RYH Newsletter 6.23.21
Leer en español
We are pleased to announce that our weekly newsletter will now be offered in Spanish!
Elected School Boards & Non Citizen Voting in IL
The concession elected school board bill passed the IL House last Wednesday evening so it is now on it’s way to the Governor. Here’s our one pager on the bill, HB 2908.There’s been a lot of press coverage on this big news!
WBEZ: Illinois Approves Giving Chicago An Elected School Board
Chalkbeat Chicago: Gov. Pritzker says he intends to sign bill that would establish elected school board in Chicago
Sun-Times: A bill for an elected Chicago school board has passed. Now what?
On Friday, there was a subject matter hearing on SB 1565. This is a trailer bill to HB 2908 and will allow non-citizen parents and guardians to vote in local school board elections. It was a very informative hearing- you can read our live tweets here. Stay tuned for more on this issue!
CPS: News | Several New Initiatives | Meetings | Info
Pandemic Layoffs
This has been like a punch in the gut for many schools and families. Story here from Chicago Tribune: Chicago Public Schools laying off 443 teachers and support staff. We recommend attending your next LSC meeting to find out if or how your school has been impacted.
“Moving Forward Together”
There was a special CPS BOE meeting last week. You can read our statements here. CPS presented their framework for the federal funds (ESSER III). Their framework can be found here: Moving Forward Together.
CPS will host two town halls:
Mon, June 28, and Wed, June 30, both at 5:30PM.
You can register here OR watch on the CPS Facebook page.
“Virtual Academy” for SY2021-22
Find out more at the CPS webpage here: Virtual Academy. Your student must meet medical fragility requirements. You must apply by July 23. A licensed medical provider must submit the COVID-19 Health Eligibility Form. Chalkbeat Chicago has a story here: Chicago offers more details about its full-time remote option.
CPS BOE Meets Twice Today
Today there is a CPS BOE hearing on a waiver application at 9AM followed by the CPS BOE monthly meeting at 10:30AM. Both will live stream on the CPS YouTube channel. We will live tweet. Here is the scheduled #ChiDocumenter who will be live tweeting. You can submit Written Public Comments: Go to www.cpsboe.org. Under “Written Comments”, click on “Board meeting Jun 23 Form”, this will take you to a Google form. We submitted our An Open Letter To The Next CPS CEO* — Raise Your Hand as a written comment. Here’s press coverage of an agenda item:
CPS is proposing some changes to the CPS Student Code of Conduct (SCC). Sun-Times: Not an emergency? Don’t call cops, CPS tells administrators in new policy
Recent CPS Initiatives Announced
As noted above: Moving Forward Together | Sun-Times: CPS unveils pandemic recovery plan funded by half-billion in federal relief money
There was a launch event for CPS’ new Curriculum Equity Initiative, Skyline. More here (plus launch event video) and a story here from Chalkbeat Chicago: CPS unveils $135 million curriculum tailored to Chicago.
Keeping our fingers crossed… Sun-Times: CPS to take over facilities management after years of filthy school complaints. The devil is always in the details and actual implementation but we are hopeful and glad that this privatization scheme is coming to an end.
CPS SY2021-22 School Calendar
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.)
Pandemic Schooling News
WBEZ has two stories this week that are worth a read or listen:
As part of the #TrustLearningCare platform, “Pandemic Passes” is included as part of Care. This idea was given by students who were advocating with CPS directly about such a system for some time.
Provide a transparent way for students and families to apply for a P (pass) due to the extraordinary pressure of the pandemic. Provide a pandemic learning plan for families who have a student or family member with COVID19.
Chicago Tribune: Grueling Chicago Public Schools pandemic year finally coming to an end
Grueling is right! This has been quite a school year. We wish you & yours a nice summer break!
#NoCopAcademy: Petition | News
Block Club Chicago: A Boys & Girls Club Will Open At Controversial Police Academy On West Side. Critics Say It Will ‘Traumatize’ The Kids It Aims To Help | Please consider signing this petition from the #NoCopAcademy youth:
Petition · Open Letter To The Boys & Girls Club Of Chicago · Change.org
In other recent news… Organizers published a Toolkit about the #NoCopAcademy campaign. Block Club Chicago: West Side Organizers Battled To Block A $95 Million Police Training Academy. Now They're Sharing What They Learned To Help Other Activists
SpEd: ISBE Oversight Continues | Send a Letter to Your Alderperson re: #NoGoCPS | SSCA/UER Resources | FRDC For Advocacy Needs
ISBE oversight of CPS special education continues. Chalkbeat Chicago: Chicago special education monitor extended by Illinois
At RYH we’ve been pointing out the discrimination in the HS application process for students with disabilities and have been talking to CPS about this for some time.
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.
We launched a new website in April and it is still a work in progress. Click the button below for our most recent RYH SpEd Resources!
RYH teamed up with Equip for Equality for two information sessions (one in English and one in Spanish) on UER (Universal Enrichment Remedy) and SSCA (Student Specific Corrective Action). Free extra special ed services or reimbursement for extra services you already paid for?!? Yes! And did you know CPS has identified over 10,000 students to automatically get extra services to make up for their illegal special education actions in school years 2016-17 & 2017-18? It’s true! All of the resources from both events are here.
For parents looking for an advocate, we recommend the Family Resource Center on Disabilities. It is a federally funded not-for-profit organization that has a core mission to support people with disabilities and their families. They have special education advocates who will answer your questions, review your documents, even attend IEP meetings with you - all for FREE. The only thing that they ask is that you first attend one of their know your rights trainings, as that is the most efficient way to ensure parents are exposed to the basics. Their advocates are experienced and knowledgeable. The website is www.frcd.org.
CPSuccess!
WTTW: La Ultima Palabra: CAUSE Chicago | Chicago News | WTTW Students from Lane & Payton HSs interviewed.
Sun-Times: Homeless Chicago high schooler now a law school grad aiming to help immigrants Hancock HS
Chalkbeat Chicago: The pandemic upended his senior year in Chicago. It also taught him to let go. Young HS
Chicago Bears News: Bears to help launch girls flag football league
In Other News
Chalkbeat Chicago: Five things to know about José Torres, interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools appointed by Lori Lightfoot
South Side Weekly: CPS High Schools Vote to Keep All, Some, or None of Their Police Officers
Sun-Times: Casi la mitad de los estudiantes de CPS son latinos. ¿Debería serlo el próximo jefe?
