 AWhitePaperonChicagoPublicSchools’ExtendedDayProposal:

TheBestEducation,orJusttheLongest?

ChicagoParentsforQualityEducation April9,2012

 

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 AboutChicagoParentsforQualityEducation

ChicagoParentsforQualityEducationisacoalitionofparentsfromschoolsandcommunitygroupsacrossthecitywhohavejoinedforcestohelpinformtheChicagoBoardofEducationonwhatweviewasnecessarychangestotheschooldayatCPS.Weareconcernedthatnotallchildrenwillreceiveawell-roundededucation,especiallykidswhoareinschoolswithahighachievementgapandhighdrop-outrate.Wedonotbelievethatextendingthedaytoincludeonlymorecoresubjectswilladdresstheachievementgapthatseparatestoomanyofourcity’schildren.Whileeachschoolhasitsownspecificneedsandculture--one-sizedoesnotfitall--weareunifiedinbelievingthatmanyofourchildrenhavebeendeprivedofnon-testedsubjectsandwewanttoseethisbetteraddressedintheCPSguidelines.Forexample,lumpingPEandartstogetherdemonstratesalackofimportanceintwocriticalareasthathavenotbeenprioritizedfortoolong.Inaddition,wewouldlikethefollowingissuesaddressedtoimprovethealarmingachievementgapinourcity:

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Acurriculumforallinadditiontoreading,mathandsciencethatincludesregularphysicaleducation,artseducation(visual,drama,dance),musiceducation,recess,languageacquisition,socialstudiesandcivics,andintegratedtechnologyledbyateacher.

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Bettersupportsintheschoolsfromsocialworkers,psychologists,nursesandotherdevelopmentalsupportsthataddresstheneedsofthewholechild.

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Earlychildhoodeducationandclasssizesinprimarygradesthataremanageableandallowkidstogettheattentiontheyneedtolearnandgrow.

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Facilitiesupgrades.Manyofourschoolsareindireneedofrepairandupgrading.

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Ourchildrenhavebeenstuckinapunitivecultureoftestprepandover-testing.Theyarebeingmeasuredandassessedconstantlyattheelementarylevel,cuttingintovaluablelearningtime.Intheimmediateterm,parentsareconcernedthatChicagoPublicSchoolshassetforthanagendaregardingthelongerdaythatprofoundlyaffectsChicago’schildrenandfamilieswithoutsolicitingorlisteningtorealparentfeedback.Wearedeeplyconcernedthatschools,teachersandstudentsarebeingaskedtodomorewithfewerresourcesandthatthiswillhaveahighlydemoralizingeffectonourdistrict,and,ultimatelyonourchildrenandtheirattitudesaboutformaleducation.

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CPSmustprovidethenecessaryresourcesforanextendeddayofanylength.Asnotedabove,therearemanybasicprograms/coursesmissingfromcurrentday.

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Fundingforanextendeddayshouldnotbeaccomplishedbycuttinganycurrentstafffromourschools

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Withaprojecteddeficitof$600-$700millionwedonotbelievethatCPScanadequatelyprovideaquality7.5hourschooldayforourchildren.

 

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ChicagoParentsforQualityEducationMemberGroups:

19

th

WardParents

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Albany Park Neighborhood Council

BlackStarProject

 Concerned Pioneer Parents for a Better School Day

CommunitiesUnitedforQualityEducation/ComunidadesUnidasparaunaMejorEducacion(CUQE)GamalielMetroChicagoGrimesFlemingChildAdvocatesKenwoodOaklandCommunityOrganization(KOCO)LawndaleAllianceLoganSquareNeighborhoodAssociation(LSNA)ParentPACParents4TeachersProgressiveActionCoalitionforEducationParentsUnitedforResponsibleEducation(PURE)RaiseYourHandCoalitionSixPointFivetoThrive