Tag: Chicago education

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…

Talking Freshmen On Track and “The Make-or-Break-Year” at 57th Street Books

Healthy skepticism fuels good journalism, smart research and thoughtful education. And yet, as Emily Krone Phillips tells us in her new book, The Make-or-Break Year, “the movement that occurred in Chicago to support freshmen hinged not on skepticism, but on belief. … Belief that the dropout crisis was something that could be solved. Belief in the research that showed ninth…

I’m a Chicago Teacher Who Has Watched Many Javions Fall Through the Cracks. Here’s What Would Help.

Originally posted on Chalkbeat by Gina Caneva on January 4, 2019. As a Chicago Public School teacher and librarian for the past 15 years, I’ve seen many students fall through the cracks. I remember the young man who sat in my class at the beginning of his senior year, eager to learn. By the end he was failing, having missed…

Black Communities Everywhere Should Be Stepping Up Like This for Our Kids and Schools

Outrage: “Whites Only” Seats The Connecticut Supreme Court made a ruling in Sheff v. O’Neill that was supposed to integrate schools. Instead, it capped the number of students of color who can enroll at magnet schools, saying that 25 percent of each school’s seats must be occupied by White students. And while some of those magnet schools are holding seats…

Students Don’t Learn From Suspensions But Restorative Justice Offers Opportunity

For the last few years, Chicago Public Schools has been working hard to change its discipline policies and practices to reduce suspensions and expulsions. Instead, the district is encouraging principals and teachers to use restorative justice practices such as peace circles, conversations to restore relationships and formal letters of apology to repair harm and restore community. This shift is essential.…

Something IS Working

There is a lot going wrong in Chicago right now.  Violence seems to be an unsolvable mystery.  We can’t quite get fair school funding from the state.  A teacher strike is looming and, let’s face it, the Bears look terrible.  But, there are glimmers of hope for those of us who still believe in Chicago and those of us who…

CPS Students Set New ACT Score Record

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools announced Monday that students acheived a record high average ACT score. CPS students scored an average of 18.4 on the 2015-2016 ACT exam, which represents the highest composite score for the district on record. “Chicago’s schools are realizing record-high academic achievements, progress that could not be made if it were not for the…

I can learn

Parents, Stand Up…Critics, Have a Seat!

Woke parents—I LOVE you guys!  Over the past week, there have been a number of you who have publicly voiced your concerns over the impending teacher’s strike.  And I, for one, am especially elated that there are more of you who are becoming more aware of the disparities in education in Chicago, inserting yourselves into the conversation, making you more…