The effort to change Chicago’s school board from mayor-appointed to elected could win this legislative session. But Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who supported an elected school board when she ran for office, appears to be changing her mind in favor of a hybrid between elected and appointed members, which would allow her to retain final authority and continue to hold the…
Author: Maureen Kelleher
Teaching Editorial Writing to High School Students
This virtual workshop helps high-school teachers understand how to help their students write and read sophisticated editorials in the 21st century. You may attend on either Saturday, March 20 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., or on Wednesday March 24, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. To register, click here. With no more than 24 other teachers, participants will learn guiding…
With Today’s Sick-Out, Parents Demand CPS Show Some ‘TLC’ to Students
The CPS reopening plan offers families two poor choices: two in-person days with hybrid, or stay remote with less live teacher time. It’s time to address the learning needs of students.
Parents Call for More Attention to Remote Learning and Reducing Digital Inequity
Raise Your Hand parents have developed a plan called Trust Learning Care (TLC), with concrete demands like $12.5 million more for students to access devices and Internet, a full commitment to meeting every student in special education’s IEP or 504 plan, at-home learning kits for young remote learners and outdoor options as the weather warms up.
Rest in Power, Karen Lewis
Karen Lewis will be remembered as an incredible political force in Chicago and nationally. Let’s also remember her as a passionate, curious teacher.
Reopening Negotiations Get Quiet While Parents Get Loud
Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union continued talks this week about how to reopen district schools safely for families who want an in-person option. But so far, there’s no deal. Chalkbeat Chicago keeps track of the blow-by-blow here. While talks continue behind closed doors, parents are speaking out publicly about the challenges of remote learning and the lack…
In the Face of A CPS-CTU Showdown, Parents Speak Out
After a day with no further progress in negotiations over reopening, Mayor Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson issued an ultimatum: show up for work Monday or get locked out Tuesday. Back on Friday, the district and the union announced tentative agreement on a number of issues, but made no further progress over the weekend. The biggest hurdles:…
While Reopening Negotiations Continue, CPS Principals Offer a “Third Way”
While the union and the district haggle over the fine details of reopening, the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association has released a three-phase reopening plan that could address the deeper concerns of teachers, parents and communities.