RYH Newsletter 1.29.21
Rescheduled LSC Summit 2021
Due to the current education climate, the LSCs.4.ALL coalition has decided to reschedule our annual LSC summit to Feb 27, 10AM-3PM. We apologize for the late notice but we believe we will be able to hold a more powerful collaborative community space if it is pushed back. Please also note that we will be adding additional time to the end of our Summit for an organizing plenary.
CPS Board of Ed Meeting
We spoke at and live tweeted the monthly meeting on Wednesday. You can read our statement here- scroll down for all the press coverage of the meeting. You can read our live tweets here. Chicago Documenters has a webpage here with a link to their live tweets and documents from the meeting.
We spoke about special education and pandemic schooling as well as the exclusion of parents in any engagement on the CPS reopening plan. From our statement:
Raise Your Hand is disgusted at the attempts to pit parents against one another when in reality, everyone is getting the short end of the stick.
My last point is about partnership. If these past 10 months are an example of what parent partnership looks like, I don’t quite understand how CPS ever plans to heal and regain trust with the community. You say parents are partners but then why is CPS intimidating parents? You say parents are partners but why are there repeated attempts to shut down LSCs from holding special meetings by OLSCR.
Thank you to all the parents who spoke at the meeting. The common theme was parents are fed up with being left out and that they have no voice in determining the path forward. #CPSTalkToUs
Stay tuned and follow us on social media for next steps... Search @ILRaiseYourHand:
Facebook Page | Twitter | Instagram | Linktree | Facebook group
Reimagining School Safety In CPS
Sat, Feb 6 | 11AM - 12:30 PM | Register
One thing is certain, when Chicago’s children return to schools they will need safe havens. Reimagining Safety is an all-hands on deck approach.
Register to join us on Zoom to hear from CPS youth, parents, LSC members, teachers and neighbors. Panelists include Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor, Laurentio Howard (father of CPS student beat/tased by CPD SRO) and allies out of Oakland, CA. [SRO = School Resource Officer AKA police officer in the school]
Last Call- We’re Hiring!
Join our amazing RYH team! We are hiring a full time parent organizer. You can find the job description and how to apply here. We are accepting applications through Sun, Jan 31. Thanks for sharing with possible candidates!
Special Education News + Google Form
South Side Weekly: Special Ed Students Are Left Behind During COVID – South Side Weekly
If you or anyone you know has an adult child who has aged out of (or will soon age out of) CPS Transition Programs (or any IL school district transition program) at age 22 -- especially those who missed out on vital vocational training out in the Community due to Covid -- please give us your contact information via this form and we'll be in touch. Thanks.
LSC News
If you are a LSC member and would like to connect to a larger group of LSC members from across the city, please email us: info@ilraiseyourhand.org.
We have a Google folder where we are posting LSC letters and resolutions about the CPS reopening plan- there are 122 in the folder so far. These letters are worth a look- they are very nuanced and many express specific concerns and questions as they relate to their individual schools and as it relates to both in person and remote learners. If we are missing your letter, please email it to: info@ilraiseyourhand.org
Pandemic Schooling News
Here's some press which will tell the story of what’s happened since last we spoke...
Chalkbeat Chicago’s live blog: Chicago schools reopening amid COVID: The latest
Here’s an explainer from WBEZ published on Tuesday: Here’s Why CPS Teachers Won’t Show Up Wednesday — And How That Could Trigger A Strike
Chalkbeat Chicago: ‘Very strange and unsettling’: Chicago families weary of reopening uncertainty
On Wednesday, there was a parent press conference, a Chicago Principals and Administrators Association (CPAA) press conference, and the monthly meeting of the Lightfoot appointed Board of Ed. We have all the press coverage here. A highlight:
WBEZ: Chicago Public Schools Moving Ahead With Monday Reopening (Listen to CEO Jackson on WBEZ’s Reset here.)
Here’s an explainer from the Sun-Times: CPS-CTU reopening talks: Who’s at the bargaining table — and who’s missing?
Chalkbeat Chicago: A troubling trend in Chicago’s school reopening: More students disengaged
WTTW: CPS Tells Pre-K, Cluster Program Kids to Stay Home Again Friday
On teacher & school staff vaccinations:
Sun-Times: Chicago private school, suburban districts move to vaccinate teachers
Then it was discussed at the Board meeting Wednesday. Sun-Times: Why Chicago can’t immediately vaccinate all its teachers
Let Us Live, Let Us Learn: Lessons from Students
On Thursday night, Chi Student Pandemic Response and Students Strike Back hosted a round table with several CPS high school students.
You can watch it here and listen to CPS students share their visions toward better remote learning and what investing in their safety and wellbeing looks like.
Ways To Sound Off and/or Take Action
Petition: CPS, Don't Lock Out or Leave Behind Remote Learners!
Survey from Chalkbeat Chicago: Chicago school reopening is under scrutiny. Tell us what you think. | Encuesta: ¿Qué piensan los estudiantes y las familias sobre el plan de reapertura de Chicago?
Here's the Office of the Mayor's phone number: 312 744 3300.
National Standardized Testing Suspension
The Network for Public Education allows you to send a letter here to Secretary of Ed nominee, Miguel Cardona, re: cancelling the spring's federally mandated standardized tests.
Data Privacy Survey
The Parent Coalition for Student Privacy is researching which ed tech apps schools are asking students to use , and whether they are sufficiently protective of their privacy. Blog + link to survey here.
In Other News
WBEZ: Don’t Call It A Comeback: School Districts That Never Opened Are Having Trouble Now
Chalkbeat Chicago: As Elgin reopens, teachers raise questions about safety, missing data
Upcoming Events
Toward A New Agenda for Public Education: Recommendations To The Biden Administration
With Diane Ravitch
Hosted by DePaul College of Education
Wed, Feb 10 | 5:30-6:30PM CST | Register | Flyer
RESOURCES
From SUFEO:
Spread the word! Our free legal hotline has reopened for the rest of the 2020-2021 school year. Stand Up For Each Other (SUFEO) Chicago is a group of law students that provides free information and services, under attorney supervision, to K-12 students in a variety of areas. We offer support and representation to students experiencing:
Inadequate special education services
Bullying or harassment
Suspension, expulsion, or other discipline
Barriers related to COVID-19 and remote learning
Additionally, SUFEO offers free "know your rights" trainings to students, parents/guardians, and other community advocates. We are also excited to collaborate with the newly launched Anti-Bullying Project at the Civitas ChildLaw Center.
If you work with any K-12 students or their parents/guardians who need help understanding their school rights, please encourage them to call the SUFEO hotline at 773-800-0338. We return all calls within 24-48 hours to schedule an intake.
Feel free to share our flyer with any families or other organizations that may be interested. For more information, please contact our Outreach Coordinators, David Faich (dfaich@luc.edu) and Logan Sweeney (lsweeney@luc.edu).
Learn more about our impact here. With your help, we can keep fighting for all kids to have a fair shot at a high-quality public education.
Email: sufeochicago@gmail.com
Hotline: 773-800-0338
Follow SUFEO! Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Legal Aid Chicago’s New Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline Project
This project is aimed at addressing the institutional racism that obstructs pathways to success for youth. To accomplish this goal, Legal Aid Chicago is providing legal representation to prevent school push-out and expunge juvenile records.
Below is their new flyer announcing the project. Please share the information with anyone who may need legal assistance. Sharing the flyer on your social media is encouraged. If you have any questions, would like additional materials, or are interested in scheduling a training or know-your-rights presentation, please do not hesitate to contact Legal Aid Chicago.