Do you believe CPS should be held accountable for racial equity?
Raise Your Hand is asking its supporters to sign onto a petition that calls for an independent authority to investigate racial inequities in our school system.
Last week, the Chicago Public Schools Inspector General resigned his position under allegations of inappropriate behavior. This news creates a critical moment for us to reimagine what accountability can look like in our public schools.
In a letter sent to the Mayor’s Office and the CPS Board of Education, we're calling on Mayor Lightfoot to expand the authority of the CPS watchdog to investigate and report on racial inequities in our school system.
Currently, the CPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) lacks the express authority to investigate racial inequities in Chicago Public Schools. We believe this is a proactive opportunity to restructure the OIG to better align with the District’s focus on racial equity and the Office of Equity’s newly published equity framework. This is an opportunity to support our most vulnerable populations by increasing oversight and accountability in our public schools.
The groups signing on represent a diverse array of civic leaders -- leading good government reform groups, community-based nonprofits, racial justice and civil rights organizations, philanthropic organizations, as well as prominent voices for education reform including former CPS principal Liz Dozier and author Dr. Eve L. Ewing. Many of the groups named served on the Mayor’s Transition Committees; six served in chairperson roles.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
AFIRE
Borderless Studio
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
CHANGE IL
Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights
Chicago United for Equity, Common Cause
Education Law and Policy Institute at Loyola University School of Law
Educators 4 Excellence
Equiticity
Dr. Eve L. Ewing
The Field Foundation of Illinois
Grow Greater Englewood
Liz Dozier
Logan Square Neighborhood Association
Lugenia Burns Hope Center
National Public Housing Museum
Northside Action 4 Justice
Pilsen Alliance
Raise Your Hand
Reform for Illinois
SPEAK UP
Woods Fund Chicago
Working Family Solidarity
Raise Your Hand is asking its supporters to sign onto a petition that calls for an independent authority to investigate racial inequities in our school system.