catalyst-chicago.org

Expect the Chicago Teachers Union to announce later this morning that more than 75 percent of its members voted to authorize a strike, say several news sources including Catalyst, the Tribune and WBEZ.

This school year will mark the Chicago Public Schools' highest-ever graduation rate, projected to be 60.6 percent.

Chicago Public Schools announced Saturday that more than 60 percent of their 2007-2008 freshmen graduated last year, calling it a history-making record. (Catalyst)

A CPS spokeswoman said the projection reflects the number of students who already graduated plus those expected to graduate after summer school or a fifth year. (WBEZ)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel exclaimed CPS' record graduation rate with particular focus on Christ the King Jesuit Prep in Austin, which is sending 100 percent of its graduating seniors to college. Emanuel spoke to the Class of 2012 at Morgan Park High School, where 80 percent of seniors are graduating, and Golder College Prep, where 100 percent of seniors are graduating.

CPS Chief Executive Officer Jean-Claude Brizard says one of his top priorities, besides working out a new contract with the Chicago Teachers Union, is closing the achievement gap among a number of schools.

Brizard spoke Sunday at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church about the challenges the school district is facing.

The University of Chicago Urban Teacher Education Program and City Year have established a "give a year Partnership" to offer City Year corps members, alumni, and staff the opportunity to continue to serve their community as Chicago Public Schools teachers. City Year corps members, alumni or staff who are admitted to UChicago UTEP's 2-year teacher certification and MAT-degree granting program will be eligible for reduced tuition. (Press release)

Only 700,000 of the 35 million borrowers with student debt take part in a relatively new program that allows students to pay off student loans based on a percentage of their income once they graduate. (Sun-Times)

IN THE NATION
Nationally, Hispanics are less likely than some other U.S. population groups to enroll their children in preschool. Not so in Perth Amboy, N.J., according to Education Week.

Fresh off a victory in Wisconsin's June 5 recall election, Republican Gov. Scott Walker could have a fresh mandate to pursue significant changes to the state's school system and the night of his re-election stressed "education reform" as a major priority. (Education Week)

Many Florida students, tested through their senior year, failed standardized exams after the state revised its scoring criteria for the 2011-12 school year.

The Los Angeles Unified School District and the teachers union reached a tentative agreement Friday that would prevent thousands of layoffs in exchange for one year of pay reductions. (Los Angeles Times)