RYH Newsletter 10.14.20
Missed our opening event? You can watch it here.
We raised over $3600 last night - can you help us reach $5000 before our trivia event Thursday night? Donate here. Check out our slide presentation for Ads, Sponsors, Host Committee, Monthly Donors, Event Team, and more! How else can you support? See below!
Public participation speakers at Board of Ed meetings became accustomed to patronizing responses known as? Think you know your Chicago education trivia? Join us tomorrow night, Th, Oct 15, 6:30PM - buy your ticket if you haven't already.
We are looking to show off a few more pieces of art for our Art Showcase this Saturday! Take a picture of your art and fill out our form! Open to adults and youth!
Looking for an experience that is out of this world? One of our featured items in our silent auction is a personalized tour of Dr. Hammergrenâs meteorite collection! Great for a field trip for all ages! Bid on this item and other awesome auction items here- our silent auction is now live! Good luck!
Sigh⌠Do We Know Yet Whatâs Happening in Quarter 2?
"No," is still the quick answer. Quarter 2 starts Mon, Nov 9, in CPS. Hereâs the play by play of what has happened in the past week:
Chicago Tribune: CPS says clerks must report to work in person, despite labor ruling that questions COVID-19 protections in schools
ProPublica Illinois and Chicago Tribune investigation: Illinois Has Had COVID-19 Outbreaks in 44 Schools but Wonât Say Where Theyâve Occurred
CPS sent an email to parents on Fri, Oct 9, with this: "As we continue to assess the public health situation alongside our partners at the CDPH, we will provide an update on the 2nd quarter in the near future. Parent input will remain an important consideration, & we will be engaging you as soon as possible." When or how this "engaging you" could be achieved within 4 weeks is a mystery to us.
Chalkbeat Chicago: CPS fall reopening plans still uncertain as Acero, CICS stay remote
Lightfoot & Jackson were asked about Quarter 2 at a press conference Tuesday. This is the third week in a row we are hearing the âvery soonâ message. Chicago Tribune: Chicago Public Schools will announce âvery soon' if in-person classes will resume next quarter, CEO says: âWe know that parents are anxiousâ
An interview with the Archdiocese from Chalkbeat Chicago: As Chicago studies Catholic school reopening, some lessons â and some big questions
Bottom line: There is no place for parents, students, or teachers to engage with CPS on pandemic schooling. This is a big fail on the part of the district. This article from Chicago Tribune is worth a read. So many petitions & many practical suggestions made by those of us living this experience. CPS students petition to shorten the class day â and end homework â during remote learning, citing headaches, stress and too much screen time
Please follow RYH Social Media so we can keep you posted. We share news & upcoming events daily. Search @ILRaiseYourHand: Facebook Page | Twitter | Instagram
Remote Learning Resources
Thanks to all of you who attended our Remote Learning Town Hall last Wednesday. Here are the notes from the discussion. RYH will be using what we heard to design our platform and will bring your voices to a larger group of organizations. We hope you can use these notes plus the below resources to advocate at your own school to help improve remote learning:
Slides from Reimagine Remote Learning event hosted by LSNA, GEM, and RYH
RYH COVID-19 Resources Links to ISBE, CPS, IDPH webpages & guidance docs
Local School Council (LSC) Events & News
RYH Presents LSC 301: LSC Elections Support
Wed, Oct 14 | 7PM | Register
LSC Information Session hosted by 48th Ward Neighbors for Justice
Wed, Oct 14 | 8PM | Zoom link
Chalkbeat Chicago: Another election looms large in Chicago. Itâs underway â with more questions than answers.
GoCPS High School Application Process
Here is the Link to the GoCPS Eligibility Criteria and Selection Procedures: 2021-2022 School Year (HS Supplemental Guide 2021-2022), where you can find both the criteria for being able to apply for and the criteria used in Acceptance/Selection of students in each of the 318 General Education and Specialty Programs and 68 Cluster Programs. RYH has had repeated discussions with CPS over the last 3 years about how this system discriminates against students with disabilities. A minor change in process is that students in cluster programs can now apply for their preferred schools online rather than paper, though placement still requires final review and approval by ODLSS for eligibility and proximity.
RYH Special Education FREE Legal Clinic: Sat, Oct 17
Grab your 30 Minute appointment! Sat, Oct 17 | 10AM-12PM
Attorneys from Equip for Equality, Hartlieb & Horste, LLC, Legal Aid Chicago, and Loyola University School of Law Civitas ChildLaw Center will be available to speak with you about your childâs special education experience at no cost. Spanish-speaking attorneys are available. Any questions, call Equip for Equality at 312-895-7320. Limited appointments available on a first-come, first-served basis so REGISTER ASAP online here.
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Hola todos! Obtenga su cita de 30 minutos en el CLĂNICA LEGAL GRATUITA DE EDUCACIĂN ESPECIAL DE RYH -SĂBADO, 17 DE OCTUBRE DE 2020, 10:00 AM â 12:00 PM
Los abogados de Equip for Equality, Hartlieb & Horste, LLC, Legal Aid Chicago y Loyola University School of Law Civitas ChildLaw Center estarĂĄn disponibles para hablar con usted sobre la experiencia de educaciĂłn especial de su hijo sin costo alguno. HabrĂĄ abogados hispanohablantes presentes. Si tiene alguna pregunta, llame a Equip for Equality: 312-895-7320. Citas limitadas disponibles por orden de llegada, ÂĄasĂ que regĂstrese lo antes posible en lĂnea.
Newish RYH webpage: RYH Special Education Parent Resources for Remote Learning and More
Worth a read
Read or listen to these 2 articles from WBEZ together: More Than 70% Of CPS Bilingual Programs Fall Short | Who Benefits From Chicago Dual Language Expansion?
Sun-Times: Facing a shortage of educators of color, CPS looks to groom its own students for teaching jobs
In Other News
Chicago Tribune: Young people are calling out racism at elite Chicago high schools, seeking reforms in admissions, culture and curriculum: âA change needs to happenâ
Chalkbeat Chicago: After pandemic slowed progress, Mayor Lightfoot creates group to improve Chicago's early education system
Sun-Times: Cicero school district bringing staff back to buildings while remote learning continues | El distrito escolar de Cicero pide a los maestros regresar a las escuelas aunque mantiene las clases virtuales
Coverage of the first IL State Board of Ed (ISBE) budget hearing from Chalkbeat Chicago: Illinois school budget hearings open with tales of inequities from COVID-19 There are 2 more virtual ISBE budget hearings: TODAY, Wed, Oct. 14, 1PM & Fri, Oct. 16, 1PM. More info here.
WTTW: Community Groups Reteach History of Christopher Columbus
Upcoming Events
âĄď¸ EQUITY OR ELSE NATIONAL VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: - Grassroots Voices for the Future of Public Education | Hosted by Journey for Justice Alliance
Th, Oct 15 | 6PM CST | Register
âĄď¸ Monthly CPS Board of Education Meeting
Wed, Oct 28 | 10:30AM | Online registration to speak here
Online sign up to speak starts Mon, Oct 26, 10:30AM. The agenda will post at 10am. Sign up + meeting details here. You can try to register via the phone (773) 553-1600- check the links here to make sure this is the correct number on registration day.
You can submit comments to the BOE via a Google form which will be linked toward the top of the homepage of the CPS BOE webpage here (this link will probably go live on Mon, Oct 26, and you have until the day after the board meeting, 5PM, to submit comments) OR send them via US Mail at 1 N. Dearborn, Suite 950, Chicago IL 60602. The meeting will be live streamed on the CPS YouTube channel.
There are proposed board policies and/or rule changes that are open to public comment.
Please contact Jennie if you have any questions about the BOE meetings: jennie@ilraiseyourhand.org.
âĄď¸ SAVE THE DATE! CTU Standardized Testing Webinar for Parents
Tues, Oct 27 | 6-7PM
âĄď¸ Youth Teach-In
SexEd Works: Learn how to influence CPSâ new comprehensive Sex Ed policy
Hosted by Healing to Action
Tues, Oct 20 | 7-8:30PM | Register
âĄď¸ Adult Teach-In (Caregivers, Educators)
SexEd Works: Learn how to influence CPSâ new comprehensive Sex Ed policy
Hosted by Healing to Action
Tues, Oct 27 | 7-8:30PM | Register