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Special Education

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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legislation

Charter funding bill not yet a done deal May 10, 2012 By: Jim Broadway SPRINGFIELD -- The Chicago Teachers Union and other charter critics spoke out strongly in opposition to a proposal that would increase the funding that school districts must provide for charter schools, squaring off against supporters who want equal funding with traditional public schools. Read More \| (14) Comments	State funding for Chicago schools on lawmaker's agenda April 10, 2012 By: Jim Broadway and Pam Monetti SPRINGFIELD - The House Elementary and Secondary Education-Appropriations Committee meets Thursday in Chicago to take testimony on programs funded through the Illinois State Board of Education budget. This committee will have a great deal to say about FY 2013 funding for programs that include After School Matters, started by the late Maggie Daley, and programs for dropouts and homeless students. Read More \| (0) Comments
Legislators grill Brizard on school closings, turnarounds April 02, 2012 By: Jim Broadway SPRINGFIELD -- Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard and members of his staff were grilled for more than two hours by legislators who sharply questioned the district’s decision-making on school closings and turnarounds and called for a summit of the CPS facilities task force. Read More \| (33) Comments	Chicago schools: 'tough year' in Springfield? February 23, 2012 By: Jim Broadway SPRINGFIELD--Halfway through his presentation of a bill to force the Chicago Public Schools to testify as to how it plans to spend block grant money it receives from the state, Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago) was asked to take the bill “out of the record.” Read More \| (3) Comments
Despite opposition, CPS moves ahead on closings, turnarounds February 22, 2012 By: Sarah Karp and Rebecca Harris Rejecting pleas from parents and grassroots activists not to move forward with school closings and turnarounds, School Board members unanimously approved actions that include a record 10 turnarounds in one year. Read More \| (20) Comments	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
New principal prep law will create visionary leaders focused on students June 09, 2010 By: Judy Erwin It’s all about student success. That is all anyone needs to know to appreciate the need, the scope, and the value of the School Leader Reform Act signed into law recently by Governor Pat Quinn to totally reform the way Illinois selects, trains, and certifies educational leaders to be principals in our schools. Read More \| (1) Comments	Lawmakers pass school closings proposal February 19, 2009 By: Staff Proposed legislation that would place a one-year moratorium on school closings and turnarounds passed unanimously Thursday in the Illinois House Elementary & Secondary Education Committee. Teachers and members of grassroots groups deluged committee members with phone calls in support of the proposal, sponsored by state Rep. Cynthia Soto and 19 other lawmakers. The proposal would also require CPS to craft a facilities plan. Read More \| (0) Comments
Duncan's task: Keep the spotlight on education December 17, 2008 By: Lorraine Forte Quick, name three of the last seven secretaries of education (not including Margaret Spellings). Outside the world of education, most people probably can’t—which says something about the level of attention the general public typically pays to the job, despite poll after poll that says we rank education as one of our top priorities. Read More \| (1) Comments

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