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Posts in category "The World Outside CPS"

"Charterizing" CPS, Weekend Edition

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Despite all the controversy and attention surrounding charters, Chicago is one of the least-charterized big city school districts in the nation at this point, having set early and tight limits on the number of charters and the people who could authorize them. It seemed like a good idea at the time, to keep charters in house focus on quality rather than creating a wild west like some other states and districts have had, but the reality has been more of a mixed bag.But there are a couple of realities worth remembering, whether you're pro charter or against... Read more »
By Alexander Russo,
May 12, 2012 at 10:24 am
• 5 comments

Here Comes Citizen Schools

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Seeing that Citizen Schools was coming to Chicago, I thought I’d try to find out a little more. Is it a charter operator?  A blended learning solution?  An after-school program?  Outsiders come to steal our children and feast at the public trough? Turns out it’s a hybrid kind of program that works with schools to... Read more »
By Alexander Russo,
May 10, 2012 at 8:00 am
• 10 comments

Homeboy Chicago?

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LA doesn’t have CeaseFire (that I know of) but Chicago doesn’t have Homeboy Industries, LA’s long-running nonprofit social services program (that I know of), either. Homebody  isn’t technically an education program, but the initiative  – described in Douglas McGray’s recent Fast Company article, “House Of Second Chances” — is full of education connections and lessons for... Read more »
By Alexander Russo,
May 4, 2012 at 7:05 pm
• 5 comments
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Emanuel & The School Reformers

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The Mayor was in San Francisco yesterday for a reform conference called the NewSchools Venture Fund education summit (and for an Obama fundraiser, too, I’m told).  He closed the event with a speech and a bit of Q and A with Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs. There was no big announcement... Read more »
By Alexander Russo,
May 3, 2012 at 9:44 am
• 2 comments

Rahm And Cawley Heading To SF

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On Tuesday and Wednesday a handful of Chicago folks — Tim Cawley and Rahm Emanuel among them — will be at a hotel near San Francisco at the annual NewSchools Venture Fund education summit.  Click here for a preview of this year’s agenda that I did last week on the other blog.  I’m alternately appalled... Read more »
By Alexander Russo,
April 30, 2012 at 11:49 am
• 1 comment

Illinois Leads US In Funding Cuts

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This story from the newest The American Prospect (No Funds Left Behind) includes a map showing school funding cuts across the US that notes Illinois — along with Texas, Wisconsin, and that state in the middle that might be Oklahoma — is among just a handful of states that cut per pupil funding by at... Read more »
By Alexander Russo,
March 13, 2012 at 7:55 am
• 1 comment
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"KONY2012" As An Education Issue

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Speaking of online videos:  One of these days there will be a viral education video out there like Kony 2012, the Internet meme of the moment (and perhaps of all time, says the Atlantic Wire). Don’t laugh — I’m sure there are folks out there trying to create a viral hit about schools as we speak.  Your... Read more »
By Alexander Russo,
March 12, 2012 at 10:25 am
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Walton Foundation Love

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The Walton Family Foundation gave out a lot of school reform money last year, and a good chunk of it — roughly $3 million — was spent on Chicago.  Walton is somewhat different from Gates in that it is still very much focused on expanding the number of charter schools nationwide and also supports private... Read more »
By Alexander Russo,
March 8, 2012 at 9:02 am
• 1 comment

Teacher Advancement...But Not Much More

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Today’s news is all about the LSC deadline extension but you knew about that already (see previous post) and probably don’t care (sorry!), so let’s focus instead on the new evaluation of the TAP program in Chicago that just came out and is covered in this EdWeek story. As you may recall, then-CEO Duncan funded the... Read more »
By Alexander Russo,
March 8, 2012 at 8:51 am
• 3 comments
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Rahm Supports "Parent Trigger" (Again?)

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Add Mayor Emanuel to the list of Democratic lawmakers who have come out in support of the controversial “parent trigger” idea, in which a majority of parents can require dramatic changes at a school without teacher (or even district) approval.  He’s quoted in the Orlando Sentinel as coming out in favor:  “If parents find their... Read more »
By Alexander Russo,
March 7, 2012 at 3:08 pm
• 28 comments