Education
Magnet school focus shifts from diversity to choice
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Since the end of court-ordered desegregation in Chicago, magnet school policy has focused more on offering quality options than on fostering diverse school environments.
Education
AUSL leads in teacher prep, not just turn-arounds
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In 2001, the Academy for Urban School Leadership launched as a teacher training program. Though AUSL’s work on turnaround schools has taken the spotlight, turnaround staff point to AUSL’s teacher residency as key to their progress.
Education
School libraries a longstanding target for cuts
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In Chicago, when school budgets tighten, school libraries typically take a hit. Under school-based budgeting, new mandates for gym and art draw on the same pot of money, putting an even greater squeeze on libraries. Read more about school libraries in this Catalyst Then, Now, Next Almanac post.
Education
Feds’ fix for failing schools falters
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Federal School Improvement Grants sent big bucks to struggling schools in the hopes of making big improvements. For the most part, they were still too little too late.
Education
Harold Washington and the push for democratic school governance
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Harold Washington fanned the flames of a movement for democratic school governance in Chicago. The fire has dimmed since his days as mayor in the 1980s. But a spark has recently been struck. Will it spread?
Education
Chicago Schools: “Worst in the nation?”
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The long history of a short phrase: Worst in the nation. It was 28 years ago that the U.S Secretary of Education branded Chicago with that assertion. And boy did it stick. Was he right?
Education
Chicago leads way on charter school unions
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While efforts to organize teachers in charter schools are just getting off the ground nationally, Chicago has a relatively long history of unionized charter schools.
Education
Will school choice kill Chicago’s neighborhood high schools?
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Chicago’s nascent movement to strengthen neighborhood high schools isn’t just fighting charter expansion; it runs counter to a long history of high school choice.
Education
“Preschool for All:” easy to say, hard to do
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Long-time leaders in early childhood education, both Illinois and Chicago are struggling to find new ways to fund universal access to preschool.
Education
SUPES obscures Chicago’s history of innovation on principal development
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The SUPES scandal may be the stumble that forces Chicago to take a second look at local expertise for solutions on principal training.