RYH Newsletter 5.5.21
A great big THANK YOU to everyone who contributed during #RYHGrow2021, our annual spring fundraiser! We raised over $24K- meeting all of our matches & surpassing our set goal! Thanks for the support, love, and confidence in our work. Donate here. Click to view our thank you card here.
Thank You, Teachers & All School Staff!
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Teachers and all school staff, we parents appreciate all that you do! Thank you. You make a difference every day.
CEO Dr. Jackson Steps Down
CPS CEO Dr. Jackson announced that she would not be renewing her contract which expires on June 30. You can read the email sent to parents here. We at RYH understand the need for more family time and wish Dr. Jackson the best of luck in the next chapter.
This morning we released An Open Letter To The Next CPS CEO* written by our board and staff. We provide three points of guidance:
Fund Black Communities. Full Stop. | Create Real Opportunities for Authentic and Meaningful Engagement | Dismantle Institutional Adultism
WTTW: Parent Group Makes List of Recommendations for Next CPS CEO
CPS is hosting a Town Hall on the leadership changes as well as summer and fall planning: Th, May 6, 6PM.
You can watch the town hall here.
Chalkbeat Chicago: What we know (and don’t) about summer school in Chicago
Two other CPS leaders are leaving: Chief Education Officer LaTanya McDade announced in March that she was stepping down and Chief Operating Officer Arnie Rivera announced he was stepping down Monday.
Sun-Times: Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson to resign
Chalkbeat Chicago, Block Club Chicago: Parents, teachers wonder what’s next after Chicago schools chief Janice Jackson says she’s stepping down
Elected Representative School Board Update
We hosted a powerful ERSB meeting: meeting slides. Our friends at Hope Center hosted a Democracy in Education event: live tweets here. We were one of multiple organizations who sent this letter to IL General Assembly members demanding a fully elected school board for Chicago.
WBEZ: Door Cracks Open For A Vote On A Chicago Elected School Board In Illinois Senate
ACTIONS you can take:
Email your state senator and tell them to support SB2497, a FULLY elected CPS school board.
We are going to be ERSB flyering this Sat, May 8, 1-3PM in Austin. If you are interested please email rousemary@ilraiseyourhand.org.
April's CPS BOE Meeting
You can read our statements and all the press coverage of the day (including our press conference) here. Some highlights:
Block Club Chicago: With $1.8 Billion Coming To CPS, West And South Siders Want 'Seat At the Table' To Decide Where The Money Goes
Chicago Tribune: Almost 1 in 5 CPS high school students failed to attend class
Sun-Times: CPS to allow in-person graduations for class of 2021 | CPS permite las ceremonias de graduación en persona para la clase de 2021
Other Upcoming CPS Meetings
Ask The Expert: Th, May 6 | 4-5PM | The Expert: Rae Pilarski & Senator Dick Durbin
Topic: Child Tax Credit | Register
If you have children, you could be entitled to up to $3,600 per child if you file your taxes by May17th!
Th, May 6 | 3-4:30PM & 5-6:30PM
Fri, May 7 | 3-4:30PM | Spanish
GoCPS HS Admission Criteria Changes
Sign up for a meeting here: Sat, May 8, 10AM OR Wed, May 12, 4PM
SpEd News + GoCPS HS Admissions Concerns
Injustice Watch: 3 takeaways from the state investigation into special ed at Chicago's juvenile jail
At RYH we’ve been pointing out the discrimination in the HS application process for students with diabilities (see this quickish video explaining the issue) and have been talking to CPS about this for some time- see the RYH Timeline here. We are skeptical and still concerned about the impact of the proposed 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.
Upcoming Event
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
CPSuccess!
WGN: In her first year of teaching, resource teacher works through pandemic to make powerful impact (Neil ES)
Block Club Chicago: Benito Juarez Students, Community Groups Come Together To Clean Up Pilsen
Two here from University of Chicago Civic Engagement:
Training the next generation to tackle health disparities and community violence (Morgan Park HS)
Neighborhood Schools Program supports South Side students, teachers, and families during remote learning (Till ES, Simeon HS)
In Other News
Chalkbeat Chicago: I’m a Chicago principal. This round of state testing won’t tell me anything that matters.
Sun-Times: Chicago has more summer jobs than applicants, aldermen told
WTTW: Some Black Parents Say Remote Learning Gives Racism Reprieve
Sun-Times: Many worry about ‘learning loss,’ but has this really been a lost year for CPS students?
Sun-Times: New scholarship targets CPS grads seeking to teach in CPS
Trust Learning Care (TLC) | #TLCMakesSense
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