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:
 
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.
 
Bettersupportsintheschoolsfromsocialworkers,psychologists,nursesandotherdevelopmentalsupportsthataddresstheneedsofthewholechild.
 
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.
 
Facilitiesupgrades.Manyofourschoolsareindireneedofrepairandupgrading.
 
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anagenda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.
 
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.
 
Fundingforanextendeddayshouldnotbeaccomplishedbycuttinganycurrentstafffromourschools
 
Withaprojecteddeficitof$600-$700millionwedonotbelievethatCPScanadequately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
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

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