parent and community engagement | catalyst-chicago.org

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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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parent and community engagement

District postpones parent meeting on bargaining June 20, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris CPS has postponed a Monday night meeting that was to inform parents about the status of district negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union. Read More \| (2) Comments	Community groups get their wish for South Shore, Brighton Park schools May 23, 2012 By: Sarah Karp Board of Education members granted the wishes of two organized community groups in making polar opposite decisions about newly-built schools. South Shore International College Prep will have no neighborhood boundaries, starting in September. Meanwhile, a new elementary school at 48th and Rockwell will be reserved for attendance-area students. These decisions are the culmination of battles that began long before the current administration and board. They also show how different communities and parents look at schools in the current environment regarding choice. Read More \| (7) Comments
As contract talks heat up, teachers union seeks stronger ties with parents May 03, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris In recent weeks, teachers at dozens of schools have made efforts to reach out to parents about issues ranging from the longer school day and school funding to class sizes to teacher pay. Read More \| (18) Comments	Stand for Children holds Chicago kickoff April 15, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Several hundred people, including many parents and dozens of members of Students for Education Reform groups at local universities, packed a room at downtown Roosevelt University on Saturday morning for the launch of Stand for Children's Chicago chapter. Jesse Ruiz, a member of the Chicago Board of Education, pledged to work with the group to "prioritize resources for quality schools," and a number of elected politicians made similar pledges. Phillip Hampton, the district's executive director of family and community engagement, was also supportive. Read More \| (42) Comments
Deadline extended to run for local school councils March 07, 2012 By: Lindsay Abbassian Faced with a dearth of candidates, CPS has for the second time extended the deadline to register to run in next month’s local school council elections. Candidates now have until March 23rd to file. So far, only 2,060 candidates have been recruited for more than 6,800 open seats in the April 18th elections. Read More \| (3) Comments	New Schools for Chicago broadens parent outreach February 08, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris A year after announcing ambitious expansion plans, New Schools for Chicago – formerly known as the Renaissance Schools Fund – has hired new staff members and is embarking on a public campaign to promote new schools. Read More \| (4) Comments
Tensions rife at school closing hearings January 21, 2012 By: Catalyst Chicago staff Despite a snowstorm, hundreds turned out to Friday's round of school closing hearings, and tensions were high as supporters brought on yellow school buses clashed with parents, students and community activists. A fight between Crane students and some of the bused-in school closing supporters broke out at the hearing on the proposed phase-out of the West Side high school, according to WBEZ/Chicago Public Media. At the hearing on the planned closing of Price Elementary School, one mother left crying and screaming, “I’m done." Read More \| (18) Comments	Community groups band together against school closings November 22, 2011 By: Sarah Karp With a week left before Chicago Public Schools leaders announce school closings, nine community groups came together Tuesday to try to alter the conversation from shuttering neighborhood schools to investing in them. Read More \| (0) Comments
New school report card in the works October 24, 2011 By: Jim Broadway When the House and Senate reconvene this week, one item on their agenda will be a proposal from the Illinois P-20 Council for a more informative and understandable School Report Card. Read More \| (1) Comments