RYH Newsletter 12.9.20
Join the Grassroots Education Movement (GEM) town hall to learn about the demand for an Elected Representative School Board (ERSB) and learn how you can bring democracy to CPS! See you there.
Tues, Dec 15 | 6:30PM | Register
#LSCElections2020 Survey
Did you participate in the LSC election process as either a candidate or a voter? Please fill out our LSC Elections survey! We are gathering feedback to make recommendations to CPS for future LSC elections! We want to hear from you.
RYH LSC Elections Survey (Eng & Span) | Time: 3 minutes | Deadline: Sat, Dec 12, 11:59PM
Please share the survey! We would love to get parent, community, teacher, non teaching staff, principals, and high school student perspectives. Thank you!
Pandemic Schooling
There’s been much in the news about pandemic schooling- in CPS as well as across the state and nation. Honestly, we can’t stay on top of it all. Please follow us on social media since we share news daily. Here’s a list of news stories with links from the past week.
Here’s the news that made us create Twitter threads in response:
Sun-Times: CPS has no plans to reduce screen time for remote learners, despite complaints
RYH Twitter thread response here.
Chalkbeat Chicago: Chicago plans to reopen schools and ask teachers to return, even if the majority of students stay home
RYH Twitter thread response here.
FYI, parents. These are worth a read:
Chalkbeat Chicago: As Chicago eyes reopening, teachers face a new learning curve: simultaneous instruction
Sun-Times: Chicago Teachers Union files challenge to delay Chicago Public Schools reopening next month
Chicago Tribune: Substitute teacher shortage worsens during COVID-19 pandemic
Intent forms were due from CPS K-8 parents on Mon, Dec 7. Principals are now trying to plan at the school level. Look out for communications from your school(s) via email and social media. Attend any informational meetings that might happen. Find ways to connect to your school’s parents: Is there a Facebook group you can join or start? When is the next LSC or PAC or BAC or PTO meeting and how can you join?
Concerned about all of the above? Here’s an event you might be interested in:
Car Caravan for Safety, Equity, and Trust
Hosted by Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)
Sat, Dec 12 | 11AM | Union Park, Washington & Ashland | Register & Details
Things change on the regular. Follow RYH on social media.
We share news & upcoming events daily. Search @ILRaiseYourHand:
Facebook Page | Twitter | Instagram | Linktree
LSC News + Citywide LSC Letter + Upcoming Events
This past Saturday, RYH hosted a post LSC election meetup...a great conversation was had by over 80 stakeholders. In case you were unable to join us, here’s the presentation: 2020 Local School Council After-The-Election Meet-up. To note: Please see slides 12-13 regarding LSC vacancies. Check to see the list of schools with potential vacancies: Fill Your School's Vacancy! Uncertified LSC Election Results by Type (RYH).
ICYMI… LSC Election results are posted on this CPS LSC Election map.
Our LSC Connection Google group has 600+ LSC members from across the city. The Group has written a Citywide LSC Letter that any LSC can sign. So far 27 LSCs have signed. Please share these links with your LSC: LETTER English | Spanish | Form to sign on
➡️ The Gathering: LSC Best Practices
Hosted by the LSCs.4.All Coalition
Mon, Dec 14 | 6-7:30PM | Register
➡️ Virtual Annual LSC Summit- Save the date!
Hosted by the LSCs.4.All Coalition
Sat, Jan 30 | 10am - 1pm | Stay Tuned for Registration Details
SpEd News: Student Specific Corrective Action (SSCA)
Remember when CPS violated special education law in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years? CPS is finally getting around to providing families with “Student Specific Corrective Action (SSCA),” which is $$ for denied busing services and actual additional outside services for students who qualify. For parents who would like to talk to an attorney for free to get more information about SSCA and if their student qualifies, you can call Equip for Equality's SSCA Hotline at 312-895-7231. English and Spanish speaking attorneys are available. The CPS website about SSCA can be found here. Please share this information with other parents.
Two Surveys for Parents or Students
Our friends at Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC) are conducting a community survey on CPS Remote Learning. Please consider taking it & sharing! Remote Learning Survey here.
What is your vision for equity in Public Education? Click here to take the Journey for Justice Alliance's National Grassroots Education Survey in English or Spanish. J4J is committed to getting feedback from Grassroots voices on their vision for America's public schools. We invite you to encourage, Black, Brown Indigenous parents and youth to take their National Education Survey!
Winter Break Activity
Author Keir Graff is hosting a free architecture contest for children with a grand prize of a virtual author visit. We are thinking this might be an option for families or classrooms looking for something creative to do during the winter break. Read more here.
In Other News
WGN 9: WGN’s Pat Tomasulo joins e-learning fun and demonstrates why teachers deserve a standing ovation
Chalkbeat Chicago: Illinois will start grading its teacher prep programs
Chalkbeat Chicago: Amid a pandemic, Chicago is launching a new reading plan. Five questions for the educator in charge of it
Chalkbeat Chicago (GoCPS deadline extended to Jan 8.):Chicago will push application deadline for high schools and other competitive programs
Sun-Times: Merging 3 North Lawndale schools still ‘viable’ despite protests by families, CPS CEO says
Chicago Tribune: Divisive North Lawndale school consolidation proposal is now on hold: ‘We took a stand as a community’
Upcoming Event
➡️ Monthly CPS Board of Education Meeting
Wed, Dec 16 | 10:30AM | Online registration to speak
Online sign up to speak starts Mon, Dec 14, 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 (this link to the form will probably go live on Mon, Dec 14, 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.
Proposed board policies and/or rule changes that are and were open to public comment here.
Please contact Jennie if you have any questions about the BOE meetings: jennie@ilraiseyourhand.org.