RYH Newsletter | 1.4.19

Jan 4

Happy, Happy 2019! You are all an important part of RYH and we look forward to working with you to strengthen public education during this new year & beyond! Thank you so much for your participation AND a special shout out to all the donors who helped us raise more than $10,000 in our #RaiseOurVoices end of the year fundraising campaign! We far exceeded our goal and raised over $13,000!!! We’re also proud that we now have 43 monthly donors- we added 10 during this campaign. Wow!!! THANK YOU.

You helped us start 2019 strong. RYH does so much with so little and every little bit helps us to keep up this vital work. Recurring donors, current and new, will get this cool magnetic bumper sticker. Thank you!!!

CPS released space utilization data last week

Do you feel like your kid's school is overcrowded? CPS just released their space utilization report and by some great miracle they only have 34 overcrowded schools. We see some schools that were on the overcrowded list for years and are now considered efficient- but haven't changed much in enrollment. On the flip side, CPS says that nearly half its schools are underutilized.

WBEZ: Chicago Slashes Number Of Overcrowded Public Schools

WTTW: CPS Space Utilization Data Shows More Underutilized Schools

Chalkbeat Chicago covers the space utilization formula at CPS… where 30 kids is considered ideal to calculate efficient use of space: Chicago says nearly half of its schools are under-enrolled, but critics challenge district formula

What would the numbers of "underutilized" schools look like if they used an acceptable class size ratio in their formula, and valued schools as community hubs?

Here's an old post we wrote on the intersection of class size and school closures with research cited. CPS should read some research on class size. 30 is not an ideal class size, especially for low-income students. Class Size Matters has a webpage here with tons of links: Class Size Reduction Research.

You can find the CPS school by school space utilization data here- scroll down to “Space Utilization Standards” and click on “2018-19 School Utilization and Enrollment Data” to download the file. You can find the CPS “2018-19 Capacity Utilization methodology” here.

#ReimagineChicago Mayoral Forum- and other ways to learn more about the upcoming election

⟹ We are a co sponsor (with many other great Chicago organizations) of the #ReimagineChicago Mayoral Forum! #ReimagineChicago Mayoral Forum: Facebook event page

Wed Jan 16, 6-8pm

New Mount Pilgrim Church, 4301 W Washington Blvd

Decades of failed policies have devastated Chicago’s neighborhoods, creating a city that is becoming increasingly unlivable for anybody who isn’t rich and well connected. Right now we have an opportunity to turn that around and reimagine what the future of our city looks like.

As Chicago voters prepare to go to the polls to choose our next Mayor and City Council, we have an opportunity to demand that candidates stand with us on the issues we care about. Together, we can reimagine a Chicago that invests in our neighborhoods, schools, and services.

⟹ Want to be involved in local conversations about A Chicago That Will Work For All of Us? Check out this website to learn more and to find (or host!) an upcoming event in your neighborhood.

⟹ Chicago Women Take Action Mayoral Forum: SAVE THE DATE… more details forthcoming

Sat Feb 2, 1-4pm

Chicago Temple, 75 W Washington

CPS Nursing Care Survey / Cuestionario de atención de enfermería de CPS

We have all of the below on our website here. Please pass the survey on to relevant parents. Thank you.

Access Living is looking for parents of CPS students with disabilities who have not been receiving necessary nursing care this school year. As a disability rights organization, Access Living has been closely monitoring this egregious nursing failure in CPS schools and looking for ways to ensure nursing care for students with disabilities. Students who either have a 504 plan or an IEP requiring nursing care have federal rights to receive reliable quality care they need. One possible action to stop CPS’ continuing failure is that parents file a lawsuit against CPS. For that reason, we would like to conduct a parent survey on the nursing issues and determine if a legal action is necessary to make CPS provide quality nursing care to students.

If your child is not receiving reliable nursing care, please take this survey.

Access Living está buscando padres de estudiantes con discapacidades de CPS que no hayan recibido los cuidados de enfermería necesarios este año escolar. Como organización de derechos de las personas con discapacidades, Access Living ha estado monitoreando de cerca este grave error de enfermería en las escuelas de CPS y está buscando formas de garantizar el cuidado de enfermería para los estudiantes con discapacidades. Los estudiantes que tienen un plan 504 o un IEP que requiere atención de enfermería tienen derechos federales para recibir la atención de calidad confiable que necesitan. Una posible acción para detener el continuo fracaso de CPS es que los padres presenten una demanda contra CPS. Por esa razón, nos gustaría realizar un questionario a los padres sobre los problemas de enfermería y determinar si es necesaria una acción legal para que CPS proporcione atención de enfermería de calidad a los estudiantes.

Si su hijo no esta recibiendo atención de enfermería confiable, responda a esta encuesta.