Catalyst Notebook

About a dozen members of the Business Leadership Council, an association of high-level, well-connected African-American business executives, delivered a letter to Mayor Rahm Emanuel in support of the school closures announced recently by CPS, which are taking place mostly at schools serving black children. At the same time, a group of mostly African American parents are calling on Emanuel to try out the often dangerous routes between the schools that Chicago Public Schools officials aim to close and the schools where their children will be sent instead. (Sun-Times)

In the News: Demand for charters a big unknown

Charter advocates and the Chicago Tribune editorial board say 19,000 kids are on charter school waiting lists in the city, but a WBEZ analysis found that the figure counts applications, not students, meaning if a student applies to four schools, he or she is counted four times. It includes kids who have turned down charter seats and are now enrolled in other schools.

In the News: State to probe UNO charter contracts

By: Cassandra

Tags: Juan Rangel

Gov. Pat Quinn’s executive inspector general has opened an investigation into the politically influential United Neighborhood Organization’s use of a $98 million state grant for new charter schools, in the wake of a Chicago Sun-Times report that UNO gave millions of dollars in contracts for the schools to companies with ties to the organization’s top officials.

In the News: Urban Prep's senior success rolls on

By: Cassandra West

Tags: high school graduates

With Mayor Rahm Emanuel on hand, the all-male Urban Prep Academy on Thursday celebrated a 100 percent college acceptance rate—again—for its graduating seniors. “Let us start celebrating as a city the kids who graduate and make it to college,” just as the city celebrates big sports championships, the mayor said in the gym of the Englewood campus. (Sun-Times)

In the News: Black clergy call closings 'land grab'

By: Cassandra West

Tags: school closings

Black ministers broke with Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday on the volatile issue of school closings and warned that the political firestorm could burn Emanuel’s re-election chances, according to the Sun-Times. Calling it a “land grab” that puts children in danger, they urged Emanuel to call off or scale back his plan to close 54 elementary schools.

CTU marches against closings

By: Lucio Villa and Rebecca Harris

Tags: school closings

Thousands of teachers, parents, students and supporters marched against school closings Wednesday, and more than 100 were arrested when they sat down on LaSalle Street in front of City Hall.

Valerie Nelson, who has two children at Lafayette Elementary in Humboldt Park, said she came to the rally because she is concerned closing the school will make her 6-year-old daughter who has autism "regress two years."

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