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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In the News: Emanuel gets a lesson from CTU
By: Cassandra West / July 18, 2012
The Sun-Times says Mayor Emanuel is learning a lesson from teachers in the union contract flap, after two legislative moves he championed—the 75 percent strike authorization threshold and the fact-finding process—both blew up in his face.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday disregarded a fact finder's recommendation that teachers receive a 15 to 20 percent pay bump next year, saying the idea is "not tethered to reality." (WBEZ)
Chicago's teachers could strike a blow for organized labor globally. (The Guardian)
Here's a timeline compiled by the Tribune on CPS/CTU contract talks.
Arbitrator scolds CPS, teachers union for stubbornness as threat of strike looms. (Tribune)
IN THE STATE
A federal mediator is assisting Niles Township High School District 219 and its teachers union with settling next year’s contract, according to a joint statement from the two parties. (Lincolnwood Review)
IN THE NATION
Los Angeles Unified and Future Is Now, a reform organization led by charter pioneer Steve Barr, announced a partnership to create "hybrid learning" middle and high schools for the 2013-14 school year. (Los Angeles Daily News)
Educators and advocacy groups across California are eyeing a class-action lawsuit filed by dozens of laid-off Sacramento teachers who say their school district unlawfully deviated from strictly following seniority-based layoffs. (The Sacramento Bee)
The Obama administration unveiled plans Wednesday to create an elite corps of master teachers, a $1 billion effort to boost U.S. students' achievement in science, technology, engineering and math. (Daily Reporter)
Representatives from several large suburban districts announced they are forming a coalition to represent the unique needs of the nation's large countywide school systems. (Education Week)
quote from Sen. Lightford about Emanuel's expectations from law.
"State Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood), who oversaw the creation of the law that inserted a fact-finder into the CTU-CPS contract mix, said she agreed that CPS created a problem by imposing a longer day in the middle of a fiscal crisis. Initially, Lightford said, Emanuel hoped to achieve this with no pay hike whatsoever.
“The mayor wants to increase the school day and I agree with that,’’ Lightford said. “But I think that all of us need to take into consideration that there had to be some type of compensation that went along with it. Somehow it got separated and became the big kahuna in the room.’’
Lightford noted that district officials repeatedly insisted that teachers should have waited for the fact-finder’s report before authorizing a strike.
“Now the fact-finder comes up with things they don’t agree with,’’ Lightford said. “We should follow the law, whether you like it or not.’’
http://www.suntimes.com/13843616-761/back-to-school-campaign-launches-de...
Parent wonders why Brizard is paid $263000 and benefits
"if you don't have $ for teachers you need to lead by example"
For CPS to box the CTU into a
For CPS to box the CTU into a position where the only thing they can bargain for is salary and wages has blown up in Rahm's face as well. It's also not a good position for the CTU to have the conversation around teacher dissatisfaction, center around money. The CTU did not get a 90% strike authorization vote because of money but because of work conditions.Senate Bill 7 mandates force the union to tailor it's conversation around fiscal matters and makes the teachers look very bad in the eyes of the public. If the teachers get the raise, veteran teachers will be replaced with interns, program cuts will happen and class size will increase,. This is a no win for everyone!
Rahm and Romney alike
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/romneys-plan-for-schools-sounds-lik...
Obama to help bride this? Rahm uses Kupper, a partner at AKPD,
a firm started by David Axelrod, who, as we all know, is President Obama's chief political strategist. So you have Axelrod's firm helping lead an antiunion campaign in the president's hometown while Romney assails Obama for being a tool of the unions.
Look at it this way, teachers: by working longer for less and
losing your tenure and watching while one school after another gets handed over to the charters, you're doing your part to help reelect President Obama. Not that Mayor Emanuel, his former chief of staff, will thank you.
If Emanuel is such a good-hearted person who always claims he
wants what’s best for the children all the time with disregard for compensation for such work, why doesn’t he donate a good portion of his high salary to make his Chicago Public School plans work? If he would set an example of self-generosity, maybe his demands on others to donate their time would be much better received.
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