Medill News Service
Breaking stereotypes: Illinois’ first and only all African American middle school rugby team
KIPP Ascend Asst. Principal Andrew Schmitz started his North Lawndale middle school’s rugby team last year. The team became the only primary school rugby team out of the 472 Chicago primary schools, as well as the only all-African-American middle school boys rugby team in Illinois.
Angry parents, teachers accuse CPS of retaliating over opting out of ISAT
Joanna Maravilla Cano said she and her husband never imagined they would be intimidated by their school’s principal for exercising their right to opt their daughter out of the Illinois Standard Achievement Test.
CTU rally supports teachers who refused to give ISAT
Controversy over parents choosing to have their kids opt out of the Illinois Standard Achievement Test has gained national attention as teachers from Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy in Little Village and Drummond Montessori in Bucktown refused to administer the test to students last week.
#ResistTFA Twitter trend ignites sparks in ongoing Teach for America controversy
A recent trending Twitter hashtag – #ResistTFA – marked the beginning of a campaign against Teach for America, a program that brings recent college graduates and working professionals to teach in urban schools to close the achievement gap.
To parents keeping score, CPS tests the limit of their patience for standardized testing
As Chicago Public Schools’ testing season nears, many parents and students plan to opt out of standardized assessments, despite CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett strongly advising against it.
Senator Kirk proposes pilot for year-round schools in U.S.
Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., announced legislation Thursday that would endorse pilot programs for year-round schools throughout the nation. Kirk announced the news during a press conference at Alain Locke Charter School in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood.
Photo collection displays shuttered CPS schools
Controversy about shuttered Chicago Public Schools is far from over. Photographer Bill Healy is doing his part to keep the issue alive with a photo collection that documents the 50 school closings that rocked CPS in 2013. His collection will be featured Thursday at IPaintMyMind gallery in Logan Square.
Board vote could eliminate cap for Illinois special education class sizes
The Illinois State Board of Education is scheduled to vote next week on a controversial proposal that could eliminate the cap for special education class sizes. Caps currently establish the maximum class sizes for self-contained special education classrooms based on a child’s disability or his or her service level.
Board of Education OKs 7 charter schools despite controversy
The Chicago Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve five proposals that would allow the creation of seven charter school campuses. During the meeting, Jack Elsey, the chief innovation and incubation officer for the Chicago Public Schools, discussed the nine charter proposals for 18 campuses.
Austin Weekly News
Sen. Kirk proposes year-round schools nationwide
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk announced legislation on Jan. 23, endorsing pilot programs for year-round schools throughout the nation. Kirk announced the news during a press conference at Alain Locke Charter School, 3141 W. Jackson Blvd. in East Garfield Park. (Read more.)