catalyst-chicago.org

In a wide-ranging discussion Mayor Rahm Emanuel closed down the NewSchools Venture Fund-Aspen Institute Summit on Education Innovation Wednesday in San Francisco. During a speech and interview, Emanuel repeatedly said he was not in favor of charter schools, or turnaround schools, or magnet schools, but whatever schools get results.

"I'm for educational excellence," Emanuel said. "Any one of those jockeys that get us there, I'm for it."

In releasing its one-year and five-year capital plans late Wednesday, CPS stressed that the district is first trying to meet critical health and safety requirements and support student learning at the same time that it faces a deficit next year of up to $700 million. CPS also unveiled a new website with links to summaries of the plans, as well as an  interactive map, with links that allow users to download a dataset that includes detail by school, ward and area network, although not by fiscal year.

In a series of three “Teaching, Learning, and Power” discussions held at Chicago Public Media's Community Bureaus throughout March 2012, the Project on Civic Reflection, through their special program called the Teachers’ Inquiry Project, partnered with WBEZ to create opportunities for teachers to explore the conditions that make learning possible. Click here to listen to the conversation.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard appeared on WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" on Thursday to talk about the district's budget deficit and contract negotiations.

Chicago Public School lunchroom workers will receive a 2 percent raise for at least two years and see a five-year freeze on converting “cooking” kitchens to “warming kitchens” under a deal announced Thursday. (Tribune)

IN THE STATE
The Illinois Senate voted Thursday to end the abuse-ridden legislative scholarship program, which for more than a century has enabled lawmakers to dole out free college tuition to the children of campaign donors and other political insiders. (Sun-Times)

Former Grayslake Elementary District 46 board member Michael Linder, whose engineering consultant contract with the school system came under scrutiny earlier this year, has resigned that position. (Daily Herald)

IN THE NATION
More than 400 Texas school districts have signed a resolution to take a stand against the current testing system in which every Texas public school is graded. (KXAN)