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Current Issue

Adolescent Literacy

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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Catalyst Notebook

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 7:52am

In the News: Extended school day; performance-pay model

By: Cassandra West

CPS officials considering a plan to bring an eight-hour school day to up to 100 struggling schools. (Sun-Times)

Performance-pay model for teachers shows no evidence of student achievement boost. (Education Week)

"Preliminary results from a Chicago program containing performance-based compensation for teachers show no evidence that it has boosted student achievement on math and reading tests, compared with a group of similar, nonparticipating schools, an analysis released today concludes."

CORE pressing CPS for e-mails between school execs about budget process. (Medill News)

North Lawndale College Prep celebrates 153 days of peace. (WBEZ)

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 - 7:36pm

Quinn signs bill raising standards for principal prep

By: Rebecca Harris
Tags: government and policy

In a ceremony today at Bell Elementary School in North Center, Governor
Pat Quinn signed a bill that will make it tougher to become a principal
in Illinois.

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 - 8:13am

In the News: 'Summer slide' prevention; behavior improvements

By: Cassandra West

Huberman cites 'culture of calm' in improvement in student
behavior problems at six schools.

CPS to hand out 8,600 books to help prevent 'summer slide' among low-income students. (USA Today)

Can a $50 stack of paperback books do as much for a child's academic fortunes as a $3,000 stint in summer school?

An experimental program in seven states may help answer that question this summer as districts from Nevada to South Carolina give thousands of low-income students an armful of free books.

11 seeking to fill one District 300 board vacancy (Daily Herald)

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Friday, May 28, 2010 - 1:52pm

Perspectives Calumet marks first graduation

By: Sarah Karp
Tags: new schools

The ceremony at Perspective Calumet Charter School on Thursday was more like a victory celebration than a graduation. Amid cheers and applause, the outgoing seniors were reminded several times that they are special as the first graduating class.

“It is a great day for you, a great day for Auburn Gresham and a great day for Chicago,” boomed Rev. Michael Pfleger, the priest at St. Sabina Church, who kicked off the ceremony. 
St. Sabina is located in Auburn Gresham.

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Friday, May 28, 2010 - 11:41am

Q&A with Diane Ravitch, author, New York University professor

By: Catalyst Staff
Tags: Q&A

A Catalyst Conversation with Diane Ravitch from Catalyst Chicago on Vimeo.

Earlier this spring, Catalyst hosted a conversation for its members with Diane Ravitch, a prominent education scholar who made big waves when she reversed ground and came out against such controversial measures as charters and high-stakes testing and accountability. The title of her new book is “The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education.” This is an edited transcript of remarks during the Catalyst Conversation.

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Friday, May 28, 2010 - 7:10am

In the News: summer learning shortfalls, budget misstep

By: John Myers

Chicago youth who violate curfew this summer will be sent to the park. (Tribune)

"The park district buildings will be an easier place for young people to wait than a police station, and an easier place for us to communicate with the parents who come to pick up their own children," Daley said...

* Former CTU President Deborah Lynch throws her support behind Karen Lewis in teacher union runoff. (WBEZ)

* A new report from America After 3PM suggests that just one in four Illinois children will attend summer learning programs.

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