You know who’s about to get a mental health team to help them live healthier lives? Chicago’s students, at 500 schools around the city over the next few years, paid by the funds directed to the city from the American Rescue Plan stimulus package. Chalkbeat Chicago has more on the new mental health pilot program at North-Grand High School in…
Tag: Chalkbeat Chicago
Chicago’s NWEA “Irregularites,” Explained
A new report from the CPS watchdog points to problems with how NWEA tests are given. But the report just scratches the surface of the problems.
What’s in the CTU Deal for the Kids?
This article has been updated to add more information on staffing to support English learners. Late yesterday, the Chicago Teachers Union’s House of Delegates approved a tentative agreement in a tight vote. The CTU deal includes good pay and holds the line on health insurance premiums, but what’s in it for the kids? What will the new provisions on class…
CPS Parent Andre Henry Could Really Use a Raise. That’s Why He’s on Strike, Too
In the midst of the furor over the Chicago Teachers Union strike, the media has only just begun to focus on the other union involved: SEIU 73. This union represents special education classroom assistants (SECAs), bus aides and other non-teaching staff. Yesterday, Chalkbeat Chicago told the stories of bus aides and custodial workers who earn less than $20,000 a year. They’re…
CPS Wants You to Think They’ve Solved Their Sexual Abuse in Schools Problem. The Feds Don’t Think So.
One person in each school building trained to prevent and address sexual assault does not equal a culture change.
Time for A Deeper Look at Personalized Learning
Chalkbeat Chicago recently published this article on personalized learning in CPS. For folks who aren’t familiar with the topic, it was a good starting point. It gave a sense of the footprint personalized learning efforts have built in Chicago–about 100 of the district’s 600 schools are experimenting with it in some way–and noted the costs, challenges to conventional teaching practice…
How One Cooking Teacher Opens up a World of Opportunities for Students With Disabilities
This piece was originally posted by Adeshina Emmanuel at Chalkbeat Chicago. Growing up with dyslexia, Athenia Travis had to master other ways of learning at Chicago Public Schools. Now the Golden Apple-award nominee helps many of her culinary arts pupils do the same at Southside Occupational Academy, where students with special needs prepare for life after high school “At one…
There’s a Great College Counseling Tool Available For Free, and CPS Isn’t Using It
Why aren’t Chicago’s high school students using a college counseling tool that can help them find proven match colleges? Because the Noble Network of Charter Schools created it. Central office is too overstretched to spread the word about it. And many Chicago Public Schools staff don’t want to use a tool that comes from a charter network they hate. But…