catalyst-chicago.org

Five major technology companies are joining with Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges to open six-year public high schools that allow students to graduate with an associate’s degree and the skills needed to qualify for high-tech jobs, the Sun-Times reports.

IBM, Cisco, Microsoft, Motorola Solutions and Verizon will develop curricula, mentor students, provide summer internships and guarantee every student who completes the program a “first-in-line” job interview after graduation.

Local tech companies welcomed the city’s plan to create six-year high schools that would award students associate degrees in tech fields when they graduate. SingleHop, a data center operator with sites at 601 W. Polk and in Elk Grove Village, would hire grads for jobs such as datacenter technicians, system administrators, system developers and network engineers, company officials said. (Sun-Times)

During an interview to be aired Friday on NBC's "Ward Room, CTU President Karen Lewis says Mayor Rahm Emanuel told her that "25 percent of the students in Chicago are never going to be anything – never going to amount to anything – and he was never going to throw money at them." (Examiner)

Arts programming was a factor leading to improved standardized test scores at three schools in Chicago over three years, according to a report released today by the educational arts non-profit Changing Worlds and Loyola University. The study is just the latest calling for more arts education in Chicago Public Schools. (Tribune)

IN THE STATE
Politicians exerted their influence at the University of Illinois to boost admissions prospects for the relatives of lobbyists, fundraisers, a union leader and other connected applicants, a Tribune investigation has found.

More than 125 of the University of Illinois' highest profile faculty members have said they have "no confidence" in school President Michael Hogan and have called for his removal. (Tribune)

A bill to raise the age at which Illinois students can drop out of high school from 17 to 18 was approved by a state Senate committee Tuesday. (Peoria Star Journal)

IN THE NATION
Performance ratings for 217 New York City charter school teachers were made public on Tuesday but city officials cautioned that because of missing information, the reports cannot be used to objectively compare the quality of a public school versus charter school education. (The New York Times)

Teach for Us blogger Gary Rubinstein analyzes NYC's value added data.

Administrative positions with the word "innovation" in the title are cropping up in school districts and state education departments nationwide.

An external panel that includes several prominent critics of teacher education has been tapped to craft the performance standards for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the new organization's leaders announced last week. (Education Week)