The opinions expressed in District 299: The Chicago Schools Blog are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Catalyst Chicago or the Community Renewal Society, its publisher.
Hosted by journalist Alexander Russo, District 299: The Chicago Schools Blog is a 24/7 gathering place for Chicago education news, official and otherwise. (For archives prior to November 2007, please click here.)
EIA's Mike Antonucci has the Obama speech to the NEA convention (via satellite).
Among other points (and hints at where the good parts on the
video are), Antonucci says that Obama "took the bull by the horns" in
talking about performance pay and charter schools (here). No flip-flop there -- in contrast to campaign spending.
Over at the USA Today politics blog, Greg Toppo reports in as well (Mostly cheers, but some boos too, when Obama addresses teachers)
with some additional observations and news -- Obama's relatively low
NEA endorsement vote total, for example. I want to know about Obama's
sister, a teacher. There's a McCain update, too.
District ‘adds value’ to performance policy
Joining
a national trend, CPS is jumping ahead of the rest of the state and
will judge schools on the progress they make in raising student test
scores.
Comings & Goings Who’s
joining High School Transformation, what’s changing at Academy for
Urban School Leadership and other news from inside, outside CPS.
CPS announced a new online credit recovery program for the summer -- aimed at 600 first time freshmen (love that phrase) entering 19 high schools. Click below for the press release.
Thursday Morning News, Part 2 Group plans admissions push at Skinner Chicago Journal
"You've
got hundreds of kids in the neighborhood with no public school in the
West Loop other than Skinner," Sedler said. "I think it's practical and
politically hard not to do something to address the needs of these
parents."
The kids are rockin', all right Chicago Tribune
One such program, Little Kids Rock, is
funded through private donations and has provided 700 guitars and
training to pupils in 35 Chicago schools this year.
The Rusty Lamppost Theory: Alderman Bob Fioretti Reader
He
shifted his attention to Dunbar Vocational Career Academy up the
street. “I had this press conference on Wednesday over here at Dunbar
with Bill Daley and Arne Duncan, and I said, ‘I need these couple
things at your schools, at these parks you, CPS, own,’ and Duncan
started getting them to do what they need to do in some of these parks.
I mean, Dunbar had some of the ugliest . . .
Dougherty new principal at Columbus Manor Southtown Star
Dougherty,
30, student-taught in District 122, then spent five years teaching at
John Whistler Elementary School on Chicago's South Side.
Relentless Details - New To MeThree are lots of interesting details in Donna Foote's book, Relentless Pursuit, about a group of first-year teachers (yes, TFAers) at a struggling high school in the Watts section of LA. Or maybe everyone else knows all this stuff already:
Kids wearing inside-out T shirts, for example. Grabbing and jangling belt buckles to signal the start of a fight. Parents insisting their kids get IEPs for financial and legal advantages (as opposed to SAT accommodations). Nine thousand dollars to rekey a school when a teacher loses his. Tagging cliques that fight for turf just like regular gangs -- but usually don't sell drugs. Handball courts. High attendance -- but low levels of class-going.
Fake Trends In The Chicago Tribune
The folks at the Board must have been really happy with the Tribune's recent story about families staying in Chicago -- or even moving back -- to send their kids to CPS (Urban families building city experience for kids). But I found it really hard to read and highly questionable in terms of its reporting.
First off, the anecdote opening the story seems misleadingly atypical -- a family called the Howells moving back to Chicago after two years in Paletine. There are no numbers showing that happens a lot. Ditto for the claim that "More couples say they plan to raise their children in Chicago rather
than the suburbs, citing everything from the length of their commute,
to diversity in their decision." How many more? More than what? Where does that shit come from, other than some City of Chicago brochure?
I know this was in the real estate section, and I'm obviously not against families staying and sending their kids to school in Chicago. Kudos to Bell and Nettlehorst and to the parochial schools that are still growing and get mentioned in the story. But this has to be one of the emptiest fake trend stories I've ever seen, and I've seen lots.
Thursday Morning NewsHosty's body found on beach River Forest Leaves
Born in River Forest, Hosty attended local schools including Fenwick
High School in Oak Park, as well as the University of Michigan. He was
a teacher at Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago.
'You can't be 13 at the children's play lot' Chicago Journal
The
five young men, all between the ages of 13 and 17, press their backs up
against the fence inside a play lot somewhere in Uptown.
Chicago teens grade adults on issues affecting youth Chicago Defender
Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th); John E. Rooney, CEO of US Cellular; and Bryan Samuels, chief of staff for Chicago Public Schools were just some of the leaders ...
Rhee Targets Teachers' Seniority, Tenure Rules WashPost
D.C.
Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee is proposing a contract that would
give mid-level teachers who currently are paid $62,000 yearly the
opportunity to earn more than $100,000 -- but they would have to give
up seniority and tenure rights, two union members familiar with the
negotiations said...
The Inside Scoop In MinneapolisWow. This is impressive. Some guy in Minneapolis named Seth Kirk -- apparently a parent -- detailed the 10-month contract negotiations last year between the district and the union, linking to emails and documents and press coverage.
No idea how he got his hands on this stuff, but I like it. Promise me that next time there's some negotiating going on in Chicago somebody will do this. Via Eduwonk.
"Small Talk" Moves To A New HomeAfter years blogging on a rough Yahoo 360 site, small schools guru Mike
Klonsky has moved to a new, better-looking and -working location (here), from which I am sure he will continue to excoriate corporate-style school reform efforts and know-nothing sellouts like me.
The transition from old to new LSCs and old to new leadership is now taking place, and in some places at least it's not going particularly smoothly.
From a parent: "I am a Suder Montessori parent. Since our LSC will start this fall we had no say as to who are principal will be. Can you guys find out who will be running Suder Montessori come 2008-09 school year? As
planned Dr. Hammond-Watts the principal has officially left the
building on June 30th. The Assistant principal Jodi Pinkerton, whom we
thought would be the next principal was surprisingly not selected to be
the new principal."
I didn't see Suder Montessori on the list of LSCs with an election issue (see previous post here). The last mention of Suder I can find is this one from February (here), which says that there were 500 applications for 28 seats at the school.
"Teachers fleeing
CPS after just three years dropped from 36 percent in 2003 to 15
percent in 2007," according to this recent Sun Times commentary. "About 300 teachers this year worked more intensely with
coaches from the Chicago New Teachers Center, with plans to expand the
two-year-old program to another 30 schools this fall. Performance-based
pay for teachers also will be expanded from 10 to 20 high-need schools
this fall."
No word yet on which additional areas are going to get CNTC mentoring, or which additional 10 schools are going to get PFP next year.
NB: I have done some research and consulting for CNTC in the past.
Fed Relaxes Requirements for Illinois WBEZ
Illinois
is one of six states that has been given some leeway under the No Child
Left Behind Act. A new pilot program will allow schools in Illinois to
offer tutoring to students sooner when it looks like they need help.
Unique ... and lucky Chicago Sun-Times
''I'm tired of walking into classrooms
where there's an empty desk and trying to talk to children and comfort
them and make them feel better,'' Arne Duncan, ...
Most folks who go to charter schools do so expecting that they're not going to have the usual labor- management problems. The schools are small, the approach is collaborative. Or at last that's the idea. Some charters are run very hierarchically, however -- with a top-down curriculum.
So the question arises: What in practical terms can charter school teachers to influence the way their school is being run, short of quitting or going public? I got that question from a charter school teacher recently, and realized that I didn't really know the answer. Any charter experts want to help fill in the blanks.
The options that come to mind include going to the management team that hired the teacher, or to the charter board that sits above the charter. Or, to the Board liaison (someone at ONS) who might be able to help out. No guarantees from any of these approaches, but as we all know there are no guarantees even with union representation.
So -- be constructive, now, people -- what are teachers options if their charter isn't being run in ways that seem wise or sustainable? I await your insights and ideas.
Good news for schools that miss AYP by just one subgroup:
Schools and districts that make AYP in
the “ALL students” subgroup, but not in one or more of the other
subgroups would be placed in the ‘focused’ category, while schools
that fail to meet state standards in the “ALL students” subgroup
would be identified as ‘comprehensive.’
Around The Blogs A week in Madison CTM
It's funny how teachers preach
something called "best practices," but when they stand up in front of a
group of teachers they do what should never be done to students:
lecture lecture lecture, blah blah blah, listen to me pontificate.
Bully for the school! Zorn
At
first blush there's something very what's-the-world-coming-to? about
this Associated Press story today out of Sweden: A school has
confiscated an 8-year-old boy's birthday party invitations after they
were handed out during class because it said it had a duty...
When I moved to my neighborhood four years ago, I was a single woman
who knew one person on the block, in a rough Chicago neighborhood. I
had to make friends fast.
Children's Books I Have Banned Chicago Moms
I
love children's books THIS much: My favorite gift ever from my husband
was the entire "Little House" series, in hardcover.
SmallTalk. Mike Klonsky [new location]
Urban public
schools are always getting a bad rap. So why are so many middle-class
families with school-age children leaving the suburbs and moving back
into the city?
CTU board again votes to put VP Dallas on trial Sun Times
That vote was held at the end of a nearly three-hour meeting. Again,
the executive board voted that Dallas should stand trial. The board set
a date for August.
City teachers union to try vice president Tribune
The Chicago Teachers Union executive board voted 32-4 Monday to go
forward with proceedings to remove the vice president after allegations
surfaced that he may have misspent more than $6,200 on meals and liquor.
Tuesday Morning News 6 states to design own plans for fixing schools AP
The states getting more freedom under a pilot program are Florida,
Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland and Ohio. Education Secretary
Margaret Spellings plans to make the announcement during a speech
Tuesday in Austin, Texas.
Chicago Students Talk About Gun Violence Chicago Public Radio
Three-hundred and 75 Chicago Public School students from four high schools in different parts of the city filled out questionnaires about guns and violence.
Hyde Park alderman wrestles with TIFs, schools CTDN
Alderman
Leslie Hairston says city decisions on tax-increment funds have
deprived her ward of the improvements it needs. She's also got a few
choice words for those who call Hyde Park elitist.
Richardson salutes those who paved way Chicago Sun-Times
Jackson and Chicago Public Schools chief Arne Duncan addressed the importance of the ongoing National Reclaim Our Youth Crusade, which asks parents and ...
First the Board of Education decides that a student can't go on a self-funded summer travel to learn more about cooking. Something about the trip not having been requested. Now, no one can find the $5K that was donated for the trip and needs to be returned.
The anonymous reader who sent this in asks: "How can something that was never applied for be denied?" And "Where's the
money? Many teachers who donated asked for their money back but no one
has received anything."
Amazing. Too bad the school has the money -- otherwise the kid could just go on his own.
Remember: The anonymous tipline is at d299.tipline@gmail.com
City Hall's reliance on CPS to participate in its gun control efforts seems to have moved from the rhetorical to the legal and financial.
From a reader: "The CPS law department was directed by the Office of the Mayor to
support its efforts in filing a major and very expensive brief in the
case involving Washington DC's hand gun ban.I have attached the brief. [here PDF]
I am told we paid half of the costs involved in filing this brief. Some
of us were amazed when we saw the brief that CPS would spend this kind
of money for something that was really outside of the educational area.I have not seen the bill for the brief, but expect it cost CPS and the
City jointly at least $30,000."
UPDATE: The intrigue deepens. As you can see from the comment section, CPS legal eagle Patrick Rocks says CPS didn't spend money on the brief, or contribute at City Hall's request.
"Freshman Connection" Starts -- Will It Work? More announcements, this one from CPS -- how is this different or better than whatever CPS has offered in the past to incoming freshman? I'm hoping someone can explain:
Freshman Connection A.M. and P.M. Start in CPS High Schools
19,000 Incoming Freshmen Enrolled for Academic Enrichment and Social Support
WHO: 19,000 incoming CPS freshmen at 95 high schools
WHAT: Thousands of incoming freshmen begin Freshman Connection A.M. and P.M. in Chicago public high schools throughout the city.
WHEN: Monday, June 30
10 a.m.
WHERE: Clark Academic Prep High School, 5101 W. Harrison St.
Clemente Community Academy High School, 1147 N. Western Ave.
Curie Metro High School, 4959 S. Archer Ave.
Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, 3000 S. King Drive
Lane Tech High School, 2501 W. Addison St.
Schurz High School, 3601 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Freshman Connection A.M. has an academic focus, and Freshman Connection P.M., the afternoon portion, focuses on teamwork and social and emotional support. Both programs run from June 30 to July 25. Most Freshman Connection P.M. classes will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays and include field trips, career activities and team building exercises.
Union Self-Protest Planned TodayI'm told there will be an "Informational Picket against Union Tyranny" today at 3 in front of the Mart, in protest against M. Stewart's effort to re-charge T. Dallas.
Want to join in? Go to 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, El stop at the Merchandise Mart
Chicago, IL 60654.
Chicago schools have long struggled with student mobility -- between years, during the year, sometimes multiple times per year. The effects on the kids can be pretty devastating. To reduce mobility, Flint, Michigan has been giving out supplemental housing vouchers to families with children in school -- and apparently it's made something of a difference: (To Avoid Student Turnover, Parents Get Rent Help New York Times). I think it's a decent idea, though you'd have to design it carefully. What do you think?
Weekly Email Broken; Daily Email Still Working
The weekly email that many of you have used for years now seems to be broken -- sorry! -- but the daily email is still working. You might consider signing up for the daily version while I work on restoring the weekly. Here's the sign-up form (it's free, private, etc.):
Jackson slams gun ruling, vows new effort Chicago Sun-Times
He vowed to stop gun stores from setting up shop in Chicago's neighborhoods, particularly near churches and schools.
Kids Having Kids Is Now So Normal Tampa Tribune
A significant change was highlighted by one of my classmates who had just retired from teaching in the Chicago Public Schools.
600 take summer classes online Chicago Tribune
Hudson, who attends Chicago Academy High School, is looking forward to making up a semester of social studies. "Most children don't like to be lectured.
Gun laws don’t stop killings Palestine Herald Press
The Chicago Public Schools reported 27 students killed by gunfire during the past school year. All of those crimes took place with strict gun control laws ...
Metro schools need to be competitive Nashville City Paper
The Chicago search firm Hazard,
Young, Attea & Associates Ltd. (HYA) came back with a strong urging
within its 23-page report that this new director must be...
AFT Shooting Itself In The Foot Strange not to hear about this from George directly, but apparently Substance is being mistreated by the AFT when it comes to getting press credentials for the upcoming conference (AFT Tries to Exclude Substance)
"Substance has covered education in Chicago - ask Mayor Daley and CTU
chief Marilyn Stewart. Even the White House issued press credentials to
Substance when George Bush came to Chicago. How sad that the AFT is more restrictive than George Bush."
This seems tired and unwise on the AFT's part, given that so many organizations have already crossed the line when it comes to online news organizations and bloggers.
Click the link to Ed Notes Online in order to read the full post and some of George's supporting arguments.
Teacher Objects To Harper Interview ProcessA teacher looking for work in CPS wrote the following letter after a bad experience interviewing [or at least being considered] at Harper that included being given an article called "Developing
Anti-Racist School Leaders" that I can't download but was extremely offensive to this teacher. That, plus her difficulty getting a job in CPS without knowing anyone on the inside.
Read, reflect, and help me understand what is going on here if you can.
Is it hard to get a job in CPS if you don't know folks in the system? What is the usual interview process like, and is it fair and reasonable? How much discussion of racial or cultural differences is involved, usually?
Kudos to the kids at Lindblom HS who won $5K for their research project. The student team includes juniors Lea Starling, Everett Murrell, Jon Murphy, and Jonathan Parnell came up with a research project that moved from the local Chicago Metro History Fair to the national history day finals in Maryland, where it won the award for Outstanding Entry in African-American History
From the press release: "The students’ project details the transformation that occurred in their school in the 1960s as the Supreme Court pressured the Chicago Public Schools to become more integrated in the wake of the 1954 Brown v. the Board of Education decision. Racial conflict broke out at Lindblom as increasing numbers of black students began to attend the predominantly-white school. Lindblom and the surrounding West Englewood neighborhood quickly shifted from predominantly white to predominantly black due to white flight."
Yes, Lindblom was once mostly white. Click below for more details about other schools that won awards. Hi, Molly!
June Board Meeting [Updated]
The June board meeting is being held on Wednesday, and the agenda (PDF) includes lots of retirement resolutions, a couple of policy changes re Head Start and domestic violence, some loans, leaves, and sabbatical agreements from the CEO, an NCLB district improvement plan for the Feds, lots of purchasing agreements and charter leases, and that's about it.
UPDATE: City's third and fourth-graders lagging CTDN
Among other actions Wednesday, the board approved an
amended guidelines for principals and teachers dealing with students
affected by domestic and date violence. Patrick J. Rocks, CPS general
counsel, says his office receives
more calls from principals with questions related to protective orders
than
any other issue.
Three are lots of interesting details in Donna Foote's book, Relentless Pursuit, about a group of first-year teachers (yes, TFAers) at a struggling high school in the Watts section of LA. Or maybe everyone else knows all this stuff already:
First off, the anecdote opening the story seems misleadingly atypical -- a family called the Howells moving back to Chicago after two years in Paletine. There are no numbers showing that happens a lot. Ditto for the claim that "More couples say they plan to raise their children in Chicago rather
than the suburbs, citing everything from the length of their commute,
to diversity in their decision." How many more? More than what? Where does that shit come from, other than some City of Chicago brochure?
Wow. This is impressive. Some guy in Minneapolis named Seth Kirk -- apparently a parent -- detailed the 
Advance Illinois, a new statewide education advocacy organization launching there, is 
From a recent Sun Times commentary:
6 states to design own plans for fixing schools
Wow.
I'm told there will be an "Informational Picket against Union Tyranny" today at 3 in front of the Mart, in protest against M. Stewart's effort to re-charge T. Dallas.
Parents are going to schools to build the city experience they ...
A teacher looking for work in CPS wrote the following letter after a bad experience interviewing [or at least being considered] at Harper that included being given an article called "Developing
Anti-Racist School Leaders" that I can't download but was extremely offensive to this teacher. That, plus her difficulty getting a job in CPS without knowing anyone on the inside.
