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School closings

As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.

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government and policy

Chicago lawmakers file bills to rein in school closings, class sizes February 06, 2012 By: Jim Broadway SPRINGFIELD - When Chicago catches a cold, the Illinois General Assembly coughs. The state legislature has been hacking like a two-pack-a-day smoker over school actions in the Chicago Public Schools—closings, phase-outs, changes in attendance boundaries and other moves that critics say are disruptive for students and the surrounding neighborhoods. (Find the district’s facilities plan online.) Read More \| (12) Comments	State issues draft rules for new performance evaluations November 18, 2011 By: Sarah Karp and Rebecca Harris Growth in student learning would count initially for at least 25 percent and eventually 30 percent of teacher and administrator evaluations, under new rules that won preliminary state approval on Friday. The impact of the new rules will be wide ranging, affecting, for example, the state's recognition of teacher preparation programs as well as teacher tenure and layoff decisions. Read More \| (4) Comments
Duncan, Emanuel tout longer school day; legal experts say union challenge may have merit September 09, 2011 By: Sarah Karp and Rebecca Harris Education Secretary Arne Duncan came back to Chicago on Friday to pat state and local leaders on the back for two things: passing state legislation on education and paving the way to accomplish one of the things he didn’t as schools CEO: lengthening the school day. But his successor won’t avoid labor strife as district officials try to accomplish a move that Duncan and his boss, former Mayor M. Richard Daley, could not. Read More \| (14) Comments	Board updates student rules, responds to fired teachers July 27, 2011 By: Rebecca Harris Revisions to the CPS Student Code of Conduct passed at Wednesday’s board meeting did not satisfy advocates for reforming school discipline procedures, though some said they were a step in the right direction. Read More \| (3) Comments
Illinois law on teacher tenure, union rights touted as model for other states July 13, 2011 WASHINGTON—The new Illinois law that overhauls teacher tenure, collective bargaining, layoff procedures, and the right to strike took the stage in the nation’s capital on Wednesday, with several key people behind the measure holding it up as a model for other states. Read More \| (28) Comments	Technology boosts learning, but CPS behind curve July 07, 2011 At North Lawndale College Prep Charter, students watch educational videos on YouTube. They upload their own work, which has included mini-documentaries on gun violence and bullying. Instead of raising their hand to answer a question, they might pull out cell phones to text answers to their teacher. Read More \| (8) Comments
Quinn to sign tenure reform law; voucher bill dead June 09, 2011 On Monday, Gov. Pat Quinn is scheduled to sign Senate Bill 7, the landmark bill that makes sweeping changes to teacher tenure and strike rights. Read More \| (15) Comments	SB 7 goes to the governor to become law May 12, 2011 The Illinois House of Representatives has passed Senate Bill 7 – a bill to reform teacher tenure and rights to strike – by a 116-1 vote. The bill is a result of negotiations that began in December. It passed the Senate in mid-April and now goes to the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn to be signed into law. Read More \| (20) Comments
Bill to curb tenure, strike rights moves forward over teachers' union objections May 11, 2011 CTU President Karen Lewis speaks at a School Board meeting in October. [Catalyst file photo by Marc Monaghan] The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday approved Senate Bill 7 – a bill to make it easier to dismiss inept teachers and harder for unions to strike – by a vote of 24-0. Since the bill has not been amended in the House, it would go directly to Gov. Pat Quinn to sign into law if it is approved on the full House floor. The Chicago Teachers Union made late objections to the bill last week because of provisions on strike votes and the process of resolving conflict during contract negotiations, and CTU President Karen Lewis reiterated the concerns during debate Wednesday. Read More \| (6) Comments

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