RYH Newsletter 4.15.21

Apr 15

🌼 Grow With Us! | CPS-CTU Tentative HS Agreement! | CPS Testing News | Springfield

On Monday, RYH will be launching our annual Grow With Us online fundraiser! It is because of supporters like yourself who have given generously that we are able to hire new staff! Our goal this year is to raise $20,000 and bring in 100 new donors! Donors this year will receive a seed package in the mail from us just in time to plant them for the spring! #RYHGROW2021

If you support our work and want to be a fundraiser with us, please reach out to jianan@ilraiseyourhand.org. You can find more about the program here.

Trust Learning Care (TLC) Forum: Tomorrow!

Over the past few months, CPS parents & students have developed community-backed demands under the Trust, Learning, & Care (TLC) framework. Now that CPS is expected to receive $1.8B in the American Rescue Plan (ARP), shouldn’t parents and students have a voice in how that money is spent? Join us this Friday at 10:30 AM, a school improvement day, for our TLC Town Hall, where you will hear from parents and youth about why what we have is not enough and what TLC could look like at your school. Thank you for sharing this event and our petition with your network.

Fri, April 16 | 10:30AM | Register | Flyers

Coverage of a youth forum… Chalkbeat Philadelphia: In emotional testimonies, students discuss needs for federal relief money going to Philadelphia schools

Important article here from WBEZ: Lost Without After-School Care, Pandemic Parents Struggle To Make In-Person School Work. This is one of the reasons that the TLC platform includes "Expand Learning Hubs by 500%". Hubs are open until 5PM and they could also serve hybrid families on their days of remote learning.

Pandemic Schooling & CPS Quarter 4 News

Breaking… CPS & CTU reach a tentative agreement on high school facilities reopening for in person learning.

WBEZ: CPS And CTU Reach A Deal. High Schoolers Will Start In-Person Classes On Monday

In CPS, Quarter 4 starts this coming Mon, April 19. This means another round of students will be returning to school facilities and participating in hybrid learning. Hybrid high school students will be returning for the first time since the initial school facilities shut down. It also means that many students will continue with remote learning through the remainder of the school year.

Watch your email for communication from your individual school(s). Attend any meetings pertaining to what reopening will look like for your individual school. Ask questions. Be flexible & have patience with your school as they work out the bumps- and encourage your child to do the same. Follow your school social media accounts. HS parents and students, check that Ventra card account and make sure it’s still viable!

We try to stay on top of all the news and post daily on our social media platforms: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

A hopeful read or listen from WBEZ: In-Person Learning This Year Gives Schools A Head Start For Planning Next Year

CPS Email: Spring 2021 District Assessment Update

CPS sent an email to parents today. It’s worth a read!

Chalkbeat Chicago: Under pressure from pandemic, Chicago lays out changes to competitive high school admissions process

Published yesterday… Chalkbeat Chicago: Will the pandemic reshape Chicago’s high-stress high school applications?

Springfield Updates: Victories! Witness Slips! ERSB!

Breaking... ERSB bill passes the full House floor with 71 yes votes, 39 no votes, 3 present votes!

#TEAACHAct: The Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act passed in the IL House! Send an email to thank your IL State Rep here. The bill moves to the IL Senate now. Send an email asking your IL Senator to support the #TEAACHAct here.

THANK YOU to all who filed witness slips!

SB 652 | LSC Quorum Bill: Passed out of committee Tuesday! Our live tweets here.
SB 148 | LSC Fingerprinting Bill: Passed out of committee Tuesday! Our live tweets here.

Two Witness Slips needed!

A bill supported by RYH needs witness slips by TODAY, Th, April 15, 4PM. The Ensuring Success in School Law (HB 3223): “Support HB 3223 and support trauma-informed schools for survivors and pregnant and parenting students.” Fact sheet | Witness slip: file as a PROPONENT for the amendment, HFA1.
A bill supported by RYH needs PROPONENT witness slips by Tues, 2PM. The Right to Play Every Day (SB 654) “would require public schools to provide 60 minutes of daily play time for all students in kindergarten through 8th grade.” Fact Sheet | Witness Slip

Aanndd Elected Representative School Board (ERSB) updates!

SB 2497 | Elected School Board Bill: Passed out of committee Wednesday! Our live tweets here.
Here’s press coverage of the ERSB hearing from Chalkbeat Chicago: Partially elected Chicago school board bill finds a Senate backer. Lightfoot, who campaigned on an elected school board, supposedly has a hybrid board bill to introduce. We haven’t seen that bill yet. We have upcoming ERSB actions and meetings ahead - please sign up here to take action! Questions? Email Jianan at jianan@ilraiseyourhand.org.
In other ERSB news…
- Hyde Park Herald: Elected school board proposal finds support among local politicians, education advocates
- And an event to learn more…
  - Democracy in Education | Education Policy Session | ERSB and LSCs
    - Hosted by Lugenia Burns Hope Center
    - Wed, April 28 | 6PM | Register

CPS Parent, LSC & Community Solidarity Call

Th, April 22 | 6-7:30PM | Register: SolidarityAmidCOVID

Last March when school facilities closed, RYH began holding space for weekly solidarity calls with CPS stakeholders to hear one another, share resources and above all… support and show solidarity across the city. At times, we invited CPS leadership to join us for listening sessions where they’d take our concerns back to the district for action. Above all else, we've cultivated lasting relationships and we enjoy the ongoing organizing and support with each other.

Given all that’s going on right now and with many new LSC members… we are excited to hold space again. Feel free to invite your fellow LSCs, parents/caregivers and concerned community to join us for a safe, welcoming space prioritizing parent and LSC voices.

Local School Council (LSC) Resource + Upcoming Events

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.
CPS Parent, LSC & Community Solidarity Call
- Th, April 22 | 6-7:30PM | Register: SolidarityAmidCOVID

The Gathering: Budget| Hosted by LSCs.4.All Coalition
- Tues, April 27 | 4:30PM | Register

#PoliceFreeSchools Youth Meetings

This is a CPS student ONLY space led by CPS students with the goals of connecting youth to other school communities, build their base, provide resources, listen to students and plan together to win Cops Out CPS. Fridays | Youth-led calls | 5PM | Register

Special Education News + Resources

This is a must read from Injustice Watch: State orders CPS to fix special education for students behind bars.

Equip for Equality has a webpage here with all the resources linked (English and Spanish available) from our information sessions on the CPS SSCA (Student Specific Corrective Action) and UER (Universal Enrichment Remedy).
Family Resource Center on Disabilities is the free Chicago Area Parent Training and Information Center. They are a federally-funded not-for-profit whose purpose is to support families and people with disabilities. They will answer questions about the IEP process, specific concerns about your child’s special education, and even send an advocate to your child’s IEP meeting. To access all this valuable support, attend a know-your-rights training on Navigating the IEP Process: Special Education Rights Seminar.

CPSuccess!

ICYMI… We have a Twitter account, @CPSuccessCHI, where we elevate CPS success stories or what we like to call #cpsuccess!

Block Club Chicago: South Shore, Tulsa Students Link Up For History Exchange On 1919 Race Riot, 1921 Black Wall Street Massacre

Chalkbeat Chicago: This Chicago school’s response to the student mental health crisis? A full-scale art show

In Other News

Chalkbeat Chicago: Will the pandemic reshape Chicago’s high-stress high school applications?

Chicago Tribune: Boycotts called over spring standardized tests as schools plan in-person assessments (Opt Out | Test Refusal Resources are below.)

Block Club Chicago: After Black Mom Reported To DCFS, Parents And Teachers Urge CPS To Address 'Chaotic, Toxic and Divisive' Culture At Lakeview School

Chalkbeat Chicago: Illinois advocates rally around early ed bill that would create more bachelor’s degree programs

Block Club Chicago: Young Chicagoans Can Apply For Jobs, Internships With One Summer Chicago Program

Chalkbeat Chicago: La recaudación de fondos por los padres facilita la reapertura en algunas escuelas en Chicago, pero deja a otras sin ningún apoyo

Worth A Read