Education & School News, Notes

News, Opportunities, Deadlines, Trends of the Schools and of Education in the Hyde Park-Kenwood Area and Chicago

A service of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee and the Conference's website www.hydepark.org.
Help support our work: Join the Conference!
Join the Schools Committee-contact chairman: Nancy Baum.

VISIT FEBRUARY 23 2010 CEREMONY AND FORUM page.
The next regular Schools Committee meeting is March 1, Monday, 7 pm, 1448 E. 53rd St. Blackstone entry.

To page contents Currie/Raoul letter to Huberman on selective admissions rules

Related site pages
Note: News of/from individual schools: News of Schools, Kenwood, Canter.
Discussions of relations of students and business and gulf between youth and adults in Hyde Park are in Community/Business and Students/Youth, Kenwood, and News of Schools/Kenwood pages. Discussion of students and the 2005 robberies/batteries is in the Robberies and Community Safety pages. Charter school discussion is in UC and Schools.

To Schools Hot Topics
To Schools Committee page. Visit page about Feb. 23 2010 Awards Cer. and Forum
To Education Resources
To access After school and other Kids offering and HPKCC Youth Programs Database in PDF A major project of the Schools Committee
To a more complete description of the CPS After School/Office of Extended Learning Opportunities programs (separate page).
To Promise Zones, Proposal for Assets-building in our schools
To Schools Directory with missions, descriptions, vitae
To LSC meeting schedule, council rosters, elections
To Some School and Student Award and Recognitions
To Renaissance 2010 and now-abandoned Mid South plans description, discussions, controversy. CPS 2010 website: www.ren2010.cps.k12.il.us.feedback.asp
 To Schools Tests and Rankings- citywide 2005 results, scores/ analysis. What does the 2006 surge mean?
To News of and from various schools
To Kenwood Academy page
To Murray-Nichols additions Dedication.
To University of Chicago school initiatives, teacher opportunities, charter schools (navigate to subpages there on charters, research results.
To Chicago Metro History Fair page
To Chicago Academic Games League Program of HPKCC
 To Tracking Community Trends I (-Schools. What the schools face and need for improvement)

Here:

Registrations, classes, and open houses, benefits scholarships; magnet schools. Scholarships available

Bulletins and shorts. More fight than reform? 2008 wrap up.
Of local probation, certain schools seemingly stuck on hold, and attendance and what schools are doing about it:
Do new magnet rules make the situation worse?
State makes deep slashes in early, mental, afterschool education and not paying bills since July 2009
PACs- encouraged but constrained?
Should Murray re-establish a middle school?
Stimulus funds reported. More. Kenwood Brotherhood publishes
Why Freshmen on Track matters
UC April 2009 forum and schools
Legislators blast CPS on new non-race standards, new magnet rules
Rep. Meeks initiatives- that to end LSC powers bombs

Being involved in our schools and taking advantage of resources out there (See After School page)

Out at last. A new CPS guide to integrating the arts (including social studies and sciences) into the curriculum and creating full engagement with arts program providers was released as of October 23. It was announced at, inter alia, the HPKCC Schools Committee September 29 2009 Networking Dinner for Schools and LSCs. For details contact artseducation@cps.k12.il.us. It's called the "Chicago Guide for Teaching and Learning in the arts."

Events/Meetings/Requirements/

Don't miss your local school council meeting- revised schedules. See the LSCs page.

The next meeting of the HPKCC Schools Committee is April 5, Monday, 7 pm, United Church, 1448 E. 53rd, Blackstone entry. Discussion and planning continue on our forum and awards dinner. Get involved in the meetings of the HPKCC Schools Committee! Chair Nancy Baum.

March 13, Saturday, 9 am-12:30 pm. 2010 Schools Diversity Job Fair for teachers, staff, adminitrators of color intersted in careers at independent schools. Learn about individual participating schools and programs, speak with representatives, attend a diversity presentation by a panel of representatives from sponsoring schools.
Participating: Ancona, Baker Demonstration, Breck, Catherine Cook, Avery Coonley, Lake forest, Near North Montessori, North Park Elementary, North Shore Country Day School, Roger Park Montessori, Sacred Heart, Summit, Chicago Waldorf. Sponsors: UC Laboratory, Francis Parker, Latin School. Where: UC Lab Schools, 1362 E. 59th St. Register at ucls.uchicago.edu/diversityjobfair.

March 23, Tuesday. 6- pm. Area-wide enrichment and afterschool fair at Reavis School, 834 E. 50th St.

Getting ready for school: health forms

October 15 is the yearly deadline for all students to be up-to-date on their health forms (vision, dental, physical, immunizations.) Proof must be provided or they face exclusion. Printable forms are online from CPS. Exam is required for entering grades K, 6, 9 prior to October 15.
Vision- K and any student enrolling for the first time in CPS.
Dental exams by a licensed dentist - if in K, 2, 6 - prior to May 15 of current school year.

So, schedule visits now to physician or clinic, or at a school health center. Call Coordinated School Health at 773 553-1830.

CPS 2009-2010 Calendar

Aug. 10 school starts Track E (year round schools)
Sept. 8 school starts all others
Sept. 23 school board meets
Oct. 1 applicn opens for magnet schools and programs
Oct. 3 National College Fair-Navy Pier- nacacnet.org
Oct. 3 Options for Knowledge Elem School Fair 0-12 at Malcolm X
Oct. 10 High School Fair
Oct. 15 Deadline to submit Health Form. From CPS website Wellness and Transportation section
Oct. 28 school board meets
Oct. 29 Principal for a Day
Nov. 1 Daylight Savings ends
Nov. 6 First quarter ends- grades online at https://parent.cps.k12.il.us
Nov. 18 school board meets
Nov. 28 Prep Bowl
Dec. 16 Report cards. School board meets
Dec. 18 Applic deadline for magnets- 773 553-2060 hotline
Jan. 4 classes resume
Jan 27 school board meets
Feb. 3 Report cards for 2nd quarter (mailed to homes)
Feb. 24 school board meets
Mar.2-12 Elementary ISAST testing- tips: cps.edu
Mar. 10 Progress report distribution
Mar. 14 Daylight Savings starts
Mar. 24 school board meets
Mar. 29 spring break
Apr. 5 classes resume
Apr. 9 3rd quarter ends
Apr. 28 school board meets
Apr 28 High School PSAE testing
May 15 Deadline for dental forms
May 19 Progress report distrib. day
May 26 school board meets
June 18 4th quarter ends, report card distribution and last day of school
June 21 Summer School ends
June 21-July 31 summer program for grades 3, 6, 8
June 21- Aug. 20 High school summer programs (dates vary)
July 6 school board meets
Aug. 21 school board meets

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Registrations, enrollment informationals and Open Houses

 

Next visits to invite by UC Charter to its schools: March 23 Donoghue, April 17, Woodlawn, May 12 Woodson. Contact Thomas Wick, twick@uchicago.edu if you are interested.

 

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Scholarships, Workshops, enrollments, contests, concerts, dramas, fairs etc.

 

Getting ready for school: health forms

October 15 is the deadline for all students to be up-to-date on their health forms (vision, dental, physical, immunizations.) Proof must be provided or they face exclusion. Printable forms are online from CPS. Exam is required for entering grades K, 6, 9 prior to October 15.
Vision- K and any student enrolling for the first time in CPS.
Dental exams by a licensed dentist - if in K, 2, 6 - prior to May 15 of current school year.

So, schedule visits now to physician or clinic, or at a school health center. Call Coordinated School Health at 773 553-1830.

December 9, Wednesday, 6 pm. The U of C Civic Knowledge's Odyssey Project and Educating the Community (EduCom Weblog) section of Cafe Society meets to discuss reports on how difficult it is for many to attend college and what can be done including through access to preparation in high school. Cafe Society is a project of the Illinois Humanities Council's (http://www.prairie.org) The Public Square. This section of Cafe Society meets 3rd Wednesdays at I House (a different section meets every Thursday 7 pm at Valois Cafeteria.) International House Tiffin Room, 1414 E. 59th St. Link to view: http://lucian.uchicago.edu/blogs/educom/2009/12/01/cafe-society-wednesday-dec-9th-600-700-pm/.

Get started now for high school and college/post college kids to get in gear for scholarships and internships. Examples: University of Chicago full-tuition scholarships for 20 CPS students. City of Chicago internships, high school through college grads- contact ward offices for information as the alderman have a certain number of nominations. (Include resume of studies and interests.) Did you know that a third of CPS college scholarships go begging?- Generous Chicagoans contribute to these scholarships, some in seven figures. A recommended search and info engine: http://www.scholarshiphelp.org

Non-CPS 8th grade applicants to CPS schools having lotteries must take a test, usually in March. Call 773 553-2150 for information.
Get ready for next year's CPS high school magnet programs and magnet schools. Apply by c December 17 yearly for both elementary and high schools. Get the "Education Opportunities" Directory (at schools, libraries, park district offices, aldermanic offices), call 773 553-2060 or go to www.chicagomagnetprograms.org. The high school applications are at high schools, elementary via the previous website.

Middle/Jr. High kids: Start thinking now about college; if you're in CPS enroll in the GEARUP program (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). In its six years (just renewed) it has been shown to make a real difference. Your cluster of schools will be teamed with a college or university (U of C is one). The program includes tutoring, trips to college campus, adventure education, training in resume-application-financial aid, and career exposure.

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy has a monthly quiz contest for kids- win IPod or computer. CyberQuiz4Kids. Quizzes online at imsa.edu.

AT&T children's art programs "Creative Kids". Under 12. See your art in the 2007 Yellow Pages. rhdforteachers.com.

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Bulletins

In 2010, Senator Meeks introduced 4 education reform bills. One, to eliminate powers of local school councils, is thought to be not such a good idea by many schools advocacy groups. For instance Kenwood Oakland community Organization/Mid south Education Association met with grassroots organizations and service providers (New Horizons, Rainbow PUSH, Clergy for Community, LSCs including Bret Harte) to create a strategy to fight the bill, because may lscs are effective, provide a che,c and account for a very diverse education system.We are informed there is no support for the Meeks bill and it will die in committee. Other of his bills include to allow students of the 10 lowest performing schools to opt to charter or private at CPS expense, make the school board elective, and provide a host of charter vouchers. Sen. Meeks decided not to call his bill.

Disappointing news about Hyde Park High- alleged massive grade inflation as a "culture" in the school, according to the March 10, 2010 Sun-Times.

More fight than reform in 2009?

Parents for Responsible Education (PURE) won standing for its case that CPS is eliminating in its reopened schools LSCs that are elected and or more than advisory contrary to state law. The case dragged on, but a new state law seemed to give more leeway to CPS.

A Coalition that includes PURE and Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOCO) Mid South School group (Grassroots Education Movement or GEM) held demonstrations and took other actions on school closures and movement of students between schools (asserted by them to be an aggravator of teen violence as a Fenger) and to ask for return to neighborhood schools in some places. Several public officials expressed similar concerns and/or opposed appointment of Ron Huberman as head of CPS alleging lack of experience.

The Consortium on Chicago School Research at UC issued several reports (as did Chapin Hall). Getting most attention was that students moved to other schools in closures showed no improvement, in large part because they were sent to schools performing as badly.

There was a race on between school cutbacks due recession-driven fall in local and state revenues and infusions from the federal stimulus programs and the new state capital budget.

2008 wrap up. From a year-end wrap up by Gary Ossewaarde, whose views it expresses.

Arne Duncan, CPS CEO was chosen for Education Secretary by President-Elect Barack Obama. Duncan is a life-long Hyde Parker and long active in both public and private education. The response was enthusiastic although with reservations about the policies of CPS toward support or closings of schools, especially in low-income neighborhoods and hostility toward Local School Councils and other forms of local input or control.
Concern was expressed about local schools lagging in repairs and upkeep. The 53rd TIF joined with CPS in funding major repairs to Canter Middle School, although the needed expansion is still not in sight. Kenwood Academy received a very extensive Disabilities upgrade. Award-winning Ray School remained uncertain as to when repairs will be made. CPS is sending teams around to all the schools.
UC Laboratory Schools launched major planning and fundraising for the schools and their expansion, nursery to high.
Kenwood Academy: lunch privileges now depend on performance, about 350 of 1700 can go off campus. There is still controversy as to whether Kenwood is turning around and the strong parts maintaining position or improving.
Akiba-Schechter dedicated a new playground sponsored by Bill Coleman and Carol Groover and Jewish Funders.
Principal changes: Gregory Mason succeeded Michael Keno as Principal at Murray Language Academy.
Ongoing concerns for schools and their supporters are continued devolution of responsibilities upon them by CPS to raise funds for everything from supplies, to after school programs, to training, to repairs.

Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee put on line a comprehensive listing of after school and related activity providers. The Committee also held banquets with speakers for outgoing and incoming local school councils and their principals. Among information furnished was that on grant writing and finding funds and donations and how to improve further as LSCs.

Stimulus funning: Illinois will get about $3 billion for schools and other educational funding out of $100 billion for the same. The state has appropriated in order to get this $9 million for tacking all Illinois students through their school years.

 

Probation:
At the end of 2009, three local elementary schools (Shoesmith, Reavis, Kozminski) were put on probation. Responsible are combination of falling or non-advancing scores and failure to meet on-time and attendance (95%) standards. While the scores certainly were not advancing (and mostly dropping for 2009), thus not meeting the objective of the school "growing" with real impact on student growth year to year. The new practice of comparing two current years with the two before that to get trends and of insisting all scores advance, as well as using the work "probation" which used to mean next step to closing or cleaning house were by some called a disservice (the Herald said "staining" schools that are trying mightily with limited resources.

So, what were the scores?
Shoesmith: ISAT reading: 2006 68.6%, 2007 59, 2008 73, 2009 63 (quite a see-saw)
Exceeding ISAT: 2006-07 11%, 2008 12.8, 2009 8.7 (is this a bump or a setback?)
ISAT exceed state stand. highest grade: 2007 10.3%, 2008 9.3, 2009 8 (consistent drop)
Attendance : 94.3 vs req'd 95%

Canter: ISAT reading: 2006 78.2, 2007 81.1, 2008 84.2, but in 2009 80.4 (does this mean stagnant?)
ISAT Math: 2006-07 73%, 2008 77.7, but 2009 a modest drop to 75.6
Science: 2006 81.6, 2007-08 73, 2009 66.4 (looks like an ongoing slide)

Reavis: ISAS Math 2006 43.3, 2007 51.7, 2008 57.4, 2009 53.5 (is this 1-year slide meaningful?)
Science: 2006 46.2, 2007 44.4, 2008 41.1, 2009 35.3 (steadily from bad to worse)
Attendance: 94.8 (nearly at the minimum).

So what are some of the schools doing about this?

Shoesmith: evaluating, finding ways to inform and impress on parents how important it is to get their kids to school, and on time (the two are related, they find), no excuses. The PAC has a "coffee and..." program for parents who watch over kids in the morning and talk to parents about attendance and upcoming activities and the school. The staff says it is aggressive with chronically absent students. There is tutoring morning and evening in math and reading.
Ismail Turay of the LSC and HPKCC Schools Committee was quoted in the Herald that there should be a collaborative to get all schools to be performing and that principals of the schools should confer on the probation challenge since the schools funnel into Canter, then Kenwood. The Kenwood Principal is seeking such meetings with the principals, suggesting on attendance what they do--have an audit committee over attendance looking every day and to address straying as soon as it starts.
The Canter principal has held planes on ways to increase preparedness for Kenwood.

CPS has issued new race-criteria free guidelines for non-selective and selective magnet schools. Here is what PURE says they are:

CPS has announced the new criteria for selecting students for magnet schools-is it really straightforward and transparent? And where does it leave neighborhood schools?

For non-selective magnets, they are going to fill 50% of all seats first with siblings of current students, and then with "proximity" students (those living within 1.5 miles of the school).

The other 50% will be filled by dividing the rest of the application pool into four groups based on census information (mostly income level) of the student's neighborhood and select students equally from each of the four groups.For selective enrollment schools, they will fill 50% of the seats on pure test score rank order and the other 50% by test score rank order equally from the four socioeconomic groups.

Rep. Currie and Sen. Raoul sent a stern letter to CPS opposing the replacement policy.

A Consortium study released October 27, 2009 said that the policy in effect through 2006 of just closing non performing schools hurt student performance, then did not help it except for those switched to high performing schools and others in which there was a high level of teacher-student trust and personal attention. But only 6% of students from closed schools were sent to such schools (reasons were not discerned).
( It remains controversial whether the successor policy of turnaround, including totally new staffs, worked better. CPS is now starting to address on a spot basis where closures and boundary changes may have promoted conflict and violence between groups of students from different areas and demographics, partic. across gang boundaries. Also, CPS seeks a balance with the criminal justice system between branding kids and telling schools "what they need to know" about individual students.- GO)

Representative Currie reported on stimulus action in Illinois in September 2009.

Race To The Top [which is controversial in some aspects] offers competitive grant to a few states, and Illinois is competing-- initial applications are due between the veto session and next year's convening. Progress must be shown in student assessment, data systems backing up instruction, quality teachers and school leaders, and effective intervention in failing schools. Illinois standards are good, Currie says, and a data system tracking students is signed and has a federal grant. Principal evaluation has been beefed up and national orgs are working to help on teacher preparation and evaluation and mentoring new teachers. Illinois does not have mechanisms to match or share best teachers with low-performing schools or provide alternate means of teacher certification. There are many programs for failing school sand for providing and checking on charter schools and a new intervention task force is in place-- but not enough, and conference calls are being set up statewide to come up with further measures for the Veto Session.

What Rep. Currie says about where the state is:

As part of the federal economic stimulus package, Congress approved the creation of a new program in the U. S. Department of Education. Race to the Top will offer $4.5 billion in competitive grants, and it's expected that fewer than 15 states will share in the winnings.

While not all the states are rising to the challenge, Governor Quinn has said that Illinois will compete and the state Superintendent of Education seconds the motion. Successful states will have to show progress in four areas: 1) strong student assessments and standards; 2) data systems that back up instruction; 3) quality teachers and school leaders; and 4) effective intervention in failing schools.

Illinois is on track in some of these areas. In others, most agree, some additional work could significantly improve our competitive ranking.

Illinois standards stack up well against those of our sister states. We're a leader in a consortium developing assessments and standards that professionals regard as reliable and effective.

This session the legislature passed and the governor signed a measure that will collect student data over time. What better way to find out how effective our instructional programs are than to find out how well our students are learning one year after another? The state legislature appropriated funds to implement data collection, and we've won a $9 million federal grant that will also help.

On quality issues, we're making progress. We've strengthened principal evaluation programs. We're working with several well-regarded national organizations to revamp teacher preparation and evaluation programs and to develop effective ways to mentor new teachers. But we have no mechanisms in place to make sure that the very best teachers are shared with low-performing schools and we fall short in providing alternate mechanisms for teacher certification.

Illinois has several programs in place to help failing schools. We offer comprehensive improvement planning to low-performing schools. We've increased the number of charter schools that may do business in the state, and we do a pretty good job of checking the effectiveness of the charters we have. One of my bills this session created the Innovation, Intervention and Restructuring Task Force to work with educators, parents, civic, business and child advocacy organizations in the effort to find ways to turn our failing schools around. But we should further strengthen the state's ability to intervene in low-performing schools and beef up the support we provide them.

So what exactly should Illinois do? And when shall we do it? The state Superintendent, Chris Koch, is setting up several conference calls this month with all the interested parties--lawmakers, teachers, advocates, parents. I'll be on the line.

Perhaps in these discussions we can forge consensus about the steps we should take. The legislature returns to Springfield in October for the fall veto session. If we can decide on the steps, October is not a moment too soon to take the first of them. The initial application deadline for Race to the Top funding arrives before the beginning of next year--and our kids have a lot at stake.

Illinois gets its first big installment from stimulus (ARRA), Duncan spells out what state must track, do. But it's not enough to save most programs for the state budget axe.

Parents of special needs kids will now have the right to observe their child's present or perspective classroom, under passed HB628.

CPS is dropping the "pay for grades" program. But still, kids were promised and will be disappointed.

A new study out says, documents that the majority of charter schools are underperforming cf traditional. Visit http://pureparents.org/index.php?blog/show/Over_3000_new.

Find the new Urban Education Institute book on Organizing Schools for Reform-Lessons from Chicago. ccsr.uchicago.edu.

Fall 2009: Kenwood Academy Brotherhood mentoring project turns students into published authors of manual, gets national attention and emulation

From the Hyde Park Herald December 2 2009. By Daschell M. Phillips

Supporters and members of Kenwood Academy High School's male mentor program, the Brotherhood, gathered to celebrate its newly published book, "The Brotherhood," a mentoring manual, last Tuesday at a book signing at the school.

The Brotherhood is an intensive school-based male mentoring program created at Kenwood Academy, 5015 S. Blackstone ave., in 2004. Its purpose is to increase the graduation rate of African and Latino males. The group has grown from 25 members at Kenwood in 2004 to more than 300 members as the program has established Brotherhood groups at several schools in the Chicago Public School system, including Phillips High, 244 E. Pershing Road.

The idea for the group, which was once called Knights of the Round Table, was formed by students Kyle McGhee and Howard Stokes, who wanted "to help freshmen stay out of trouble and focused on education," McGhee said. McGhee and Stokes took the idea to Dr. Shelby Wyatt, counselor at Kenwood, and he agreed to be the advisor for the group.

The Brotherhood meets weekly after school for group discussions and activities include leadership retreats and college tours. All of the boys who have participated in the Brotherhood so far have graduated from high school, according to CPS.

The Brotherhood class of 2005 wrote "The Brother's Key" from a student's perspective, according to Wyatt. Wyatt said his proposal to teh group in 2005 to write "The Brother's Key," which was part of an assignment to receive a grant, wasn't well received in the beginning because it took the boys away from their regular activities. he said after awhile the boys dedicated themselves to the assignment, and,once they were done, he took it to one of the English teachers to have it edited, and she returned it with a note saying, "The boys corrected it themselves, adn it didn't need editing."

The American School of Counselors Association, or ASCA, asked the Brotherhood to expound on "The Brother's Key," which was a mentoring manual tailored to the Kenwood group, and write a book that explains how to create a school-based male mentoring program using the ASCA model of academic, social and career development. ASCA published the book this year [2009] so that counselors across the Untied States could implement similar programs.

Derrick Smith, teacher at the Northern Illinois University, Center for Black Studies, said when Wyatt called him several years ago looking for a place for the Brotherhood's leadership retreat, he predicted that the group would make a great impact on school systems across the country. At the book signing, Smith told Shelby that the group would now impact another population of boys. "This is going to the juvenile system," Smith said.

Smith said that lack of guidance for African American and Latino boys "is not just a problem in schools, it's also in the streets, so we're going to have to take this to the streets.."

The Brotherhood is not new to outreach work. At the book signing they showed a video clip from Wilson High School in Long Beach, Calif. The school asked for help from the Brotherhood with building unity and increasing the graduation rates of its African American and Latino boys.

The Brotherhood has also presented at the ASCA conference each year since 2006 attending meetings in Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta and Dallas, and has been asked by the group to present a 3-hour workshop in Boston in 2010.

Juan Flores, freshman at Kenwood, said that by being a part of the Brotherhood he has already learned a lot about becoming a responsible man. "I was interested in the group because of its diversity," Flores said. "I've learned to respect my elders and show courtesy no matter what the circumstances."

For more information about the Brotherhood at Kenwood, visit kenwoodbrotherhood.org.

PACs, parent advisory councils seem to be becoming gaining in importance, but CPS seems to be trying to make them uniform and under a very tight leash. Herald report May 6, 2009 by Daschell M. Phillips. Parents want say in creation of formal PAC bylaws.

To improve its compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), Chicago Public Schools is taking steps to create formalized bylaws for parent advisory councils. The first part of the NCLB local educational agency policy states: A local educati9onal agency may receive funds under this part only if such agency implements programs, activities, and procedures for the involvement of parents in programs assisted under this part consistent with this section. Such programs, activities, and procedures shall be planned and implemented with meaningful consultation with parents of participating children."

Jose Alvarez, executive director at the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Office of Local School Council and Community Relations, said CPS is formalizing the parent advisory council (PAC) bylaws so there will be uniformity in the rules and regulations in the case of an audit. He said a 13-member parent advisory board was formed to visit PAC meetings, gather information and get parents feedback as they create the formal bylaws.

Local PAC members who have attended these meetings said CPS has not done a good job involving parents in the process. Alice Hill, parent of a Fenger High School student, vice chair to the national PAC and a member of the Kenwood-based Peer Parent Education Network, or PPEN, said CPS is trying to undermine parents' abilities to manage themselves.

In the first draft of the bylaws Hill said CPS changed the terms of office from two years to one and removed the opportunity for community members to join the PAC board. "CPS came to the PAC meetings with ideas to see how they felt - that's not getting parents involved," said Hill. "We are to be in on decision-making process, not vote on what they decide to bring before us."

Sheila Wesonga, parent of a Kenwood Academy student and PAC member, said if CPS wouldn't have left parents out of the decision making process they would have realized a more tailored approach to creating the bylaws is needed. She said that by creating a parent advisory board, CPS eradicated local involvement.

"One size fits all is not something I agree with," said Wesonga. "What works at one school may not work at another school. I'd rather give each school a template to look at and each can apply their own bylaws." Although they are not pleased with the process so far, the parents said they understand that this is just the beginning. "We're still working - we know the process isn't over," said Wesonga.

Back on front burner: restoring 7th and 8th grades at Murray.

There was a rebellion a few years ago when many parents and LSC members objected to sending students from magnet-school Murray to then-new Canter Middle School. Canter had many problems then, but has been moving up. In early 2010 a huge rally was held in the school promoting bringing back 7th and 8th grades.

Issues include, when should the needs of parents in a school--esp. when the school has a high proportion from outside the neighborhood--be allowed to trump neighborhood strategy and/or potentially undermine two existing schools nearby, the already-magnet Kenwood Acad. Ctr. and the neighborhood Canter? Whose neighborhood strategy-- does this relate somehow to increasing particularly the number of well-off families in the neighborhood and increasing housing and density in their behalf (several buildings are indeed being upscaled)? Does Hyde Park already have enough middle school capacity-- Kenwood Acad. Center gifted heavily from outside the neighborhood, UC Lab School drawing from inside and out, Canter a neighborhood.... ?

Here is the Herald's report January 27, 2010. By Daschell M. Phillips

The Murray Elementary Local School Council, or LSC, held a community forum Thursday to present a request to Chicago Public Schools, or CPS, to return Murray to a K-8 school.

On November 30, the Murray LSC sent a request to CPS requesting the reinstatement of its 7th grade class in fall 2010. Murray, which is a selective enrollment magnet school, would fill the seats with its current student population and then have a city-wide lottery to fill the remaining seats.

In the school's large gym, parents and children that attend Murray, 5335 S. Kenwood Ave., crowded onto the bleachers and surrounding foldout chairs waving signs and chanting signs in favor of adding the grades -- making the meeting more of a pep rally than a CPS forum.

"As an LSC member, I get lots of questions from parents who find it stressful to have to find another school for their child," said Rhonda Hawkins-Like, president of the Murray LSC. "As a parent, I also held out hope for a 7th and 8th grade."

Greg Mason, principal of Murray, said that year after year he has to counsel parents once the reality of their child's need to transfer sets in. "Parents ar so happy once their children are accepted to Murray for kindergarten," Mason said. "Then the faces of the parents start to change after two or three years and they begin to stress about where to send their kids for 7th and 8th grade."

At the forum, parents were asked to write their questions on index cards that would be read to the panel that included Mason and acting CPS board chairman Clare Mufiana, CPS Board member Alberto Carrero, CPS CIO Bob Runcie, CPS Chief of Staff David Pickens, CPS Autonomous Management and Performance schools, or AMPS, representative Anthony Dominick and Abigail Joseph from the CPS Office of Academic Enrichment. Mae Wilson, chief of staff of Ald. Toni Preckwinkle's (4th) office was also a part of the panel.

One of the main questions was why Murray discontinued their 7th and 8th graded program in the first place. The idea to turn Murray into a K-6 school was made at teh community level, Mason said. in 2020 the LSCs of Murray, Ray.., Shoesmith.. and Bret Harte... elementary schools felt it would be nice to have each school feed into Canter Middle School, 4959 S. Blackstone Ave., which in turn would be a feeder school for Kenwood Academy High School, 5015 S. Blackstone.

"This is a magnet school, and our kids are from all over the city, so Canter was not a natural next step for them," Mason said.

Mason said the 7th and 8th grade classes would be up to par with the current academic standard of Murray. Additional staff and teachers would be hired and gifted and honors programs would be offered. He's already targeted classrooms that wil be cleared out to make room for the upperclassmen should the school receive CPS approval.

Runcie said, based on preliminary observation, Murray has the capacity to return to a K-8 school .

Parents were encouraged to send letters in support of the school's request to CPS CEO Ron Huberman.

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Why the Freshman On Track program at Kenwood is so important

Students love Kenwood program. April 29 2009 Herald. By Daschell M. Phillips.

The Freshman On-Track program at Kenwood Academy held its second and third quarter achievement breakfast last Tuesday, awarding more than 100 students. Parents sat proudly... in the school's King room... Thanks to the ... program, their children beat the odds and made the honor roll for the second and/or third quarter this year.

As Freshman On-Track Coordinator Michelle Jackson called out the name of each student and passed them a certificate, parents clapped, took pictures and recorded the special moment. Students also cheered each other on during the ceremony. Although this is not graduation day, the parents whose children have met or exceeded standards for their grade level feel thankful.

"I have an older daughter who came here in 7th grade and each year her friends dropped out one by one and she also didn't graduate," said Adrienne Pinkney, who attended the honors breakfast with her youngest daughter Kamille. "If this program was here back then they probably wouldn't have dropped out. I applaud Principal [Elizabeth] Kirby for bringing this program in because if you don't reach them as freshmen then you lose them."

according to a five-year collaborative research project with the Chicago Public schools (CPS) Graduation Pathways Office and the Consortium on Chicago School Research, which was released last yer, half the students who enter a CPS high school don't graduate. "There are 100,000 -- a small city -- of students who have dropped out," said Carmita Vaughan, chief of staff of the Office of High Schools and High School Programs. "If we can intervene early in the process's, then we can get them back."

After monitoring the outcome, the team recognized ... patterns that revealed which students were at-risk of dropping out: Students who are over age when they enter high school, students who miss more than 20 days of school their freshman year, students who fail two or more core classes in their freshman year adn student who have fewer than five credits by the end of their freshman year.

Based on their finding the team recommended that the school board adopt several retention programs including the Freshman On-Track program -- formally the Step Up program -- which includes a four week summer program for students between 8th an 9th grade and credit recovery programs.

All incoming freshmen at Kenwood, 5015 S. Blackstone Ave., are a part of the Freshman On-Track program, which is led by Jackson and Freshman On-Track Facilitator Inez Jones. There are currently 444 freshmen in the program. Jackson said the three components of the program are prevention, intervention and credit recovery.

The honors ceremony is a part of the prevention process for freshmen, whose first experience with their new high school began with Freshman Connection, an 8-week program that prepares incoming freshmen for high school. "The program helps them become familiar with their teachers and the high school schedule," said Jackson.

She said the freshmen also have a three-day event during the school year when they go to on a tour of colleges in the city such as University of Chicago, Northeastern University, University of Illinois and Roosevelt University "so they can begin to get a taste of what college is like." "we are the first school to take our freshmen on college tours, Jackson said. "The exposure makes them begin to think maybe I can go to college."

Jackson said she and Davis blanket the freshmen with support as soon as they come in the door. She said the program provides the students with tutoring, study support, help students understand the quarterly and class credit systems and instructions on how to check the online grade book.

There is also a 10-week program where teachers meet with small groups after school to teach study skills. The Freshman On-Track program also recruits several teachers to come in during winter and spring break to help students who are behind on their work complete make up assignments.

According to teh most recent numbers given tot he Herald by press time, the percentage of freshmen that have not failed more than one core class has risen steadily through the Freshman On-Track program. The percentage has risen from 60.6 percent in 2004 to 75.6 percent in 2007. Many of the students at the honors event said it was not a chore to visit the Freshman On-Track office to see how they are progressing. Marrisail Bailey said that he stops by the office every day during his lunch break. "They keep me on track by letting me know what classes I am not doing well in and what I need to do to bring my grades up," said Bailey, wlho attends the TLC after school tutoring prog dram to help keep his math grades up.

Desean Lee said that his grades are good but he likes to visit Jackson because she's nice and cool and he can relate to her because "she keeps it real." Jamara Bell said in addition to visiting the Freshman On-Track office, she constantly hears the school's motto "Our Mission is College" being announced on the intercom and that motivates her to continue to work hard. "Ms. Jackson helps me keep my grades up and is helping me make plans for next year," said Bell, who is thinking about joining the volleyball or softball team.

Kamille Pinkney said it's easy to talk to Jackson and Davis because it's not like talking to a teacher. "They help me keep my grades up and stay focused," said Pinkney, who quit the basketball team so that she could keep her grades up.

Jackson was surprise to hear that the students appreciate her tough love, but she, the students and several parents noticed that this quarter's honors event was not as full as the last one.

"The students are work with the most are not in this room," Jackson said. "Although they are not doing their best, they are doing okay because they are still here."

_____2009 Kenwood graduate Derrius Quarles was offered over a million dollars in scholarships. He will attend Morehouse College in pre-med.

The CPS has been shown to be poor and vague in its reporting-- see PURE and foia on CPS in Schools home.

Date: Monday, April 20, 2009, 11:21 AM


As detailed below, Illinois is among the 1st of three states to have its application approved for the first portion of State Fiscal Stabilization Funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. U.S. Department of Education Office of Communications & Outreach, Press Office400 Maryland Ave., S.W. Washington,
D.C. 20202FOR RELEASE: Monday, April 20, 2009CONTACT: Sandra Abrevaya, (202) 401-1576sandra.abrevaya@ed.govNEARLY $1.4 BILLION IN RECOVERY FUNDS NOW AVAILABLE FOR ILLINOIS TO SAVE JOBSAND DRIVE REFORMApplication for Part 1 of Illinois' State Stabilization Funds Approved Today U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that nearly$1.4 billion is now available for Illinois under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. "The real impact of the nearly $2 billion Illinois has received so far will be determined not at the federal level, but at the local level in districts across the state," Duncan said. "We will be watching to see if Illinois state leaders, superintendents, principals and teachers seize this critical opportunity to turn around whole systems and schools." Illinois is receiving $1.4 billion today per the State's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available April 1. Eighty two percent of these funds are to be distributed to public elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions, with the remaining 18 percent to be available for education, school modernization, public safety, or other government services. Illinois, California and South Dakota are the first three states to successfully complete applications and be approved for the first round of state stabilization funding. Illinois will be eligible to apply for another $678 million in state stabilization funds this fall. To date, Illinois has received nearly $500 million in education stimulus funds-- representing a combination of funding for Title I, IDEA,Vocational Rehabilitation grants, Independent Living grants, Impact Aid dollar sand Homeless Education grants. On April 1, Illinois received more than $210million in Title I funding and more than $270 million in IDEA funding. This amount represents 50 percent of the total Title I and IDEA funding for which Illinois is eligible. On April 1, Illinois also received more than $10 million in Vocational Rehab funds and nearly $2 million in Independent Living funds. On April 10, the state received more than $624,000 in Impact Aid Funding and $2.6million in Homeless Education grants. In order to receive today's funds, Illinois provided assurances that they will collect, publish, analyze and act on basic information regarding the quality of classroom teachers, annual student improvements, college readiness, the effectiveness of state standards and assessments, progress
on removing charter caps, and interventions in turning around underperforming schools. Illinois is also required by the U.S. Department of Education to report the number of jobs saved through Recovery Act funding, the amount of state and local tax increases averted, and how funds are used.

At a UC Outreach forum April 2009, two principals highlighted the university's efforts to improve education in the community. Success at a four-year college is th main goal of the university's four charter schools, said Shayne Evans, director of the University of Chicago Charter School - Woodlawn Campus. The charters are outperforming other local schools in scores adn placement in selective-enrollment high schools, he said, but he warned against complacency. "We have god schools so far.. but good is the enemy of great," he said.

Elizabeth Kirby, principal of Kenwood Academy, said the university has been a close collaborator, sponsoring special programs in the school and sending in tutors to help students adn teachers. Rev. Marrice Coverson, who heads the Institute for Positive Living, an after-school literacy program in Bronzeville,said she felt the university could do more to engage students outside its charter system. Kirby said a university tutor was a personal lifeline to her when she was beginning her teaching career at Kenwood. Duel Richardson, director of neighborhood relations and education in the Office of Civic Engagement said that the university also reaches out to youth through the Office of Special Programs adn College Preparation, founded by the late coach and teacher Larry Hawkins. Top

In a December 2009 forum, most of the table exploration related to schools was on promise zones.

 

Rep. Currie, Sen. Currie rebuke schools chief Huberman on new substitute rules for select and magnet schools, without a race consideration

Background, September 25, 2009. Judge Kokoris ends Chicago Desegregation Consent Decree after 29 years. A federal judge has ended the desegregation consent decree for Chicago's Public Schools, 29 years to the day after the federal government sued the district for discriminating against black and Hispanic students. Under the decree, white students were allowed a maximum of 35 percent of seats at the city's top schools. The elimination of the decree also frees the district from requirements regarding bilingual students.CPS had argued the district should no longer be bound by the order. The district says it no longer operates a system that favors white students, who now make up only 8 percent of the system.

An open letter to CPS head Ron Huberman

We want quality and equal-educational opportunities for all Chicago Public School (CPS) students. The federal court has ended the consent decree under which CPS was required to guarantee specific racial and ethnic enrollment goals for magnet and selective enrollment schools. And a recent United States Supreme Court.

We have grave concerns that your new admissions policy will undercut minority enrollment in our high-performing magnet and selective enrollment schools.

You read the Supreme Court 2007 decision as if it denies a school system the ability to use race at all as a factor in the admissions process. Justice Kennedy's controlling opinion, however, makes clear that while race cannot be used as the sole factor, race can be used in a nuanced way to promote racial and ethnic diversity. As Justice Kennedy wrote, "the decision today should not prevent school districts from continuing the important work of bringing together students of different racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds."

The Louisville school system took Kennedy's words to heart and continues to use race as one factor in the admissions process. We would suggest CPS embrace this approach rather than relying only, as you propose to do, on factors related to socio-economic status (SES). Racial diversity dropped significantly in the San Francisco, Charlotte and cambridge public schools when student assignment plans were based solely on SES.

Ours is a diverse city. To ensure our continued viability and vibrancy we must continue our commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity. We urge you to reconsider your proposed admissions policy. Without using race as a factor, we fear that our magnet and selective enrollment schools will no longer reflect the diversity that makes our city great.

Senator James Meeks (I-15) introduces bills for more vouchers, charters, end to LSC powers- latter bombs.

The fate of those first is uncertain and is an attempt to pressure the legislature to do better by children, efforts to increase taxes and fund education seemingly going nowhere (Voices for Illinois Children, Coalition for Responsible Education apparently disagreeing). It should be noted that Rev./Sen. Meeks's church has a school that could be a beneficiary of vouchers.

His latest effort, SB 6063, to scrap powers of the Local School Councils, partly in an effort to make CPS more responsible and remove powers from the Mayor (opponents including KOCO, Clergy for Change, Bronzeville Education Advocacy Movement/BEAM, Designs for Change, and PURE) say it does the opposite and removes a key check) appears to be going nowhere with no supporters, and will likely die in committee.

 

 

 

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