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Current Issue

Adolescent Literacy

A raft of past programs have failed to substantially improve the reading skills of middle grade and high school students. CPS is trying once again, as part of a federal project that aims to help teens learn how to analyze complex non-fiction.

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Catalyst Notebook

Monday, April 29, 2013 - 1:07pm

Prison costs in Humboldt Park double spending on schools

By: Angela Caputo of The Chicago Reporter
Tags: school closings

Torrance Shorter stands in the rain outside of Martin A. Ryerson Elementary School one recent afternoon in a last-ditch effort to keep the grammar school from being merged with the nearby Laura S. Ward Elementary School next fall.

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Monday, April 29, 2013 - 9:07am

In the News: CPS closure czar is alderman's sister

By: Cassandra West
Tags: Ald. Pat O'Connor, Rahm Emanuel

Catherine Sugrue, the sister of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s City Council floor leader, Ald. Pat O'Connor, has been hired by the Chicago Public Schools to help with the controversial closures of dozens of schools, according to the Sun-Times.

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Friday, April 26, 2013 - 7:20am

In the News: State cuts off funding to UNO

By: Cassandra West
Tags: charter schools, UNO

Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration has cut off funding to the state’s largest charter-school operator, the politically influential United Neighborhood Organization, over insider deals it says violated terms of a $98 million state grant, according to a letter obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

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Thursday, April 25, 2013 - 5:26pm

Testing headed for scrutiny amid protest, boycott

By: Rebecca Harris
Tags: early childhood education, testing and accountability

Amid an escalating battle over standardized testing that included a “play-in” protest at CPS headquarters last week and a student boycott of the Prairie State Achievement Exam on Wednesday, CPS officials are undertaking a broad review of testing in the

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Thursday, April 25, 2013 - 7:22am

In the News: Clout opened door to spot at Payton Prep

By: Cassandra West
Tags: Arne Duncan, Bruce Rauner

Greg Hinz at Crain's reports on how potential GOP gubernatorial candidate and wealthy venture capitalist Bruce Rauner used his clout to get his daughter into Walter Payton College Prep High School by placing a call to former CPS chief Arne Duncan, according to sources with first-hand knowledge of the matter. Rauner owned a suburban home and his daughter could have attended wealthy New Trier High.

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Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - 6:00pm

Charters, closings questioned by board members

By: Sarah Karp
Tags: charter schools, CPS administration, school closings

CPS board members approved Wednesday the expansion of several charter networks but, in an unusual occurrence for an appointed board that usually accepts all of the administration’s recommendations, the proposals did not all earn unanimous votes.

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