Today, the Illinois State Board of Education released long-awaited data on how ready the state’s children are for kindergarten in three areas: social-emotional development, math and literacy. The news is sobering: 42 percent of the state’s kindergartners were determined not to be “ready” in any of the three areas measured. Here’s how they got this information. For nearly a decade,…
Author: Maureen Kelleher
Math: A Mother’s Lament
Maybe you saw the recent New York Times op-ed on the importance of making our daughters practice math. I believed it before I read it. And, like the author, I believe it matters for boys, too. What I really believe is there’s an even deeper problem: our elementary schools don’t teach math very well. You can read a thorough and…
This Week in CPS: South Loop HS Boundaries, Age of Agility Tour, and More
New South Loop High School Boundaries Spark Public Debate The drama continues over the proposed new neighborhood high school for the South Loop/Bronzeville area. The district has released proposed boundaries that would guarantee seats for students enrolled in the following elementary schools: Drake, Haines, Healy, National Teachers Academy (all students, whether or not they live in the designated attendance area),…
Calendar: Cool South Side Events
Mark your calendars for these cool events coming soon: Join Black Girls Jump at R.A.G.E. So Fresh Saturday Ogden Park 6500 S. Racine in Chicago. August 4 from 3:00 PM-7:00 PM. “So Fresh Saturdays” is a fun, intergenerational, community-driven, “edu-tainment” festival series for the entire family that tours parks throughout Greater Englewood. Each “So Fresh Saturdays” showcases various artistic expressions…
This Week in CPS: Remembering Dion Miller Perez
Last Thursday night, Chicago lost one of its best. Longtime political operative, school budgets expert and all-around fighter for justice Dion Miller Perez died unexpectedly at age 56. A friend described him as “Dion, who’s always there.” And so he was. When Chicago founded Local School Councils, he was among the first elected to serve. He spent time on three…
This Week in CPS: New Budget, School Discipline Policy Changes
2019 CPS Budget Gives $60 Million More to Schools Kudos to Chalkbeat Chicago for an excellent summary of this year’s CPS budget, which is up for School Board approval on Wednesday. In case you missed it, here are the highlights: more money for schools, two new central office departments (Equity and Title IX), new school construction couples with investments in…
Bughouse Square Debates July 28 Invite Youth Voices
On July 28, Chicago’s Washington Square Park, also known as Bughouse Square, will host the annual Bughouse Square Debates, billed as the city’s favorite free-speech event. This year, a youth soapbox for speakers ages 25 and under is being hosted by the GCE Lab School. Featured speakers will address topics ranging from immigration and LGBTQ acceptance to gun violence and…
Experts Weigh in on Efforts to Protect CPS Students From Sexual Abuse
In the wake of the Chicago Tribune series, “Betrayed,” which revealed hundreds of incidents where school and district leaders failed to follow proper reporting procedures when educators sexually abuse students, Chicago Public Schools has taken steps to correct its practices. In June, CPS announced it would create an Office of Student Protections and Title IX with a budget of $3…