In the last minutes of this year’s legislative session, Springfield took a big step toward creating an elected school board in Chicago.
Author: Maureen Kelleher

Will the Elected School Board Bill Beat the Clock This Time?
The Illinois legislative session will wrap up very soon, and we don’t yet know whether the bill to create an elected school board in Chicago will come to a vote in the Illinois State Senate. According to yesterday’s Chicago Tribune, “Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park indicated Wednesday that an elected school board proposal previously approved in the House would…

Parents Speak Out on Elected School Board
This week, Chicago Unheard will host two parent conversations about the proposals to change how the Board of Education is selected. The Illinois State Senate is examining two bills: one would create a 21-member, fully-elected school board; the other would have 11 members, eight appointed by the mayor and three elected. Today, our friends from Kids First Chicago will hold…

Chicago Unheard Contributor Ashley McCall Wins a Golden Apple Award
Congratulations to Chicago Unheard contributor Ashley McCall!

Elected and Appointed School Boards, Explained
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…

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.