Become a Catalyst member

Join the conversation

We encourage our readers to leave comments and engage in dialogue about our stories. But before you do, please check out our "rules of the road."

Recent Notebook Entries

Subscribe to catalyst-chicago.org by e-mail

catalyst-chicago.org feeds

Current Issue

School closings

As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.

Read More
Home › Catalyst Notebook

Catalyst Notebook

Monday, April 22, 2013 - 1:59pm

Concept Charter Schools get a green light

By: Sarah Karp
Tags: charter schools, CPS administration

Two new charter schools will open up this fall in Chicago, but neither will have a formal connection to CPS.

After CPS rejected Concept Charter School’s proposal to open two schools, the operator turned to the Illinois State Charter School Commission, which was created two years ago to handle appeals when proposals are turned down. The commission last month approved Concept’s plan to open two kindergarten-through-12th grade schools.

READ MORE | (31) COMMENTS
Monday, April 22, 2013 - 8:42am

In the News: CPS students plan to boycott state test

By: Cassandra West
Tags: standardized testing

A group of Chicago high school students plans to boycott part of this week’s state exam, because they say it’s unfair to judge whether their schools are good or not based on one test, WBEZ reports.

READ MORE | (2) COMMENTS
Friday, April 19, 2013 - 7:15am

In the News: Las Vegas recruiting CPS teachers

By: Cassandra West
Tags: CPS teachers

In the midst of Chicago’s school closings, Las Vegas plans to send recruiters to claim some of Chicago’s best teachers. (Medill Reports)

READ MORE | (10) COMMENTS
Thursday, April 18, 2013 - 12:51pm

Parent mentor program at risk of losing funds

By: Dona Fernandes
Tags: Logan Square Neighborhood Association

A year after winning state funding to expand a program aimed at getting parents actively involved in their children’s education, advocates spent Thursday in Springfield fighting to keep it going.

READ MORE | (2) COMMENTS
Thursday, April 18, 2013 - 9:00am

Digital divide among CPS students, schools: study

By: Sarah Karp
Tags: Consortium on Chicago School Research, technology

The vast majority of CPS middle school and high school students have access to the Internet, but only half of them regularly use it to do academic work.

That is one of the more unexpected findings of a Consortium on Chicago School Research study on technology use among CPS students, released today.

READ MORE | (11) COMMENTS
Thursday, April 18, 2013 - 8:56am

In the News: Stand for Children seizes an opening

By: Cassandra West
Tags: Stand for Children

A local chapter of the national education reform group Stand For Children, the well-funded, pro-charter organization that helped push through Illinois legislation for a longer school day and teacher evaluations, has been canvassing Chicago neighborhoods most affected by schools closings, according to WBEZ.

READ MORE | (0) COMMENTS