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Even as CPS opens more new schools, children with special needs have a tougher time finding options. Placements in private therapeutic schools are scarce, and some charters are reluctant to enroll them.

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early childhood education

Infants and toddlers in lowest-quality care May 07, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Child care for Illinois’ infants and toddlers is lower-quality than that provided for preschool-age children, according to a Catalyst Chicago analysis. While that’s typical around the country, it is cause for alarm because a child’s youngest years are the most critical for brain development. Read More \| (1) Comments	As state mulls child care cuts, advocates head to Springfield May 02, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris As the Illinois General Assembly considers Gov Pat Quinn’s proposed cuts to state-funded child care—a move that would increase fees and reduce eligibility for low-income families—advocates are heading to Springfield Wednesday to speak up for that program and for early childhood education in general. Read More \| (0) Comments
In the News: Lawmakers OK more high school math options April 26, 2012 By: Cassandra West Illinois lawmakers approved a proposal Wednesday that would increase the range of courses that count toward meeting high school math requirements. Read More \| (0) Comments	Report: 4,000 fewer preschool slots in Illinois April 10, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Access to the state preschool program continued to shrink in fiscal year 2011, putting the state even further off track from its original plans to serve all 3- and 4-year-olds by this year. Read More \| (0) Comments
Symposium details child poverty effects, school funding disparities March 02, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Speakers at Friday's “Illinois Kids Count” symposium, put on by Voices for Illinois Children, touched on issues as wide-ranging as immigration policy and the state's school funding system. Follow the link below to read Catalyst Chicago's coverage on Storify. Read More \| (0) Comments	Child-parent centers to expand February 28, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Chicago’s child-parent centers are slated to expand and gain additional resources with a $15 million Investing in Innovation grant won last year by the University of Minnesota. The money will fund five new child-parent centers in Chicago, four in Evanston/Skokie District 65, and a total of 14 new locations in Normal School District 5, Milwaukee Public Schools, St. Paul (Minn.) Public Schools, and two other Minnesota districts. Read More \| (3) Comments
Union: Increase school spending by $713 million February 16, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Despite a sea of red ink in the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Teachers Union is calling for $713 million in new spending to beef up local school staffs, plus more changes that the union has not yet priced out. The union’s proposal comes in the midst of tough negotiations on a contract to replace the one that expires June 30. The board cancelled this year’s negotiated pay raise, due to financial constraints, and is expecting teachers to work longer hours beginning next school year. Read More \| (3) Comments	Capital projects on school board’s agenda January 24, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris At Wednesday’s meeting, the Chicago Board of Education will likely approve a number of remodeling, painting and construction projects, with much of the money spent at turnaround schools and for career education programs. More than $14 million will be spent on “Pathways Program” construction for career programs at Lindblom, Richards, Roosevelt, Schurz, Sullivan, and Simeon high schools, as well as other unspecified schools. Read More \| (1) Comments
Target, CPS officials tout Children's Literacy Initiative January 19, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Read More \| (0) Comments

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