Archive for June 2013

Use TIF, Save Vevea

Use TIF, Save Vevea
Today's education news includes coverage of City Council progressives clamoring for CPS to use TIF funding to protect schools from budget cuts, plus news that WBEZ education reporter Becky Vevea's job is at risk, and that a CORE-like caucus in Newark failed to win control of the teachers union there (but scored lots of leadership positions).  What else?  When's summer school start...
By Alexander Russo,
June 28, 2013 at 7:51 am • 

Tech Site Features Chicago Kids

Tech Site Features Chicago Kids
Yes, tech site Engadget has a video show — and the June episode focuses on teaching kids about and through technology (and begins featuring a Chicago ed tech initiative). I can’t get it to embed properly but you can watch and read all about it here: Education with Google, OLPC, Code.org, LeapFrog, SparkFun, Adafruit and more.
By Alexander Russo,
June 27, 2013 at 2:18 pm • 

Yesterday's Board Meeting

Yesterday's Board Meeting
Lots of news today, including protests at yesterday's Board meeting (but no big decisions except on food services and for-profit dropout recovery contracts), hunger striking in Philadelphia (has that happened here yet?), another NCLB waiver from Arne Duncan -- for New Hampshire.  Plus more.  Take a look, let me know what I missed...
By Alexander Russo,
June 27, 2013 at 9:11 am • 
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Fenger Fights Back

Fenger Fights Back
Good news seems out of place this year, when so many things have gone so badly, but it’s helpful to remember that in and among the carnage and conflict there are some individual and collective accomplishments worth admiring. Among them may be the story of the efforts of everyone at Fenger — students, parents, teachers,... Read more »
By Alexander Russo,
June 26, 2013 at 4:07 pm • 

Board Meeting / CTU Protest Day

Board Meeting / CTU Protest Day
It's grab-bag Wednesday (also a Board meeting/CTU protest day), with stories about NCLB, property taxes, cuts, closings, and a lesbian prom king at Lane Tech...
By Alexander Russo,
June 26, 2013 at 8:03 am • 

Closings, Cuts -- Board Meeting!

Closings, Cuts -- Board Meeting!
Today's news includes coverage of the schools that are closing --including a charter school -- and the cuts that schools are struggling with (Roosevelt is apparently having an especially hard time).  There's also a handful of Board-related items (meeting is tomorrow), plus coverage of a big charter study that came out (they're getting better)...
By Alexander Russo,
June 25, 2013 at 8:04 am • 
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Senn Saves Everyone's Jobs

Senn Saves Everyone's Jobs
At least one school in CPS has found a way to keep everyone on staff despite budget cuts -- Senn HS.  How'd they do it?  Are there any other examples? Meantime, more closings, a nice NBC News segment on Project Exploration, and a Tribune editorial about how Illinois teacher preparation programs are getting better (but are still pretty weak)...
By Alexander Russo,
June 24, 2013 at 7:58 am • 

After Closings Come Cuts

After Closings Come Cuts
Lots and lots about cuts, closings, and all the rest.  A Tribune opinion piece calls CTU's Karen Lewis out for the (brilliant) mismatch between her rhetoric and her actions, and John Kass attempts to coin a new word ("Lewisectomy"). Comings and goings, via Catalyst...
By Alexander Russo,
June 21, 2013 at 8:40 am • 

Audio: Polaris Charter, Quitting Teacher

Audio: Polaris Charter, Quitting Teacher
There are two education-related segments from this week's This American Life -- one of them featuring a Chicago school field trip, the other featuring a grant-winning classroom teacher who's quitting...
By Alexander Russo,
June 21, 2013 at 8:14 am • 
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Sob Stories, Union Hypocrisy

Sob Stories, Union Hypocrisy
Seriously, these school closing stories.  Does every media outlet in Chicago have to do them?  I guess so. Also:  More budget cut anecdotes -- in news coverage and in the comments.  And:  Emanuel is in Israel, and Lewis suddenly wants CPS to be popular like the Cubs -- after having spent the past year bashing its management. She blames budget cuts and school closings and gang violence on City Hall, which is of course her right.  But observers like me blame her for future enrollment drops and educator departures caused by her relentless (and sometimes ridiculous) teardown of everyone involved with the school system who isn't a classroom teacher...
By Alexander Russo,
June 20, 2013 at 9:03 am •