Last night I had the great pleasure to speak with my friend Marisol Quevedo Rerucha of the National Parents Union during her nightly restorative check-in. If you need to catch your breath, she has a nice breathing exercise for you! We had the opportunity to discuss two strategies to support learning that aren’t getting enough air time during the pandemic:…
Here’s How One Chicago Family Is Trying Hybrid Learning with a Twist: Outdoor Classes
And that family is…mine. Regular readers here know that I made a case before the school year started for Chicago Public Schools to partner with the Chicago Park District to offer “remote-plus” learning: mostly remote at home but with opportunities for teachers and students to gather in socially distant outdoor spaces. I wanted this opportunity for my own daughter so…
L.A. Parents Sue Their District Over Remote Learning. Will Chicago Parents Follow?
Yesterday afternoon, a group of Latnix and Black parents in Los Angeles announced they have filed a lawsuit agains the Los Angeles Unified School District. The parents claim LAUSD’s remote learning plan falls short of providing students what they need to learn. You can watch the conference–and hear the heartbreaking stories the parents shared regarding inadequate support for parents and…
Community Schools Like Spry Could Expand Nationally After This Election
Spry Elementary and Spry Community Links High School in Little Village show the power of community schools to boost students’ educational outcomes. Will voters support schools like this in the upcoming election?
By Serving the Whole Family, Christopher House Made Distance Learning Work for All Kids
Like other schools across the country, we at Christopher House physically closed our doors in mid-March due to COVID-19, which was an abrupt and at times hectic transition as we provided our scholars with much-needed Chromebooks, personalized online learning plans and access to free home internet. At the end of the school year, an impressive 91% of our scholars had…
Expert Tips to Ease Remote Learning for Children With Disabilities
A dedicated space, a clear schedule, and good communication with your child’s teachers can go a long way to easing the pain of remote learning.
Noble Charter Schools Share Tips for Remote Learning
How did your first week of school go? How was your connection? Did you have any hiccups? If you had issues, you might be interested to see what the Noble Network of Charter Schools had on tap for their students and faculty at the start of this bizarre, upside-down, pandemic-laden school year. Calling it #NobleReadyForRemote, this morning Noble shared on…
Chicago Parents Ask CPS to Create Black Student Achievement Taskforce
Today, a coalition of parents and advocates from Chicago’s Black community sent a letter to the leadership of Chicago Public Schools demanding critical attention to the experience and outcomes of Black students during the remote learning period and beyond. “We are requesting that Chicago Public Schools establish a Black Student Achievement Taskforce to work in concert with the district to…