RYH Newsletter 5.26.21
ERSB canvass | Saturday, May 22, 2021 | Austin neighborhood | Chicago
ACTION ALERT: ERSB Witness Slips Needed Today! Proponent.
There’s a hearing TODAY, Wed, May 26, 1:30PM on HB 2908, a fully elected representative school board for Chicago.
Please fill out a witness slip as a PROPONENT.
Watch the Spanish language ERSB town hall here.
Our Advocacy Director & CPS parent, Naoma Nagahawatte, wrote this opinion piece published in the Sun-Times: As a CPS parent, I would welcome a fully elected Chicago school board | Letters.
Here are 2 articles covering the history of this fight and of the bill’s widespread community support:
BGA: Fact-Check: Yes, Large Majorities Support Elected Chicago School Board
#2Years2Much
On May 20, RYH joined over 40 other organizations at The People’s Report Card Rally & March to deliver report cards to Mayor Lightfoot on the 2 year anniversary of her inauguration. Raise Your Hand highlighted
the TLC platform, developed by Chicago parents, caregivers, and youth, which Lightfoot has ignored;
the need for an elected representative school board (ERSB) which Lightfoot campaigned on but, instead, Lightfoot wants to maintain mayoral control via a hybrid model;
and the need for #PoliceFreeSchools as demanded by Chicago youth.
#2Years2Much Press Coverage:
Block Club Chicago: As Lori Lightfoot Marks 2 Years In Office, Hundreds March In Logan Square To Rebuke Her Leadership: 'An Utter Utter Failure'
NBC 5: Protesters Mark Halfway Point in Mayor Lori Lightfoot's Term
The Triibe: Demonstrators gave Mayor Lightfoot an ‘F’ report card on midterm anniversary
Some more coverage of the Mayor’s first two years in office that are worth a read:
AP: Chicago mayor faces dashed hopes of her backers
The Triibe: The Revolutionary Column | An abolitionist's midterm conversation with Mayor Lori Lightfoot
#2Years2Much | Thursday, May 20 | Logan Square | Chicago
Today! CPS Board of Ed Monthly Meeting
The meeting starts at 10:30AM and will live stream on the CPS YouTube channel. We will be speaking and tweeting. Later this morning, we will post our statements here, plus we will update this webpage with press coverage of the day. You can submit written comments to the BOE via a Google form linked at cpsboe.org- see “Board meeting May 26 Form”; you have until Th, May 27, 5PM to submit. Here are some topics to be covered:
Sun-Times: CPS proposes giving Aramark, Sodexo another 3 months, $74M for facilities management | CPS school to remove Andrew Jackson, former president and slaveholder, from its name
WTTW: CPS to Promote All Elementary, Middle School Students to Next Grade Level
The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
Official website of the program here.
Chicago Tribune: Millions of Americans can apply for $50 off their internet bill
CPS + CTU + CDPH + CTA Team Up To Vaccinate!
CPS COVID-19 Vaccination webpage
There are even more locations and events in the coming days listed here in Block Club Chicago: Chicagoans Who Get Vaccinated At City-Run Sites Can Get 5 Free Tickets To Six Flags
Pandemic Schooling: News | Reflections | What Have We Learned?
Last week, the IL State Board of Ed (ISBE) passed a resolution about the 2021-22 school year supporting in person learning and limiting remote learning as an option for families.
Chalkbeat Chicago: Illinois state board of education will require full-time schooling in fall with limited exceptions
ABC 7: Illinois State Board of Education votes to require in-person learning for all students next year
In this week’s ISBE newsletter, Superintendent Dr. Ayala explains some nuances with the resolution and tries to clarify some questions. You can read the newsletter here. And here’s a Q & A document on the resolution. We're still trying to understand all of this and it sounds like school districts are doing the same. Please look out for any upcoming meetings or ways to share opinions and ideas with your school or district.
Chalkbeat Chicago hosted an event to discuss what’s working and what’s not in pandemic schooling. This article covers ways to engage with families: How can Illinois schools reconnect with missing students? Text messages, ‘putting on gym shoes’
Here’s a #cpsuccess plus a program started by Dyett HS’s social worker to help support students with their mental health needs via an interview with Chalkbeat Chicago: How this Chicago school social worker is tackling the pandemic’s mental health toll.
And here are two more from Chalkbeat Chicago about summer programming and mental health support:
More details — and some questions — about Chicago’s summer school menu
School districts and schools need to engage authentically with students, parents, caregivers, and educators. #CPSTalkToUs
Special Education
San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego teacher creates 'social justice league' for students with disabilities, 'a forgotten minority'
RYH is teaming up with Equip for Equality for a parent training!
Presentation from Equip for Equality on UER (Universal Enrichment Remedy) and SSCA (Student Specific Corrective Action)
Tues, June 2 | 6-7:30PM | Register
Free extra special ed services or reimbursement for extra services you already paid for?! Did you know CPS has identified over 10,000 students to automatically get extra services to make up for their illegal actions in school years 2016/2017 & 2017/2018. If you think this might be you, join us for a training on the process to obtain these services or reimbursement.
ODLSS/MOPD Virtual Community Connections Expo Tickets, Fri, Jun 4, 2021 at 1:00 PM
Family Resource Center on Disabilities (FRCD) offers FREE virtual IEP support. More here.
If you have an 8th Grader with an IEP in CPS who you believe was denied opportunity for appropriate High School programs due to NWEA and Grade cut scores (for either Application or Acceptance), we want to hear from you at bit.ly/NoGoCPS. Thank you! More on this issue here.
Youth Led Meetings For Youth!
On Fridays, #PoliceFreeSchools youth host a call for fellow students to learn more and get involved. 5PM | Register
Job Alert
Action Now Institute/Action Now is now in the process of hiring an Executive Director. The job description is here.
CPSuccess!
Sun-Times: High school bass fishing: Taft, with the only CPS bass-fishing team, keeps building on to its legacy
Art on theMart is featuring artwork from CPS students | May 20-June 26 | 9-9:30PM
Springfield News
WBEZ: Bill Wants All Schools To Cover Asian Americans History UPDATE: The #TEAACHAct passed the Senate.
Chalkbeat Chicago: State legislative committee advances bill that would allow Chicago principals to unionize
In Other News
Block Club Chicago: Lincoln Park Preschool Gets Key City Approval After Delay And Dueling Traffic Studies From CPS, Neighbors
AP: As US schools resume testing, large numbers are opting out
Sun-Times: CPS leasing school lots to a company that hasn’t paid its bills to City Hall for 3 years
Chalkbeat Chicago: How is Chicago Public Schools teaching the history of police torture? *Survey at the end of this article regarding the Reparations Won curriculum.*
Southwest Chicago Post: Chicago Public Schools Get Billions in Fed Aid, But Find No Funds For Judy (Petition here.)
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Thanks for reading! We hope you are all well!
CPS: Calendar | PreK | Meeting on Summer Opps | Capital Plan Survey
ICYMI... the CPS BOE approved the 2021-22 school calendar in March 2021. The 1st day for CPS students is Mon, Aug 30. Printable calendar here (click on SY2021-22 Calendar.)
PreK: 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: Ask The Expert:
Th, May 27 | 4-5PM
The Expert: Sarah Siderius, Heidi Truax and Dr. Sherly Chavarria
Topic: Summer programming and support opportunities! | Register
CPS hosted Capital Plan Meetings. 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.
Webpage worth noting: Chicago Public Schools CEO Selection Process. There is a survey on this page- scroll down.