. The move will make it easier for parents whose children are transitioning from elementary to high school in the fall of 2013. School officials said in a press release that the announcement is a "major step in the new leadership’s efforts to create a more transparent and streamlined system to improve school quality in every neighborhood."

The Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday heard arguments for and against upcoming school closings. CPS Portfolio Officer Oliver Sicat said  the district wants to close struggling schools and open new options in their place. (WBEZ)

Jean-Claude Brizard, CPS chief executive, is holding a teleforum with parents at 6:10 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 17. To join call 1-877-229-8493 toll-free from any phone and enter access code 18538 when prompted.  (Chicagonow.com/Yoga Mom blog)

IN THE NATION

The public school system in Durham, N.C., under pressure from federal civil rights authorities, must overhaul how it communicates with its large and growing population of Spanish-speaking parents. (Education Week blog)

The foundation of a prominent Southern California family said that it will give $4 million for an online program in Los Angeles that allows teachers to solicit donations to fund classroom projects. (Los Angeles Times)

Congress on Monday blocked rules proposed by the Agriculture Department that would have overhauled the nation’s school lunch program, giving a victory to makers of frozen pizzas, tomato paste and French fries. Food companies including ConAgra, Coca-Cola, Del Monte Foods and makers of frozen pizza like Schwan argued that the proposed rules would raise the cost of meals and require food that many children would throw away.  (The New York Times)

Turnaround for Children, a nonprofit organization that works in New York City schools, focuses on students’ psychological and emotional well-being, in addition to academics, to change their troublesome behavior.

In response to the allegations of sexual abuse of boys involving a former Penn State University assistant football coach, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal issued an executive order Wednesday that requires anyone working at a public Louisiana college who has witnessed child abuse or neglect to report it to law enforcement within 24 hours. (Education Week)

A new report from the National Center on Time & Learning, a research and advocacy group, makes the case for restructuring the school calendar to allow more learning time for science. (Education Week)