Schools School News Resources Local School Councils Awards HPKCC Schools Committee	Education & School News, Notes News, Opportunities, Deadlines, Trends of the Schools and of Education in the Hyde Park-Kenwood Area and Chicago A service of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee and the Conference's website www.hydepark.org. Help support our work: Join the Conference! Join the Schools Committee-contact chairman: Nancy Baum. To page contents Related site pages Note: News of/from individual schools: News of Schools, Kenwood, Canter. Discussions of relations of students and business and gulf between youth and adults in Hyde Park are in Community/Business and Students/Youth, Kenwood, and News of Schools/Kenwood pages. Discussion of students and the 2005 robberies/batteries is in the Robberies and Community Safety pages. Charter school discussion is in UC and Schools. To Schools Committee page To Education Resources To After school and other Kids offering To access to HPKCC Youth Programs Database in PDF (fall 2007) A major project of the School Committee To Schools Directory with missions, descriptions, vitae To LSC meeting schedule, council rosters, elections To School and Student Award and Recognitions To Renaissance 2010 and now-abandoned Mid South plans description, discussions, controversy. CPS 2010 website: www.ren2010.cps.k12.il.us.feedback.asp To Schools Tests and Rankings- citywide 2005 results, scores/ analysis. What does the 2006 surge mean? To News of and from various schools To Kenwood Academy page To Murray controversies; 7th-8th Grade restoration issue To Murray-Nichols additions Dedication. To University of Chicago school research and initiatives, teacher opportunities, charter schools To Chicago Metro History Fair page To Chicago Academic Games League Program of HPKCC To Tracking Community Trends I (-Schools. What the schools face and need for improvement) Here:
Calendars, Being involved in our schools. LSC winners-Kenwood LSC page Public Meetings, requirements, lectures, festivals/fairs, involvement, active organizations etc.: and taking advantage of what's out there. Parents., get in those school lunch applications... Schools capital, budget, special ed hearings ; NCBG meetings and resources Registrations and open houses, benefits scholarships; magnet schools. Scholarships available Be a Principal for a Day... After School Matters... Volunteering in schools,... HP Bank mentoring at Bret Harte Opportunities and imperatives. School supplies programs, Immunizations/exams for CPS kids, Million Father March Appeals A What Do You Think comment A profile: Willie Pickens, educator, activist, supporter, performer extraordinary Bulletins. Forum on AfterSchool March 28. Ray School selects praised principal of Agassiz School, Bernadette Butler. Note schools in which half or more of students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals have cafeterias open most of the summer. The Black Star Project will again hold its Million Father March, fathers accompanying their kids to school on the first day of school. Contact www.blackstarproject.org or call (773) 285-9600. Major News: 2008 wrap up See complete index there. 2007 A+ Illinois opposed state budget that would not change funding but add $600m (higher than in most recent years) for schools. - See 2006 and 2007 scores and debate about in Tests page. A frank meeting highlighting the value of lscs and seeking ways to help schools and lscs was held August 20. Sp. HPKCC Schools Committee and KOCO. A community meeting will be held later. Arne Duncan CPS CEO tapped for U.S. Education Secretary. LSC elections held, Kenwood makes some changes from crowded field --and Kenwood one of 14 high schools to benefit from large Gates transformation grant. Many parents and special education teachers are up in arms over $23 million in cuts in special education by CPS. No so. side post-primary multi-sensory centers Ray principal Cydney Fields retired at end of school year after 17 years! Thanked at reception at Grand Ballroom June 2007. Bernadette Butler succeeds. A+ Illinois coalition has launched a petition drive to the legislature calling for full and fair funding for schools, job creation, and property tax relief. They seek a foundation level of school funding of $6,400 per child, health and care and social services for those most in need, and tax property relief. An education caucus was held at the end of the veto session 2006, with broad commitment to work despite politics to find a solution to the school funding and taxation mess. See ideas put together by APlus as a "Burnham Plan " in spring 2007 and go to the Tribune's site for their ideas. CPS now has 10 schools starting merit pay. New Area 15 Instructional Officer What neighbors said about schools at an HPKCC forum fall 2005 HPKCC Schools Committee holds gala honoring LSCs, info/training sessions-and dines principals, LSCs $330M deficit coming home to roost, Duncan blames state, others not so sure Big reading grant UC Woodlawn high charter gets final approval, big signup Harte, Shoesmith select principals UC study shows the small high school model brings less dropout, better attendance and concentration on college but not higher scores--using same poor achieving student pool, many of same teachers and principals, no increased prof. development. But some well known public universities in the area (NEIU incl.) have terrible record of graduating CPS graduates (among worst such kinds of grad rates in country)- and overall CPS grads go to lesser colleges and even there have terrible college prep and grad rates. (Grad rate at U of I Urbana good.) From UC Center School Research- see research studies in UC and Schools. Including determinants of dropping out. CPS fights brewing- Feds say integration not achieved, Chicago scores lag other cities Chicago Coalition for the Homeless faults CPS Ren. 2010 school closures effect on kids Report cards (1-page) on each high school being sent home to parents in December and are on internet. And now we are seeing how much disruption and and incidents are up in many schools that have received students from closed schools. Sun-Times of November 6 looks at 3 hot ideas for schools headed for public hearings: an all-online school (postponed by the board til Jan. vote), all-boys school (approved) , public schools run by a Catholic organization. Among charters approved: UC High in Woodlawn. Duncan visits Kenwood, touts high first day attendance, reduced dropout system wide(See Kenwood page.) On probation: Kozminski and Canter, facing sanctions: Reavis First 2005 Iowa/ISAT results encouraging for the poorest-performing kids and schools but not here, where local results see-saw. City high school reading scores at last improve. For Hyde Park, most schools up in reading. Math needs a push everywhere-CPS may make its mastery again mandatory to pass and graduate. Note, the Iowa test is gone supplanted by ISAT (Scores often drop 1st yr, so new prep.) But are scores overall stagnating or just plateauing? Gates gives big grant to schools incl. via U of C. Score details will be in the Scores/Rankings page, see also theschoolreport.com. Funding: despite rally for funds in Springfield-tax swap died, state funds a larger-than usual but not turnaround amount statewide. 4 local excelling schools to receive "autonomy", among citywide 85-meaning, if any Kenwood picks as principal Elizabeth Kirby, Assistant Principal with 6 years service in the school. And Michael Keno replaces Katherine Konosapek at Murray. See details of the changes themselves in News of Schools page, by-school section. See context essay on Keno's Harte success in the trends essays section below, including some hard questions. Pat Watson new principal at Shoesmith, Shenethe Parks at Harte, Bernadette Butler at Ray. Help may be on the way for schools and the community of Langley, south of Washington Park, it was announced at a groundbreaking near UC and Austin Sexton School. Meanwhile, Ald. Hairston appealed at HPKCC's annual meeting to UC for help/ charter school for South Shore. Triumphs of Kenwood; efforts to turn Reavis around: Canter addition hopes stymied. Read in Schools Committee a report on the HPKCC March 14 State of the Schools in HPK Forum, attended by 60+ and with real accomplishment. CPS says no to Murray 7th-8th- see Murray page. Visit Robbery and Assault Spike involves schools teens (is Kenwood being disproportionately blamed? Is the issue out of proportion or not?) See Teens/Students, Kenwood and the Community-look for Chamber: business reaches out Local schools to suffer staff reductions, other cuts; how school staff is determined. and CPS capital and work order projects are lagging behind. Schools advocating for more funds, Bill 750, Springfield Days in May Supt. Duncan appealed to community to support funding; effort reving up again Grand Boulevard Fed. says schools lack financial resources, have other serious hurdles. Sen. Raoul's bill lowering school age passes, so does bill raising credit-hour requirements in math, other subjects. Trends and views A local commentator asks, do we really have school choices on the South Side, and are such as we have a perk of privilege and of information and time to "shop"? Why don't we tell CPS we want quality schools up to our standards? Have we abandoned education as a right? And knowledgeable persons say CPS is in violation of state law, refusing to take advantage of funds for kids that are mandated by the state and instead forcing lscs to use up their discretionary funds to supplant, not supplement CPS funds -from pre-k funding to trips and lots more. And now it looks like the state will modify standards for some pupils so schools can meet the NCLB stands. On Charters Keno raises Harte, moves to Murray--essay on contextual meanings and how to build better schools, by Rod Sawyer HPKCC Schools forum reveals 5 areas of residents', parents' concern UC expanding its programs, schools development throughout Area 15 Cutting hurdles, getting right folks working together for parent accountability, parent training programs, attendance enforcement Reforms to deal with absenteeism, immunization noncompliance Controversy about change in rules on minority transfer rights into white schools LSC leaders report parental involvement increasing at schools such as Canter, Harte, Murray, Ray, Shoesmith, Shoesmith getting key help from Harte, Harte from U of C, still little networking and collaboration between LSCs. No Child Left Behind may have some modifications, still criticized Failing at High School: Alderman Preckwinkle issues challenge, asks where are the needed schools and bold programs for the majority of kids, majority not even in school? What did these kids 'drop out of', what is there for them to 'drop into'? Small schools cannot do the job except for a few. And UC research shows for African American students, the later adults gap with whites is not narrowing and may be increasing. Is the state going to get serious about decrepit, obsolete textbooks? And failing a t college too- see in UC and Schools- research results. Letter writers warn of Illinois' weak school requirements (backing governor's proposals), urge CPS to get back to basics and respect teachers, parents, students. Alderman Hairston tells initiatives, goals for schools in 2005. Rep. Currie cuts to the heart of the schools funding problem: With property taxes it depends on how rich the neighborhood is. Sen. Raoul is backing a bill to change that. Taking Harte: Reving up Area 15 literacy programming at UC Urban School Improvement's institute Report on lack of 'performing' schools on the Side Side- yet no SS community is on list of 25 communities most behind... (Did you know- Harte and Ray are the only "performing" schools in the whole 5th ward?) But disputed study asserts Hyde Park schools over funded Graduation rates over stated-and so apparently are college-going rates Special ed student grad rate is hurting school scores- but is far from the only reason Our neighborhood is cited for its high number of National Board Certified teachers Tribune 3/19 '04 "letter you should know and think about": "B of E makes work hard for LSCs" Of schools pathetic funding, dilemmas of improvement and "Bumper Sticker Solutions": Hannah Hayes: Let's stop focusing on our slice of funding or rankings and look at common issues and determine not to let our schools become cliche. Illinois school funding hangs on thread of 7-year-old temporary fix--including the cigarette tax at a time when cigarettes are being phased out of public places. Why parents change schools in the upper elementary grades and how this relates to a school's having or not having a (viable) 7th-8th grade program Ald. Preckwinkle on the feds and the school crisis; Ald. Hairston on a key factor in kid's school progress Are we just teaching to the test? And what are the results? (Latest state scores eyed skeptically but state school chief says fed law scapegoats special needs students:- see Tests and Rankings page.) And now Illinois drops writing and soc sc/civics from test just as SAT increases emphasis--but see how the malady is even deeper. Some standards/credit requirements were restored by the legislature. Direction of Kenwood & the Canter cluster Is West Hyde Park disproportionately left out, left behind? Catalyst says half of CPS schools get more or less than fair share. CPS to change to per-pupil funding Commercial Club issues a report on the schools: "Left Behind.." describes it. A writer in the March 4, 2005 Chicago Maroon makes a case that the shortness of the American academic year is a cause our kids are left behind...their cohorts in Europe and Japan. Top 2008 wrap up. From a year-end wrap up by Gary Ossewaarde, whose views it expresses. Arne Duncan, CPS CEO was chosen for Education Secretary by President-Elect Barack Obama. Duncan is a life-long Hyde Parker and long active in both public and private education. The response was enthusiastic although with reservations about the policies of CPS toward support or closings of schools, especially in low-income neighborhoods and hostility toward Local School Councils and other forms of local input or control. Concern was expressed about local schools lagging in repairs and upkeep. The 53rd TIF joined with CPS in funding major repairs to Canter Middle School, although the needed expansion is still not in sight. Kenwood Academy received a very extensive Disabilities upgrade. Award-winning Ray School remained uncertain as to when repairs will be made. CPS is sending teams around to all the schools. UC Laboratory Schools launched major planning and fundraising for the schools and their expansion, nursery to high. Kenwood Academy: lunch privileges now depend on performance, about 350 of 1700 can go off campus. There is still controversy as to whether Kenwood is turning around and the strong parts maintaining position or improving. Akiba-Schechter dedicated a new playground sponsored by Bill Coleman and Carol Groover and Jewish Funders. Principal changes: Gregory Mason succeeded Michael Keno as Principal at Murray Language Academy. Ongoing concerns for schools and their supporters are continued devolution of responsibilities upon them by CPS to raise funds for everything from supplies, to after school programs, to training, to repairs. Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Schools Committee put on line a comprehensive listing of after school and related activity providers. The Committee also held banquets with speakers for outgoing and incoming local school councils and their principals. Among information furnished was that on grant writing and finding funds and donations and how to improve further as LSCs. Being involved in our schools and taking advantage of resources out there (See After School page) Events/Meetings/Requirements/ Don't miss your local school council meeting- revised schedules. See the LSCs page. The next meeting of the HPKCC Schools Committee is January 21, 2008, 7 pm, United Church, 1448 E. 53rd, Blackstone entry. Discussion and planning continue on After School Matters. Get involved in the meetings of the HPKCC Schools Committee! Chair Nancy Baum.   Free Special Education Rights Seminars are offered by Family Resource Center on Disabilities. Saturdays 10-1, First Mondays 10-1 (except holidays etc.) Information on special education rights for public and private schools; step-by-step instruction on preparing for evaluation, IEP meetings/annual reviews, access to student records, mediation, due process hearings; basic training on negotiating with school districts for appropriate services; free materials. Pre registration required at 312 939-3513. At 20 E. Jackson Blvd., Room 300, 60604. There is also a course for parent leaders and trainers.0. Teachers and principals: Gear up now to take advantage of Free things for Schools, link-up partners helping to fund schools, and more. Deadline is December 1 each year. Contact CPS Dept. of External Resources.   Top Involvement Attend, get involved in local school councils of your children's or a nearby Local School Council, and that of the nearby high school. Applications for lsc members are now being accepted, see above. World Exchange international is looking for HP families to host foreign students, July 12-end of the month.Full choice, spending money, health insurance. Vernica Kirkland at vksuccess@yahoo.com. Chicago Metro History Education Center, which hosts the History Fair starting in Januarys, seeks all kinds of volunteers. Call Pauline Kochanski at 312 255-3607, www.uic.edu/orgs/cmhec. Black Star Project seeks a thousand mentors to talk to classes in Hyde Park, Bronzeville and other schools. Neighborhood Capital Budget Group's Schools Task Force holds monthly meetings and seminars on how your school can get the bang for our education buck and budget-making improved top to bottom. Visit their site. Neighborhood Capital Budget Group has manuals on assessing school needs and getting them met. To see CPS assessments done, go to http://www.cps.k12.il.us/Operations/assessments.html. NCGB is also involved in a network called Capital Planning Commission. Chicago Coalition for Community Schools. The Metropolitan Planning Council has a group working on schools issues: A+. It includes a list serve. 877-APLUSIL, www.aplusillinois.org. Chicago Community Trust, Civic Federation, Business for the Pubic Interest, and others also have committees that seek public participation. Top CPS Budget hearings Registrations, enrollment informationals and Open Houses   Top Scholarships, enrollments, contests, concerts, dramas, fairs etc. Get started now for high school and college/post college kids to get in gear for scholarships and internships. Examples: University of Chicago full-tuition scholarships for 20 CPS students. City of Chicago internships, high school through college grads- contact ward offices for information as the alderman have a certain number of nominations. (Include resume of studies and interests.) Did you know that a third of CPS college scholarships go begging?- Generous Chicagoans contribute to these scholarships, some in seven figures. A recommended search and info engine: http://www.scholarshiphelp.org Non-CPS 8th grade applicants to CPS schools having lotteries must take a test, usually in March. Call 773 553-2150 for information. Get ready for next year's CPS high school magnet programs and magnet schools. Apply by c December 17 yearly for both elementary and high schools. Get the "Education Opportunities" Directory (at schools, libraries, park district offices, aldermanic offices), call 773 553-2060 or go to www.chicagomagnetprograms.org. The high school applications are at high schools, elementary via the previous website. Middle/Jr. High kids: Start thinking now about college; if you're in CPS enroll in the GEARUP program (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). In its six years (just renewed) it has been shown to make a real difference. Your cluster of schools will be teamed with a college or university (U of C is one). The program includes tutoring, trips to college campus, adventure education, training in resume-application-financial aid, and career exposure. Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy has a monthly quiz contest for kids- win IPod or computer. CyberQuiz4Kids. Quizzes online at imsa.edu. AT&T children's art programs "Creative Kids". Under 12. See your art in the 2007 Yellow Pages. rhdforteachers.com. October 24, 2006 South Side Parents hosted a schools fair for parents. 30 schools and administrators and 100 parents and attended the event at St. Paul and the Redeemer. Several of the schools were small, alternative preschools. Angele Gaylord and Josephine Sanders co-led the program, which will be expanded next year. Top Tip: If you or someone you know is invited to participate in Principal For A Day do so! Or contact CPS to find out how to volunteer. (Running for and being elected to a local school council next time is one way to get an invite--but the latter is important and rewarding in itself.) And there are so many ways to volunteer, mentor, and donate--including towards books ($ is better than actual tomes) in the schools. It happens at the end of October. Requirements for LSC membership include for "parent rep", having a child enrolled in the school and for "community" residing within the school's attendance area. Start thinking about it now. Top Scholarship and Internship Fair sp. by Congr. Davis at Malcolm X College, 10 am-2 pm. 1900 W. Van Buren 2nd Floor. 773 533-7520. PBS "My City Now" Project has a contest for schools. Make a 3-minute video about your city and you can win a computer editing system, fully equipped, and ave the video shown on line at the local PBS website. In addition, have workshops given, get tour of local PBS station, and more. Joseph Lee, community outreach coordinator, 312 788-0231. University of Chicago Graham School offers the Saturday Scholars Program for high school students. several courses, may repeat October through December 2006. $400. Gleacher Center, 450 N. Cityfront Plaza Dr. http://grahamschool.uchicago.edu/saturdayscholars. After School Matters youth program, a collaboration of CPD and CPS is reving up in several schools despite federal funding cutbacks. Some Appeals Church of St. Paul and Redeemer seeks volunteer tutors for 1st and 2nd graders. Wednesdays, 3:14-4:15 starting in January. Linda Thisted, 773 947-9243. Black Star Project, Black Data Processors Association encourages schools, families, students to participate in its High School Computer Competition. Students learn html, web page design, flow charting, Java, other applications. Starts January, 2005. www.bdpa-chicago.org. 312 842-3527. Now seeking 100 student motivators to inspire and expose students to college and career options, healthy and positive lives, and a visible life plan. blackstar1000@ameritech.net. There are so many ways to volunteer in/assist the schools. On the corporate side, Hyde Park Bank has jumped in full-feet into mentoring at and helping Bret Harte School and VH1 cable entertainment company has given band instruments to Shoesmith. The Civic Knowledge Project Teacher Re certification CPDUs- 10. Open to teachers living in zip codes 60615, 37, 59, 53, 19, 16 for tuition reimbursement, else $185. Ask for the next time. "What do you think?" Hyde Parker Rod Sawyer has interned with Public Radio in its Chicago Matters series. Here is a synopsis of his segment. Any comments? Rod has had and may still have kids in local public schools. The No Child Left Behind law gives parents the option of exercising school choice in certain circumstances. For instance, they can move their children from failing schools to better ones. Parents in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood exercise school choice in a different way. They often move their kids from good schools to even better ones. Some parents even change schools to avoid specific teachers or enroll their kids in special enrichment programs. Ear to the Ground’s Rod Sawyer reveals some of the strategies he and some other Hyde Park parents are using to get the best educational experience for their children. The entire segment can be downloaded to media player from http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/programs/specials/chicagomatters/etg.asp Rod was mentored by Chicago Public Radio Reporter Jason DeRose. Top   Willie Pickens, Jazz musician, educator, activist and supporter extraordinaire Jazz pianist Willie Pickens has been identified with Hyde Park for decades (since 1959), and raised three children here in the public schools, where he also taught for decades. Daughter Bethany is a noted singer and pianist. Son Bob is a high-ranking officer in Chicago Public Schools. More than once a year, Willie gives concerts at his church, Hyde Park Union Church, to raise funds for the Hyde Park Food Pantry, homeless, and the church and its programs and he participates in Neighbors' Eve. October 26, 2006, he and Bethany will perform at the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce dinner at the Quadrangle Club. Perhaps he will play from his newest CD, "Jazz Spirit." He started playing piano at age 5, his mother and sister being pianists. After serving in the Army in the early 1950s, he earned a degree in music education at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. After graduation, he expanded his work of the clubs such as the Pershing Lounge at 64th and Cottage and th Crown Propeller on 63rd, later at the Underground Wonder Bar (then Domino) on Walton. He reflects that the jazz scene was vibrant on both sides of town. He thought of working his way east to New York, but slowly gravitated to Hyde Park, taking his first teaching job at Lindbloom High in 1966. Later, he formed the first jazz band at Kenwood Academy and directed the All-City High School Band. The public schools are still his great love, and he says the local schools are the best thing in Hyde Park. In 1992, post retirement, he was able to tour five years, especially in Europe and Japan, with the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine after Jones left the John Coltrane Quartet. In New York, they played the Bottom Line, joined by Wynton Marsalis. Top Bulletins Major news items not with their own feature pages Latest 2005- a year of unusual change? See the What's Right What's Wrong result for schools. LSC slots mostly fill up now in summer 2007 schools like Kenwood, Canter seek replacements for parents of graduating students. 4 Teens at Kenwood, Dyett join with Kenwood Oakland Community Organization and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ($1.5 million grant) to launch a campaign to further reduce dropout rate (at a low of 10.4 percent citywide). Called VOYCE (Voices of Youth in Chicago Education) want also to change CPS policies and state laws they say encourage dropping out. Katherine Volk replaces retiring Virginia Vaske as Area 15 Instructional Officer HPKCC Schools Committee held gala for LSCS, plan big after school progs. matter forum/fair Spillover from school closings (esp. high) continues. No post elem. multi-sensory centers on South Side as CPS virtually eliminates special ed. Mayor announces funding to build/rebuild schools Big reading grant to help middle schools. Daley to fund $100 mil in fixed, new schools. UC's Woodlawn High gets final approval, has big signup. Legislators', aldermanic goals for education in 2006 Feds dispute desegregation progress, Chicago students lag other cities, High school report cards, bits What neighbors said about schools at an HPKCC forum fall 2005 on What's Right, What's Wrong in Hyde Park? Chicago Coalition for the Homeless faults CPS Ren. 2010 closures for effects on homeless kids Kozminski, Canter on probation, now improving, Reavis facing sanctions Zoe Mikva of HPKCC Schools Committee read an urgent appeal at the School Board meeting urging speed and better construction oversight for the Canter gym/multipurpose room. First 2005 test score results citywide encouraging for poorest performing kids, schools but not here where local results see-saw Bill Gates gives large grant to Chicago Schools; Chicagoans at big rally in Springfield for funds Financial crisis still looming for Chicago schools despite budget deals State Sen. Raoul sponsoring school fund bill Pinching funds--3 HPK schools have to join bus-sharing program, may change start/close times to accommodate while funding ticked up for charter schools and half of schools get more or less than fair share. Staff being cut while schools have to pay for services. 4 area schools among 85 given more autonomy- real significance? All but one of 22 schools in Area 15 to suffer staff cuts Schools advocated for more funds, Bill 750, Springfield May Days, got little Kenwood picks Elizabeth Kirby as principal Keno replaces Konosapek at Murray--new principals selected, coming in several schools. See in News of Schools No HPK schools to close under Renaissance 2010 despite 2 lagging schools. Only 4 closings citywide this year (including Englewood which will impact here). Policy to have public review but this public process is viewed as weak by watchdogs. UC plans new charter school at former Donoghue in Bronzeville, invites public planning participation- 3 more to come. Addition for Canter? looks stymied over city's reluctance over parking garage (>TIF funding) Reavis probation, new principal Kenwood triumphs, problems A mandatory transfer fiasco and relationship to No Child Left Behind CPS financial managing woes, building plans on hold due state fund dry-up Dawson Skills Center and ACE-Tech programs flourish New principals selected in some schools Illinois fails School Breakfast Program. Getting KidCare and KidStart off the dime. Importance of dental care for school kids--a new option Illinois Early Childhood Block Grants in the top three; funding increased by state 60 million. 79 schools cited as rising stars, led by Woodlawn Community Academy Raoul's bill to lower school age from 7 to 5 squeaks through Senate, not House. The controversy over Renaissance 2010, Mid South and related plans continues. See 2010 page. Latest As one of many personnel conundrums, in 2007 the Board faced a crisis shortage of principals, due in part to retirement of baby boomers and imminent end to a retirement sweetener. 2005- a year of unusual change? First, many local schools changed principals (including into 2006) - Dyett, Harte, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Murray, Reavis, Shoesmith. Five Renaissance 2010 schools opened in Bronzeville; U of C opened its 2nd charter and planned for more. But some Catholic schools were closed. Price and Robinson split the student constituency, one taking below 4th, the other 4th and up. Robinson made considerable strides. Transfer students created considerable strains. The great east-west divide in Hyde Park over test scores in different Hyde Park schools grew, but Kozminski continued moving up and out of the declining group. Harte moved closer to elite Ray and Murray. A new focus is being planning on math in local schools. Teacher development moved ahead smartly while local school councils tackled parent involvement with notable successes. AVID program to challenge middle achievers was sweeping the area, along with other approaches to students. Area schools are deeply committed to improving prospects for all their students. Top 2006 started with a huge 300 million plus deficit. Arne Duncan has ideas to close the gap to about 77 million, which he is campaigning to have the state close by waiving CPS pension contribution. The cuts will especially hit special, gifted and remedial education programs and result in 1000-2000 teacher cuts. State Budget. Illinois made modest increases in school funding and introduced preschool funding for as young as 3, priority need-based. But a new initiative covers salaries in all districts so class size can be lowered. There is also a $41 m program to boost learning programs and that help struggling families pay college costs. On President-elect Obama's nomination of CPS CEO and Hyde Parker Arne Duncan for U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Congratulations from the HPKCC Schools Committee, our ally PURE and others (some mixed with cautions), from the December 24 2008 Herald. By Daschell M. Philips At a press conference last Tuesday, President-elect Barack Obama chose Chicago Board of Education CEO and Hyde Park native Arne Duncan as secretary of education. Duncan has been the CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for about seven years and a Hyde Parker all his life. His father Starkey Duncan was a psychology professor at the University of Chicago. Duncan attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, and then graduated magna cum laude from harvard University with a degree in sociology in 1987. he also played professional basketball in Australia with the Eastside Spectres of the national Basketball League and often meets with Obama to play basketball. Once he returned to the U.S., Duncan spent a great deal of his free time tutoring and playing basketball with children at his mother Susan Morton's after school program, Susan Duncan Children's Center for African American Youth at Jackie Robinson Elementary School, 4225. S. Lake Park Ave. In 1992 Duncan became the director of the Ariel Education Initiative, a program to enhance educational opportunities for children, and in 1996 he was part of a network that funded and supported Ariel Community Academy, 1119 E. 46th St. In 1998 he joined CPS. He became deputy chief of staff for former Schools CEO Paul Vallas in 1999. Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Duncan to serve as CEO of CPS in 2001. Over the past seven year Duncan has managed the third largest school district in the United States, which includes 655 schools, 408,600 students and 44, 417 employees. Several local education advocate organizations said they wish Duncan well during his tenure in Washington. "We congratulate Arne Duncan on this important nomination," said Julie Woestehoff, Hyde Park resident and founder of Parents for Responsible Educati9on (PURE). "He is a thoughtful, intelligent person who will bring a lot to the position, including the benefit of a variety of lessons learned in Chicago." Woestehoff said while PURE is concerned about some of the programs Duncan carried out in CPS, particularly high-stakes testing and Renaissance 2010, she is sure that he and Obama will work together to provide a balanced approach to school reform that will "lead the nation to improved education for every child." Members of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference (HP-K CC) said they are proud that their fellow Hyde Parker has been appointed to the nation's highest education post. "This is a a big task and we stand ready to support and work with our new secretary of education," said Nancy Baum, HP-K CC chairwoman of the schools committee, in a written statement on behalf of the conference. Greg Washington, president of the Grand Boulevard Federation, spoke on behalf of the organization's education committee about Duncan's appointment. "We wish him the best in D.C.," said Washington whose organization --like PURE--has mixed reviews about Duncan's performance as CEO. "We hope he doesn't forget about us." Jitu Brown, education organizer for the Mid South Education Association, shared his memories of the association's relationship with Duncan. "When Arne first became CEO of the board his first public appearance was as keynote speaker at our annual convention in 2001," said Brown. Brown said Duncan's professionalism when working with the association's Voices for Youth in Chicago Education, which is a youth-led group of teens from across the city who gathered to research, identify and work toward lowering the city's high school dropout rate, helped the teens realize they were being taken seriously and inspired them to work hard to produce great work. "We are very hopeful that we can continue to work in the spirit of community voices and that we can be heard on local and national levels," said Brown. Duncan's sisters, Sarah Duncan, said the family is very proud of his accomplishments. "We are thrilled. This is an amazing opportunity," said Sarah Duncan. She said that the family, which includes Duncan's wife Karen and his two children, plan to get together to celebrate Duncan's appointment over the holidays. Ald. Preckwinkle in December 24 Herald: Congrats due to Arne Duncan on his appointment (and praise for high school principals) Congratulations to Arne Duncan on his recent Cabinet appointment to be the next secretary of education. Chief Executive of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Arne Duncan will be a strong advocate for public education and a champion of urban schools. President-elect Barack Obama and arne Duncan have a chance to create real reform of the education system, and are committed to seeing every child attend an excellent school. Arne Duncan has more than 15 years experience in urban public education. His firsts endeavor in education was with the Ariel Education Initiative, a program that aims to create opportunities for children on Chicago's South Side. In 2001, after only three years in Chicago Public Schools, he became the chief executive officer of CPS. Arne Duncan also serves on 12 education boards, a list which includes Ariel Education Initiative, Scholarship Chicago, Junior Achievement, Chicago Cares, and Harvard Collage. This country needs a secretary of education who has headed a major urban school district, and is as dedicated to education as Arne Duncan. He is unique among urban superintendents. His tenure has been long and not troubled by the bitter infighting that has cut short the careers of so many superintendents. He has made controversial decisions but has never denigrated his opponents. Chicago Public Schools has sen a lot of improvements under Arne Duncan's leadership. He has closed poor-performing schools so he wil not have to add ritual humiliation to accountability in order to maintain a reputation for having higher standards. Duncan's effort towards revamping and restructuring struggling CPS schools has led to improvements in meeting state education standards, an increase in the number of students taking advance placement classes, an increase in first-day attendance and a decreases in teacher vacancies. Our community high schools have had some improvements under Arne Duncan's guidance and the stewardship of our high school principles Liz Kirby (Kenwood Academy), Jacquelyn Lemon (Dyett High School), and Jeff Wright (King College Prep.) Under Kirby's guidance, Kenwood's boys no longer fall behind girl students, and the school excels in subjects that include biology, Latin and Chinese. Dyett's graduation rate has doubled, and King College Prep. has made a transformation in recent years. The secretary of education's principal responsibility is to distribute federal aid to education and to enforce regulation. One of the great tasks that lie before Duncan will be to rethink education initiatives such as Bush's "No Child Left Behind," which penalized a lot of schools for poor performance. He can be a great cheerleader for big city schools, pointing the way to meaningful change. Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, appointed to chief education Officer by Arne Duncan in 2001, may be appointed to become the next chief executive officer of CPS. Like Duncan, Eason-Watkins is dedicated to education having spent nearly 30 years working in schools, 27 of which were in CPS. She has received several educational leadership awards such as the Whitman Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership and the Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year Award. While Arne Duncan is serving in the White House, CPS schools wil also be under strong leadership.   A contrary view by Fritz Kaegi: Kenwood Academy suffered under Arne As a Hyde Parker and Obama supporter, I'm delighted and proud to have so many from our neighborhood set off to Washington to lead our country. But as a graduate of Kenwood Academy, I know that while Arne Duncan (secretary of education-designate) ran the Chicago Public Schools he has presided over a very sad deterioration of my old high school. Kenwood used to be broadly representative of our neighborhood's demographics and stood as an example to the rest of Chicago as a successful, integrated public school. Since it was founded in the late '60s until early in this decade, it was among the best high schools in the city (public or private), averaging five national merit semi-finalists per year. Many kids left excellent schools like Lab to attend Kenwood instead. Arne Duncan took over the CPS in June 2001. Since then, Kenwood has not had a single national merit semi-finalist who took the qualifying exam under his administration. The school has become almost segregated: In a school of 1,700 students, you can count the number of white students in each grade on one hand. Hyde Parkers send their kids halfway across the city for 90-minute commutes instead of sending them to Kenwood. Yes, there were some bad principals, new school choices emerged, great teachers retired, Kenwood often got unfair bad publicity. And yes, racist parents are still out there. There's a lot of blame to go around. (Good luck finding anyone to actually take some responsibility.) It's not like this was the first time this happened in our neighborhood (Hyde Park High, anyone?). And Kenwood today has a fine principal, Elizabeth Kirby, who is trying to turn things around. but Arne was the boss, and had factors under his control. What really get me is this one: The principal that started Kenwood's decline, Careda Taylor, got promoted ever higher under Arne. Today, unbelievably, she is the person Arne selected to be the CPS's deputy CEO. Her role:? Responsibility for "all" of Chicago's high schools (maybe Arne can take her to Washington, too). Let's hope our next batch of leaders, be they from Hyde Park or not, can do better by the public schools that represent our neighborhood. Top LSC elections for the most part went smoothly in 2008, with some change made. See LSC page. Also, Kenwood is now a transformation school with substantial funds from the Gates Foundation for curriculum revision. Top News Index Legislators', aldermanic education goals for 2006 Reps. Currie and Jones and Sen. Raoul will continue to push for Bill 750 changing school funding in Illinois. Rep. Currie will continue to advocated reform in the juvenile justice system (as a separate department) while Jones will work for help to grandparents raising kids. Ald. Hairston will push for public school reforms and youth activities--in both schools and parks. She wants to add a third Triathlon team to Jackson Park. News Index. Top The spillover effects continue to be highly unfortunate from closings, especially for Hyde Park High, according to Ald. Hairston. The numbers ballooned to 330 in 2005-6, enough to cause serious incidents. (Boundaries were changed so technically the numbers were claimed to be not disproportionate. Why do so many go to just a few schools? Why are the failing schools not fixed?) The principal and many of the teachers in HP High left--after there had been a lot of progress. There are supposed to be no more coming this year... Educators and parents decried a lack of South Side multi-sensory learning centers past the 6th grade (such as at Ray School) for students who cannot be successfully mainstreamed. Meanwhile, CPS cut $25 million form special education--what are parents to do? Mayor Daley announced a program to build and rebuild many schools. You can tell that a billion is not much, since in the 5th Ward only Bouchet is mentioned. South Shore High in another ward will be rebuilt. Civic organizations complained about the funding, the Mayor said "How long must the children wait?" Top News Index The feds in early December said CPS has not achieved integration. After decades of U.S. silence on CPS desegregation, The U.S. Justice Dept. has filed opposition to releasing CPS from the latest of its 24 yo. desegregation plans. "CPS cannot meet its burden" and prove it is in compliance by the end of 2005. Why? 1) CPS offered no African-American or Latino children transfer right into largely all-white schools--but when ordered to do so by courts, found some seats, 2) CPS has lacked efforts to integrate faculty and principal rosters, 3) insufficient spending for extra academic help for children in racially isolated schools, 4) weak access to special education, gifted and magnet programs for students learning English. CPS of course disagrees, asserting that consequences of segregation in CPS are gone, integration is fostered by the magnet and gifted programs and some voluntary transfers, and that any non compliance is due to the fiscal crisis and not intentional discrimination. Hearings began in May, 2006 before Judge Charles Kocoras. This will be over the 2004 CPS-US Consent Decree to the 1980 settlement, approved by Judge Kocoras, who questioned whether integration in a school district 10% white, 38% Latino and about 50% African-American. Courts, starting explicitly with the 1991 Oklahoma City decision, began releasing districts from court-ordered desegregation plans if "all practicable steps" had been taken, and held that districts do not have a responsibility to reverse segregation caused by housing patterns. Soon after the 2004 consent, the Justice Dept. started taking Chicago to court over alleged violations. News Index. Top Chicago students said by Tribune to trail on reading and math among big cities. John Easton, a member of the National Assessment board and director of the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research said, "The good news is there is progress, but it's sobering how low some of these scores are." In results released Dec. 1, the most disappointing results are reported to be among African-American students, versus in other urban districts led by New York and contrary to what some interpretations of other tests have said. Some other cities have their own jaw-droppers, such as Atlanta's gap for low-income students generally and Washington DC's for minority students. This test is the National Report Card, a sample of 680,00 pupils nationwide, 8,000 in Chicago. It tests in key subjects, and is highly regarded. Note that the measures below are of a high bar--"proficient." What state tests measure is closer to the percentage at the lower "basic" standard. 11% of 8th graders are proficient in math (29 nationally, 20 other big cities) 12% of 4th graders are proficient in reading (30 nationally, 19 other big cities) Chicago students did show slight progress from the last national comparison in 2003 and Latino reading is up sharply--in fact, Latino 8th graders exceeded both national and other big city performance. News Index. Top A 1-page report card of each pupil's high school is being sent this month to parents, is on CPS website and available in the school. The card measures student outcomes, academic progress, participation in school activities and more. These include 5-year graduation rates, graduates who advance to college or employment, students in advanced placement classes, absenteeism, teacher qualifications, and school cleanliness--17 categories in all, selected by focus groups. Excluded is police enforcement activity instead having a student survey on how safe the school is. This is part of the high school revitalization initiative. The state's report card is different, stressing academic progress, demographics, teacher characteristics. Chicago ranked 10th of 11 big cities in 4th grade math, 7th in 8th grade math, 8th in 4th grade reading and 6th (the middle) in 8th grade math. Supt. Duncan said he is very concerned about the lag of African-American students and the flat scores of 4th graders across the board. "It dramatically demonstrates the need for more preschool and full-day kindergarten. Teachers' Union president Marilyn Stewart pointed to instability in the African-Americans' schools and homes. According to the Tribune, she especially cites African American schools having been hit hard by recent school closings, with pupils being shuffled from building to building, and so many of the homes are single-parent. News Index. Top   Katherine Volk named replacement for retiring Area 14 Instructional Officer Virginia Vaske. Volk was Pershing Magnet Principal. Pershing is part of Area 15, and retiring Virginia Vaske recommended Volk. The instructional officer offers support and training opportunities to the staff of the schools, but Vaske has made the position in Area 15 unique. The area focuses on professional development and Balanced Literacy- using the whole array of language arts to build skill in writing, reading and speaking. Character building, cultural and historical context, and enjoyment matter as well as societal and career readiness.Volk lives in the South Loop. What neighbors said about schools at a HPKCC forum on Hyde Park, October 2005 Changes wanted · Table 1 (Need) Police courts and (?) in schools and community · Table 2. More local kids at Kenwood High School · Table 4. Youth involvement Comments SCHOOLS AND TEENAGERS (7) · …I really believe that Kenwood Academy High School should be a “magnet” school. A high school that sits in the Hyde Park Kenwood community should be the best in the city of Chicago. · Lack of youth involvement/embracement · Control of the high school students who are “acting out” · How to engage Kenwood Academy · Noisy, foul-mouthed teenagers who have no sense of shame · HP/Kenwood children who are arrested have to participate in major community service activities. · Reorganize (?) school boundary. COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT (1 of 7) · ….the sad state of Blackstone Library…didn’t make it to the list on the wall. On February 23, HPKCC Schools Committee held a gala honoring LSCs. Certificates were given to all current members in the Hyde Park area, Arne Duncan and others spoke, people were urged to run, and we heard the Kenwood Academy Jazz Band and Tenors of Distinction. The committee next held a learning dinner with principals and LSC chairs. Next is a forum and fair March 28, 2007, "After School Matter to Hydepark-Kenwood." Neighborhood Club, 7 pm. We're busy contacting providers and schools, if you are a provider of after school (or other hours) programs for kids and youth, contact Nancy Baum at 773 288-5464 or nbbaum@sbcglobal.net. News Index. Top. CPS in March 2006 announced a $24.5 million federal Striving Readers grant for reading programs in middle schools at 32 schools. Funds will be used for intervention teachers, after-school tutoring, special teacher training, tech support and instructional materials. The program ratchets up a 13-school pilot in which 12 schools outpaced all other middle schools--and impressive enough to garner Chicago the largest grant. One focus is to integrate reading and teachers teaching reading techniques across the curriculum. 2006 will see 16 schools, 2007 32 schools serving 3,500 pupils. Similar programs are already in place system wide for lower and upper grades. News Index. Top CPS in March 2006 gave final approval to the University of Chicago-sponsored Woodlawn High charter School. It will be located in Wadsworth School, 6420 S. University. Set for 160 seats in its first year (50 in 6th and 100 in 9th), it already has over 500 applications. News Index. Top March 22 Bret Harte LSC launched its principal selection process. More about in LSC page. News Index, Top. Chicago Coalition for the Homeless faults CPS Ren. 2010 closures for effects on homeless kids, sues. Hyde Park Herald, January 18, 2006. By Erin Meyer Too many homeless children are being forced to change schools too often, according to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH). With Chicago Public Schools poised to announce the next set of schools slated for closure under Renaissance 2010, CCH appeared in court Jan. 10 vis-a-vis the Chicago Board of Education charging that the school closing policy violates the rights of homeless children. "As Ren 2010 moves forward, this policy could cause damages to potentially thousands of homeless children," said Rene Heybach of the CCH Law Project. "We want this case to go to trial." The Board of Education filed a motion to dismiss the case. Defense lawyer Deborah Harvey argued that the federal No Child Left Behind Act gives the board full authority to close under-performing and under-utilized schools without any parental support. But the case is not about the board's authority to close schools, according to Heybach. It is about opening the school closing policy up to public scrutiny and minimizing negative impacts to children. "It is one thing to have authority to close schools. It is another thing to close a school no matter what," she said. Circuit Court Judge Julia M. Nowicki supported Heybach's argument. "I see the issue as planning before you close a school," said the judge as she flipped through pages of litigation against the board. Nowicki will decide whether or not CCH has a case by Jan. 27. If the case goes to trial, the negative impact of school closings on all Chicago Public School students, both homeless and non-homeless, may be re-examined. Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization board president Jim Brown has been calling on CPS to include parents and the community in the school closing policy for m ore than a year. He said the coalition's lawsuit is critical because most school closures occur in low-income communities. ... Heybach said the existing policy is especially disruptive to homeless children moved again and again in conjunction with the demolition of public housing. ...In 2000, the board settled the first homeless children case by agreeing to allow the children to remain in their schools of origin and include parents in the planning process. ..."CPS did no planning and never involved parents in the planning process," Heybach said [so] the Law Project went to court again in the case of Salaverez v. Edwards on behalf of about 230 homeless children. ...CPS spokesperson Peter Cunningham says "Whether a child is homeless or not is irrelevant (to creating new schools under 2010.) CPS served 9,000 homeless students last year. News Index. Top Hmmm dept. Teacher length of service in Illinois to today is just half what it was 10 years ago (was 15). Some think CPS goofed in its holiday schedule, making parents scramble for childcare in a week everyone else was expected to be at work. Ballroom dancing is a new addition to public schools, thanks to Board President Michael Scott. Virginia Vaske, Area 15 Instructional Officer and former Murray Principal, will retire at the end of the 2005-06 school year. She reports that several schools in her area have a chance to get off the state academic probation list--especially Kozminski and Canter, and maybe Reavis, which faces sanctions. Kozminski, Canter on probation, Reavis faces sanctions based on failure to attain adequate yearly progress ISAT tests for two years. Area 15 Officer Virginia Vaske says it will be several years before Reavis can make enough yearly progress to get off probation. Kozminski has been making about 6 percent gains over the past 3 years and appears poised to make the grade in 2006. Its programs have been revamped with comprehensive literacy, Everyday Math an vocabulary study. CPS will again seek the maximum property tax increase. HPKCC Schools Committee meets November 16 7 pm, Hyde Park Union Church, 1448 E. 53rd. To the focus of the Schools Committee. The November 2, 2005 Herald carried an appeal by Schools Committee member and Canter LSC member Zoe Mikva read at the BOE meeting appealing to the Board of Education to fulfil its promise to finish the gym so kids can stop having meals at their desks. She cited lax construction oversight and failure of anyone in the chain of command to listen. U of C Center for Urban School Improvement in summer 2005 received $5 M from the MacArthur Foundation for its UC and CPS teacher training and the rev-up of its charter school and 20-school network. See in UC and the Schools. No new Renaissance 2010 sites were offered on the South Side this year and groups interested were unable to find non-CPS property in time, so none will open (i.e. by De LaSalle, IIT...) CPS has concentrated on the overcrowded West Side this year but will assist for the South Side as population goes up. Previously five groups submitted Renaissance or charter proposals for mid-South CPS locations and are to open: DuSable (including 3 small schools) , Donoghue, Raymond, Douglas, and Hartigan.The U of C, which is opening Donoghue Charter this fall and plans more, may open its future 6-12 "near" the University as a Renaissance School. First results from the 2005 Iowa tests of elementary students appear to show strong gains for kids and schools at the bottom of performance--in fact, steady drop of students in the lowest quartile of meeting national performance standards. Math, however, continues to slip slightly. The problem is that CPS is not, says it lacks the resources to, apply the best of what has proven out to all schools--in fact, some schools are going back to larger class size due to staff and other budget cuts. The Iowa test may be dropped, esp. if the Illinois test results can be returned to schools soon enough to be used in school and summer school assignment. The gains for poorest performing do not seem to have come to schools in HPK deemed not bad enough for probation. Other scores see-sawed. See Test Scores and Rankings page for specifics. Early ISAT reports are good in reading and composite city wide and for the neighborhood Area 15 schools. ISAT scores determine "Adequate Yearly Progress." The local exceptions are Reavis and Shoesmith. The former went down to a composite of 27 on a sharp drop in math scores (3rd gr. from 38 to 28.5, 5th from 22.4 to 12.1.). Shoesmith composite dropped 5 percent to 47.7, just above the 47.5 percent marker for probation. Canter shot up over 10 to a composite of 76.6, Ray went up slightly to 73.3, Bret Harte also shot up 10 points to 72.3 pushed by reading improvements of 20 percent to 72.0. Kozminski improved by 6.6 points from 38 to 45, closing in on getting off probation (it has a new approach to reading and will implement one for math this year.) Starting in 2006 all students 3rd through 8th grade will take ISAT and Illinois has dropped the IOWA skills test. Studies continue to confirm that the best predictor (determinant?) of test scores is family income. Multi billionaire Bill Gates and his wife Melinda announced major schools grants May 19. $11.2 million will improve the 90 CPS high schools and build new ones. Only $2.3 will go directly to CPS while the remaining c$8 million will be disbursed to 5 organizations including locally PURE (Parents United for Responsible Education) and the U of C Center for Urban School Improvement. The Gates have given schools in Chicago over 42 million since 2001. Boosting graduation rates via school transformation is the key goal of the planning and programs. CPS says the funds will be spread across the whole set of schools and not focus just on the "low performing" as much of Renaissance 2010 does. The $2.3 CPS component, to be used this summer, is for planning the changes. The U of C will use its $6 million to open 2 new charter schools fall of 2006, bringing to 4 the number of its projected 5 or 6. In addition, it will be aiding 7 high schools and up to 12 elementary South Side Schools. PURE's $200,000 component will gauge status of parent participation via 45,000 surveys to 92 schools city wide according to the Chicago Tribune. Other recipients are the Nobel Network of Charter Schools on the near northwest side , Perspectives Charter School on the Near South side and New Leaders for New Schools (a principal incubator). The Gates Foundation took into account a citywide CPS survey of students, teachers and principals on what it would take to turn around middle and high schools. News Knowles of Center for Urban School Improvement hopes to identify a site for the first high school in summer 2005--one close enough for students to take advantage of University of Chicago resources. He also said he has no interest in taking over an existing high school such as probationed Dyett Academic Center on 51st. May 28 the House and the Senate passed the plan described below. The governor will sign. The deal announced May 26 had the state giving a $315 (200 for general assistance) million increase (the largest in over a decade) to schools statewide. This is between talked-of $134 m and a casino-financed $440 earlier proposed by the Governor. What the increase is for Chicago is unknown, CPS saying it needs up to $175 M more and laying off 156 administrators and reducing principals' raises from 4% to 2%. Chicago's per-student (a gross measure at best) would be up only $200 from $4,964 to $5,164. The state increase is financed by another deferral of funding of state pension plans (which includes for teachers outside Chicago), which funds are among the most underfunded among the states. No reports or statements so far on effects on CPS budget or cuts. CPS chief Arne Duncan blitzkrieged the state and legislature for 3 days in May 2005, presenting the case of districts statewide for funding relief and reform. Following the big rally at the Thompson Bldg. May 16, busloads went to Springfield for the May 18 focus day rally and visitation to legislators and the governor, preceded by a zoom around the state by Duncan. Duncan and Board President Michael W. Scott held little hope that a tax transformation bill (SB750) will be passed, according to the Tribune, because not only is this difficult but the governor [although weakened] says he will veto any income tax increase. News State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-13, this area) pushed Senate Bill 750 in 2006, which failed. This bill would have increased funding statewide through a state income tax increase from 5 to 8 percent and taxing untaxed services. Per pupil funding could be increased from $4,964 to $6,092 while providing a major cut in property taxes. Illinois is currently 49th in the nation in funding education. The national average proportion sponsored by state government is close to what the Illinois Constitution mandates, 51%, vs. current 31%. (Center for Tax and Budget Responsibility) Illinois also has the greatest disparity between per pupil between counties. Odds for a change became poorer as it was found difficult to not have total tax increases for citizens both in some districts and for classes of citizens. A consensus has not yet been built for such a remedy. Several A mass rally-statewide lobbying days were held in Springfield. On another front, Raoul and others pushed the mandatory school age from 7 and do other things for early childhood learning. News A financial crisis is looming, CPS told Chicagoans. CPS says it needs $175 m from the state for 05-06; state leaders talked about $134 m for the whole state, with $16 for Chicago, Gov. Blageovich's plan would have provided $440 m statewide through gambling expansion. In the end the state dealt a $300 m increase statewide- breakdown for Chicago was not published as of May 27. At the March Bd of Ed meeting, Budget Director Pedro Martinez said, "We feel we are in a budget crisis right now... if you look a the entire state, CPS is not alone. We see other school districts that are struggling right now. As just one instance, social services, not just arts, have been gutted in public schools. In Feb. 2006, CPS sought from the state $100 m new money unencumbered and $77 m pass on this year's pension fund contribution. Several point out that the latter would result in higher costs later. Supt. Duncan continues to point to the state's failure to meet the average state funding of schools - 49%-(about what the Illinois Constitution calls for) and the consequence of huge discrepancies in what is spent per pupil in different-even nearby-parts of the state and metropolitan area. Illinois now averages $5,164 vs. Advisory Board recommendation of $6,405. Duncan says it's the poor kids who get left out, systematically. Real district spending per pupil varies from $24,000 in Roundout to $4,438 in Tazewell Co. In Chicago, LSCs systematically have to pay for basics from their discretionary funds due to CPS shortfalls. Superintendent Duncan wrote in the May 11 Herald asking for support at the May 2005 action days in Springfield, but little was gained for the schools. He wrote: ...Illinois schools need at least $600 million more...but current proposals fall far short of that amount. Moreover, Illinois schools received no money from the state this year for new schools and repairs [prev. levels were $500m.] Ultimately, Illinois also needs statewide education funding reform to fix a broken school funding system that leaves some school districts with up to $18,00 per child each year while others spend less that $5,000 per child.... Illinois ranks 49th in the nation in the amount of