RYH Newsletter 5.12.21
ERSB canvassing in the Austin neighborhood. Saturday, May 8, 2021. #DemocratizeCPS
ACTIONS: Elected Representative School Board (ERSB)
We are going to be canvassing this Sat, May 15, 1-3PM in Austin. If you are interested please email rousemary@ilraiseyourhand.org.
Email your state senator and tell them to support SB2497, a FULLY elected CPS school board. Please do this no matter where you live in Illinois. Takes 2 minutes! Thank you.
ICYMI… From RYH Board & Staff: An Open Letter to the Next CPS CEO*
WTTW: Parent Group Makes List of Recommendations for Next CPS CEO
Chicago Tribune: Departing CPS CEO Janice Jackson has been tied to the district since preschool. Can her replacement succeed without such deep Chicago roots?
The Chicago education press interviews outgoing CPS CEO Dr. Jackson:
Sun-Times: The unfinished legacy of outgoing CPS CEO Janice Jackson
WBEZ: One-on-one with outgoing CPS CEO Janice Jackson
Chalkbeat Chicago: Janice Jackson on the politics of fall reopening and what’s next for Chicago’s outgoing schools chief
Springfield ACTION ALERTS!
Make A Call in Support of HB 2748! Call your IL State Senator and leave a message asking them to support HB2748, which will allow Students with Disabilities (SWD) who aged out (turning 22) during the Pandemic to attend Transition Programs for the 2021-22 school year so they can get essential vocational and life-skills training out in the community. Find your legislator & call your Senator.
File a Witness Slip for SB 148 | Proponent
Keep LSCs Inclusive! SB148 has a hearing in the IL House on Th, May 13, 2PM.
Special Education
#NoGoCPS | At RYH we’ve been pointing out the discrimination in the HS application process for students with disabilities (see this quickish video explaining the issue) and have been talking to CPS about this for some time. We are skeptical and still concerned about the impact of the proposed GoCPS HS application changes on students with disabilities. We still want to hear from parents who have children with IEPs who were denied CTE, Arts and other high school programs due to NWEA and Grade cut scores. If this is you, please fill out this form.
Family Advisory Board (FAB) to the Office of Diverse Learner Supports & Services (ODLSS) Monthly Meeting
Family Resources Center on Disabilities (FRCD) offers FREE virtual IEP support. More here.
Local School Council (LSC) Events
LSCs Working Together | Monthly Q & A
Hosted by Lugenia Burns Hope Center
Wed, May 12 | 6PM | Register
The Gathering: Whole School Safety
Hosted by LSCs.4.All Coalition
Tues, May 25 | 4:30-6PM | Register
In Other News
WBEZ: Some Schools Are Facing Hostility Toward Their Equity Work
Chalkbeat Chicago: I live in the neighborhood where Adam Toledo was killed. Here’s what it’s like to raise a child there. | Vivo en el barrio donde mataron a Adam Toledo. Esto es lo que significa criar a un niño allí.
Chicago Tribune: Burned out but hopeful: Teachers look back on the year of pandemic educating, from virtual learning to fights over reopening schools
Block Club Chicago: Roosevelt High School Community Asks CPS To Reject Plan For Nearby Charter School In Albany Park
Chalkbeat Chicago: Pritzker reverses course on flat Illinois school budget with pledge for $350M
A Must Read
Jacobin: Financialization Created Chicago Public Schools' Fiscal Crisis
Upcoming Events
Remake Learning Days CHI--Chicago's FREE Family Learning Festival
Th, May 13 - Sun, May 16 | Remote & In Person Options | Flyer here
The aim of the festival is to connect youth and families to 21st-century learning opportunities.
Over 70+ free events online and some in-person: Info and search tool here.
Equity of Else: Quality of Life Virtual Rally
Hosted by Journey for Justice and multiple co-hosts
Mon, May 17 | 11AM - 2PM CST | Register and more details
Trust Learning Care (TLC) | #TLCMakesSense
Over the past few months, hundreds of 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? Please consider taking the following actions:
Consider taking some TLC Action Steps at your school or in your neighborhood
Sign up to receive the RYH weekly email newsletter here!
Thanks for reading! We hope you are all well!
CPS: Meetings + PreK Info
PreK INFO: Apply Now Flyer and the FCRC/Library Flyer listing the libraries that will be providing enrollment support for our families. Before visiting a library, parents must make an appointment, here is a link to schedule their appointment: Spanish | English
UPCOMING: Join CPS’ Office of Early Childhood (OECE) and Family and Community Engagement (FACE) teams to share your insight on the preschool application process. If you are interested in participating, please register using THIS FORM. Below are the details for the upcoming sessions (click here for the flyer):
Who: looking for prospective, current or past PreK families
What: PreK Application Discussion Group
Why: Seeking family input on PreK application process
When:
Th, May 13 | 10AM (English)
Fri, May 14 | 5PM (English)
Lunes 17 de Mayo | 10AM (Español)
UPCOMING: Ask The Expert:
Th, May 13 | 4-5PM
The Expert: Jeff Broom, Director of School Quality Measurement & Research
Topic: School Quality Rating Policy (SQRP) | Register
PAST: CPS hosted Capital Plan Meetings last week. The meetings are available for viewing on the CPS YouTube channel. We also recommend this Documenters webpage for the first meeting which includes notes plus a link to live tweets. Take the CPS Capital Planning - Public Input Survey here.
PAST: CPS hosted a Parent Town Hall regarding leadership changes as well as summer opportunities and fall planning. We have a live tweet thread here. Press coverage:
Sun-Times: In-person school should be ‘mandatory’ for CPS students in the fall, CPS CEO says
Chalkbeat Chicago: The public will weigh in on new school chiefs pick, but mayor will make final call
WTTW: Lightfoot Promises ‘Unprecedented’ Public Participation in Search For Next CPS CEO