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.

extended day

April 09, 2012

In the recent series of neighborhood cultural conversations convened as part of the Chicago Cultural Plan 2012, the theme of “Ensuring K-12 Arts Education” was a dominant topic of discussion. Yet, the majority of attendees expressed their consensus regarding the dismal record of Chicago Public Schools in this area by giving it an overall grade of “D” in terms of its support of the arts for Chicago’s students. In spite of assertions made that the extended school day would result in expanded time for the arts, in reality it appears that the reverse is projected for the next school year.

March 30, 2012

Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Thursday he’s “very sensitive” to those who considered the Columbus Day and Pulaski Day school holidays a source of ethnic pride, but argued that lengthening the school year is more important. “I’m very sensitive to [the ethnic pride]. But there’s pride in having your kids have enough school days,” Emanuel said.

March 20, 2012

In the wake of a gifts scandal inside the Chicago Public Schools food services department, official said Monday that employees who oversee vendor contracts will begin a new round of training to reaffirm the district's code of ethics, according the Tribune.

March 19, 2012

Chicago Public Schools on Friday released its 2012-13 calendar, which adds 10 days to next year's schedule and increases the number of five-day school weeks to 29. Columbus Day and Pulaski Day will be eliminated in order to achieve that. Two report card pickup days have also been converted into attendance days for students.

February 01, 2012

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.

January 31, 2012

 

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.

January 30, 2012

Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard told about 250 people at Saturday's New Schools Expo at Soldier Field that the best school options come from improving neighborhood campuses rather than from increasing the number that have selective enrollment.

January 27, 2012

This morning's Tribune is reporting on faith-based groups that show their community support for Mayor Rahm Emanuel's controversial plans to lengthen the school day and close failing schools while also receiving millions of dollars in grants from his administration.

January 26, 2012

The Chicago Public Schools inspector general said Wednesday he is investigating reports that bused protesters were paid to carry signs or read scripts at school closing hearings, the Sun-Times reports.