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Turning Around Marshall

Marshall High and other turnaround high schools, in Chicago and nationally, face a thorny dilemma. Higher-performing students are being siphoned off through competition, driving down enrollment and raising tough policy questions about the future of these schools.

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Catalyst Notebook

Friday, February 3, 2012 - 9:01am

In the News: CPS pays millions for unused time off

By: Cassandra West
Tags: City Colleges, Jean-Claude Brizard

Cash-strapped though it is, Chicago Public Schools spends tens of millions of dollars annually to departing employees for unused time off, the Sun-Times reports.

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Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 6:35am

In the News: CPS lifts YouTube ban

By: Cassandra West
Tags: digital learning

As part of its efforts to expand digital learning in the classroom, Chicago Public Schools is lifting a ban on YouTube.

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Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 9:36am

In the News: Emanuel interview on "choice" irks CTU

By: Cassandra West
Tags: charter schools, Mayor Emanuel

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is featured in a new online video produced by the Michigan-based Education Action Group Foundation and Fox News political analyst Juan Williams that promotes charter schools and rips the Chicago Teachers Union. (Chicago News Cooperative)

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Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 9:22am

A longer day at Fiske

By: Lindsay Abbassian
Tags: extended day

Fiske Elementary in Woodlawn is one of 13 schools that opted to introduce a longer school day beginning in September 2011. As a "pioneer," Fiske Principal Cynthia Miller and her staff were able to design their own schedule without any constraints.

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Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - 6:27am

In the News: Emanuel mum on churches' support for ed agenda

By: Cassandra West
Tags: Board of Education, Mayor Emanuel

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Monday declined to say whether it’s appropriate for faith-based groups that have become vocal public supporters of his controversial education agenda to receive millions of dollars in contracts from his administration. (Tribune)

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Monday, January 30, 2012 - 11:12pm

Piccolo, Casals staff: Give current leadership a chance

By: Rebecca Harris
Tags: Academy for Urban School Leadership, turnarounds

In the first set of hearings on proposed turnarounds, district officials made their case that Casals and Piccolo elementary schools need a whole new set of staff. But they were countered by parents and teachers who asserted the schools had already suffered repeated changes in programs and turnover in leadership.

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