CTU members urged to ask hard questions at 'Annual Regional Analysis briefings'
The Chicago Teachers Union urged members to ask hard questions at the Annual Regional Analysis briefings. The post on ctulocal1.org was also emailed to members. It follows:
The report, which doesn't include the names of its authors or its pro-business partner Kids First Chicago, is available on the CPS website at https://cps.edu/SchoolData/Pages/SchoolData.aspxAnnual Regional Analysis (ARA) is CPS’ latest attempt to close schools while claiming to ‘make them better’. The report was developed by Kids First Chicago, a new name for the Renaissance School Fund, a charter fundraising group that pushes education privatization.
CPS is holding ‘briefings’ on the ARA’s distorted policy assumptions – and this fact sheet will help you participate in those briefings and push back against the ARA privatization agenda. See the ARA “briefings” schedule (at the end of the post) and the link below -and attend to ask the hard questions this ‘report’ glosses over.
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/chicago-public-schools-17964873958
The ARA analysis is based on four ‘questions’, with ‘answers’ for each region on CPS’ data page.
How many level 1+/1 seats are there?
How many seats are there for the student population?
Are students choosing schools in their region?
Do students have access to the variety of schools and programs offered?
The ARA’s backdrop is the loss of thousands of CPS students because of city policies that position Chicago as a “global city” focused on big finance, insurance, real estate and marketing. With Chicago ranking #5 among all ‘global cities,’ wealthy people are moving into the city, intensifying skyrocketing housing costs, gentrification, the push-out of working class families and the shrinking of our public school population.
Facts
CPS had 361,314 students on the 20th day of school year 2018-19, 73,000 fewer students than in 2003.
CPS schools currently can hold 508,158 students.
CPS ‘created overabundance’ by approving charters and building new
CPS budgeted close to $1.3 billion for new construction since 2012.
ARA is the basis for CPS’ latest plan to close schools. CTU will vigorously fight school closings.
City housing, police, employment, and school policies have pushed working class families out of Chicago.
In 2013, CPS closed 50 schools, displacing nearly 12,000 students, most of whom were Black.
The pro-charter Kids First Chicago developed the Annual Regional Analysis to promote school choice.ARA was developed by Kids First Chicago, formerly the Renaissance School Fund.
65% of CPS students attend top-rated schools. 45% of Black, 72% of Latinx, and 91% of white students attend these schools.
School Quality Rating Policy (SQRP) determines school levels and is highly based on test scores; test scores reflect socio-economics, not school effectiveness.
Schools with low ratings serve high populations of students with IEPs, homeless students, or economically disadvantaged students, and are not given resources to overcome these academic impediments.
Students in South and West Side schools have fewer fine/performing arts programs, International Baccalaureate, and selective-enrollment elementary school programs.
CPS is saying it will offer extra programming to some underserved schools, but schools have to submit applications to receive this That’s wrong –it should be the District’s responsibility to guarantee equitable education.
Questions:
What are your plans to fully use schools, e.g., by having a health center, community activities, and/or smaller class sizes?
What are your plans for redistricting of schools as a way to use schools’ extra space to solve over-crowding in other schools?
What is CPS doing to advocate for affordable housing, jobs and health care as a way to keep more working class families and students in the city?
What is your plan to eliminate SQRP or at least make it less based on test scores?
Why are you requiring applications for STEM, IB,or other programs, instead of just making sure that all schools have a full curriculum?
Briefing Calendar: CPS ARA report
Spread the word, attend if you can, present the facts – and ask the hard questions this report glosses over.
Nov. 7, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m., Lindblom High School, 6130 S.Wolcott Ave.
Nov. 8, 6p.m.- 8 p.m., Chicago Vocational Career Academy, 2100 E. 87th St.
Nov. 13, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m., Morgan Park High School, 1744 W. Pryor Ave.
Nov. 14, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.,Steinmetz High School, 3030 N. Mobile Ave.
Nov. 15, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.,Wells High School, 936 N.Ashland Ave.
Nov. 19, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m., Kelly High School, 4136 S. California Ave.
Nov. 26, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m., Benito Juarez Community Academy, 1450 W. Cermak Rd.
Dec. 6, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m., Curie Metropolitan High School,4959 S.Archer Ave.
Dec. 11, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m., Roger Sullivan High School, 6631 N. Bosworth Ave.
Dec. 12, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m., Phoenix Military Academy, 145 S. Campbell Ave.
Dec. 13, 6 p.m.to 8 p.m., Dyett High School for the Arts, 555 E. 51st St.
Dec. 18, 6 p.m.to 8 p.m., Roosevelt High School, 3436 W. Wilson Ave.
Dec. 19, 6 p.m.to 8 p.m., Graham Training Center High School, 2347 S.Wabash Ave.
