chico education plan

8/8/2019 Chico Education Plan

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INTRODUCTION

In1987,theU.S.SecretaryofEducationcalledChicagosSchoolstheworstinthenation.Themoraleofourcitywaslow-butworse-weasacitywereguiltyofcondemningourchildrenChicagosChildrentohopelessness.

In1995TheIllinoisLegislaturefinallyacted,givingtheMayorfullcontroloverChicagoSchoolsandMayorDaleyturnedtoGeryChicotoleadastunningturnaroundthatwashailedbyPresidentBillClintonasareformmodelforthenation.Againsttheodds,Gerysleadershipfrom1995to2001paiddividendsforstudentsandtaxpayers.Testscoresroseforsixstraightyears.Anunprecedentednumberofkids-nearly200,000-attendedsummerschoolandafter-schoolprograms.Blightedandoutdatedschoolswerereplacedbyover60newstateoftheartschoolbuildingsandhundredsmorewererenovated.

Andwhileundertakingamulti-billiondollarschoolsconstructionplan,Chicocut,slashedandsaveduntilaprojected$1.3billiondollardeficitbecamea$344milliondollarsurplus.Today,justnineyearslaterwefindourschoolsincrisisagain.Criticallearningprogramshavebeenslashed,bureaucracyhasgrown,schoolshavefallenintodisrepair,anddeficitshaveagainsurged.Withoutboldactionnow,wewillcontinuedriftingdownwarduntilallthatwasgainedwillbelost.Smartandsustainablereformsareneededandeveryonemustbeheldaccountable

forresults:parents,teachers,students,administratorsandschools.Withoutaneffectiveschoolsystemwecannotpreparekidstocompeteintheglobaleconomy,orprovidethelaborforcethatwillattractgoodcompaniestolocateinourgreatcity.AsacandidateforMayor,GeryChicohasproposedinnovativebutaffordableandachievableplansthatwillTransformChicagosFutureNow!


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

READY BY FIVEUsingafullrangeofinitiativesfromexpandingparkdistrictprogramslikemomsandtots,todramaticallyincreasingChicagosnetworkofpre-Kprograms,GeryChicowillmakeprenatal,infant,andearlychildhoodeducationavailableandaccessibletofamiliesthroughoutChicago.DISMANTLE AND RESTRUCTUREChicowilldoawaywiththecurrentCentralOfficeandreplaceitwithamuchleaner,morenimbleandresponsibleschoolimprovementorganization,whichwillfocusonservingandsupportingschools.

GIVING PARENTS POWERParentscantplayacriticalroleintheirchildrenseducationunlesstheyhavetheinformationnecessarytomakegoodchoices.ChicowillputaParentAcademyineveryschoolandcreateaParentAdvocateGeneraltoensureparentshavethenecessaryinformationandpowertomakesmartandinformedchoicesfortheirchildren.EXCELLENT EDUCATORS

Onlythebestteacherswillserveinourclassrooms.Thebestteacherswillberewardedandrecognizedthrougharesearch-basedteacherevaluationsystem.ChicowillpersonallyleadnationalteacherrecruitmentmissionsandseektoraisethescorerequiredtobecertifiedasteachersinChicagoPublicSchools.Ifateacherisnotperforminguptostandardsintheclassroom,Chicowillnothesitatetoremovethatteacherregardlessofrank.MORE LEARNING AND BETTER CHOICESEverystudentineveryneighborhoodshouldattendahigh-performingschool.Chicowillworktolengthentheschooldayandtheschoolyear.Hewillincreasethenumberofhigh

performingcharterschools,magnetschoolsandcollegeprepschools.Afullmenuofschoolchoiceoptions,includingvouchersforprivateschools,willbeavailabletoparents.CONQUERING THE DIGITAL DIVIDEEveryhighschoolstudentwillbeissuedalaptopandeverystudentinChicagoschoolswillhavealaptopbytheendofChicosfirstterm.ChicowillacceleratecitywideWiFi.Students


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willbeofferedaccesstoclassesonlinethatarenotavailableattheirparticularschools.SAFER SCHOOLSKidscantlearnandteacherscantteachiftheyfearbeinginschool.Chicowillcrackdownonbullying,violenceandalackofdisciplinewitharangeoftoughinitiativesthatincludeprivatelyrunschoolsfordisruptiveorviolentstudents.Chicowillrelentlesslyfightgang

violenceinschoolsbyplacingmoreChicagoPoliceinandaroundschoolsinneed.BRINGING BACK CULTUREResearchshowsthatartsareanessentialpartofacomprehensiveeducation,andstudentsintheseclassesperformbetteronstandardizedtests.Chicowillrestoretheartstoeveryschool.

SPORTSFormanykids,sportsarethekeytokeepingthemoutoftrouble,teachingthemabout

competitionandgrowingtheirself-confidence.Chicowillpromotesportsandensurethatkidshavetheproperequipmenttoprotectthem.

LANGUAGES Asaworld-classcity,wemustteachourchildrentothinkandlearnbeyondournationalborders.Chicowillensurethatforeignlanguagesareincorporatedintoourschoolscurriculum,andEnglishlanguagelearnersdeveloptheEnglishlanguageskillsnecessarytosucceed.

MODERNIZING SCHOOLSChicowillcontinuebuildingnewschoolsandmaintainingourexistingfacilities.Hewillensurethatallschoolsareenvironmentallysound,greenschoolsthatreducecostsandraiseawareness.


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Transforming Chicagos Future NowThe Chico Education Plan

Ready By Five

AnunprecedentedfocusonearlychildhooddevelopmentstartingbeforebirthExtensiveresearchindicatesthathigh-qualitychilddevelopmentprogramsforchildrenandtheirfamilies,beginningprenatally,ensurethatchildrenwillenterkindergartenreadytolearnandtoachievetotheirfullestpotential.Theseprogramsengageparents,keepchildrenhealthy,supportmentalhealth,teachskillsandclosetheachievementgap.Childrenwhoattendearlyeducationprogramsarelesslikelytoexhibitsignificantbehavioralproblemsinschoolandaremorelikelytoperformatorabovegradelevel.Childrenintheseprogramsareultimatelybetterpreparedtomoveontohighschool,andeventually,highereducation.

Investmentsinhigh-qualityearlyeducationhavebeenshowntoresultinadecreaseincrime,teenpregnancy,delinquency,substanceabuse,welfaredependency,andtheneedforspecialeducationservices.Thestakesarehigherthaneverbecauseourchildrenmustcompeteinaglobaleconomy.AsPresidentoftheChicagoBoardofEducation,Gerydramaticallyexpandedearlychildhooddevelopmentprogramssuchasalldaykindergarten,homeschoolingsupport,andcradle-to-classroominitiatives.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillimplementtheReadybyFiveinitiative,withthegoalofensuringthateverychildispreparedtolearnandsucceedbythetimeheorshereacheskindergarten.

AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:Makeprenatal,infant,andearlychildhoodprogramsavailableandaccessibletoallfamiliesthroughoutChicago

High-qualityprenatal,infantandearlychildhoodprogramsresultinhigherstudentachievementinschoolandinlifeafterschool.Affordableprogramsforinfantsandtoddlersareessentialforworkingfamilies.Itiscriticalthattheseprogramsareavailabletoallfamilies,regardlessofincomelevelorbackground.Gerywill:

Workwithpublichealthproviderstoexpandaccesstoprenatalcareforallpregnantwomen; ExpandprogramsliketheChicagoParkDistrictsMomsandTotstoreachouryoungest

citizensandtheirfamilies; Usefederaldollarstoprovidehighqualityhomevisitingprogramstoourneediestchildren

andtheirfamilies;

Encouragethestatetomakeacommitmenttopermanentplacementofinfantsandtoddlersinfostercare;

Ensurethatallchildrenyoungerthanagefive,whoseparentsqualifyforMedicaid,receiveearlyandperiodicscreening,diagnosis,andtreatment,paidforbyFederalsources;


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Focusonimprovingchildnutritionprogramsinearlychildhood; Openourschoolsandgovernmentbuildingstoserveasearlylearningcentersthrough

publicandprivatepartnerships;

ProposealocalsupplementtotheFederalChildandDependentCareTaxCredittoeasetheburdenonfamilieswithyoungchildren;

EncourageFederalandStategovernmentstooffercorporatetaxincentivesforprivateentitieswhopartnerwithandsupportearlylearninginitiatives;

EncouragetheFederalGovernmenttopursueadditionalHeadStartfunding,andensurethatallfundsdirectedtowardearlylearningareproperlyallocatedandeffectivelyutilizedtomaximizethebenefittoourkids.

EnhanceandPrioritizethePreschool-for-AllProgram

AsPresidentoftheChicagoBoardofEducation,Geryrecognizedandpromotedthevalueofprovidingvoluntarypreschoolforallchildren.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillmakethisprogramapriorityby:

Dramaticallyexpandingthenetworkofpre-Kprograms,includingthehighlysuccessfulCPStuition-basedpre-kprogramanddevelopinginnovativepartnershipswithnon-profitorganizationsandprivatecompanies;

Ensuringthatallpreschoolprogramsmeetthehigheststandardsinprogrammingandcertification;

Institutingalldaykindergartensinallelementaryschools.Dismantle and RestructureTransformtheCentralOfficeintoaleaner,morenimbleandresponsibleschoolsupport

organization,reducingstaffbyone-thirdandfocusingonservingandsupportingschoolsGuidedbytheprinciple,KidsandFamiliesFirst,Gerywilldismantleandrestructurethecentraladministrationtomoreeffectivelysupportlocalschools.Thingsworkbetterwhentheyaresimpler.Inasystemdesignedtoeducateourchildren,inefficiency,mismanagement,andbloatedbureaucracyaresimplyunacceptable.Whiletherehasbeensomereductioninmanpower,theresulthasbeenconfusionabouttheroleoftheCentralOffice.Thathas,inturn,confusedschoolsaboutwhattheycanexpectfromtheCentralOffice.Ourvisionisalimitedcentraladministrationthatfocusesonschoolsupportservicesandaccountability.Wewillreduceoverheadcostsanddriveefficienciesthatwillhelpbalancethebudgetandachievethebestoutcomeswiththeavailableresources.Savingsfromthepared-downadministrativecostswillbeshiftedtolocalclassroomsto

benefitchildren.AsChiefofStafftotheMayor,andPresidentoftheChicagoBoardofEducation,Geryestablishedareputationforreinventinggovernment.WhileconsolidatingtheCPSCentralandDistrictOffices,heeliminatedhundredsofunnecessarypositions,refocusedtheadministrationtosupportschools,anddramaticallyreducedoperatingcosts.Hesdoneitbefore,andhewilldoitagain!


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AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:

Create a Parent Academy for every school

Parent Academies will serve as networking, resource and education centers for parents, run by parents.Parent Academies will:

Make information about school events and scheduling available to parents along withopportunities to volunteer in the classroom, office, or the sports or arts programs;

Encourage parents to enroll in workshops and classes in life and parenting skills; Provide a network to help parents work with schools as decision-makers, select the best schools

and educational programs for their children, and support classroom instruction at home;

Assist parents in communicating with teachers, administrators, counselors, social workers or otherschool staff;

Have a Lead Coordinator supported with parent volunteers.

Create a Parent Advocate General

As Mayor of Chicago, Gery will create the position of Parent Advocate General. The Parent Advocate

General will serve as the liaison between the Parent Academies and CPS. He or she will be responsiblefor examining issues through the lens of a parent.

StrengthenLocalSchoolCouncils

LocalSchoolCouncilsareintendedtoinvolveparentsandthecommunityindecisionsaffectingtheirschools.However,thecouncilsoftenfailtoattractparentandcommunityparticipationandoperateeffectively.AsMayorofChicago,Gerywillworkto:

ProvidebettertrainingforLocalSchoolCouncilsinprincipalselection,schoolbudgetingandothermatters.

Excellent Educators

Employexcellenteducatorstoensureonlythebestprincipalsandteachersareinour

schools

Researchshowsthatthemostimportantinfluenceonastudentsachievementisahigh-quality

teacher.Wemustensurethatwehaveonlythebestteachersandprincipalsineveryschool.Geryknowsthatteachingisachallenginganddemandingprofession.Herecognizesthatthevastmajorityofteachersdothebesttheycantohelpourstudentslearn.Itiscriticalthatteachershavetheresourcestheyneed,thesupporttheydeserve,andthattheybeheldaccountablefortheirstudentsacademicgrowth.


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AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:Leadnation-wideeducationalrecruitmentefforts

JustastheMayorisresponsibleforattractingthebestcompaniestoChicago,GerybelievestheMayorshouldalsoberesponsibleforbringingthebesteducatorstoourcity.GeryChicowilllead

nation-widerecruitingofthebestprincipalsandteachersinordertobringthemtotheChicagoPublicSchools.Gerywillalso:

ExpandthesystemforrecruitingthefinesttalenttoCPS,throughsuchprogramsasTeachforAmerica,theNewTeachersProject,andNewLeadersforNewSchools.

Ensurewehavearesearch-basedteacherevaluationsystem

Thisevaluationsystemwillbedevelopedwiththeteachersunion,willbefair,andwillutilizethebestdevelopmentsinevaluationmethods.

Rewardandrecognizehigh-performingteachers

Gerywillimplementapaystructurethatensuresthatthoseteacherswhoaresucceedingareadequatelyrewarded.

Collaboratewiththelocalteachertrainingcollegestoensuretheirgraduatescanmeetneeds

ofurbanstudents

Raisethebarforteachercertification

Thecurrentscorerequiredtopasstheteachercertificationexamislow; Gerywillpushtoraisethepassingscoretoonethatismorerigorous.

Strengthenongoingprofessionaldevelopmentofteachers

Gerywillensurethatthecourseworkforprofessionalgrowthmeetsrigorousstandards,iscurrentandisrelevant.

Dismissteacherswhoarenotperforming

Whilenothingismorehelpfultoastudentthanagreatteacher,nothingismoreharmfulthanapoorteacher.

Ifateacherisnotabletosucceedintheclassroom,Gerywillnothesitatetodismisstheteacher,regardlessofrank;


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Whileremovingatenuredteachercanbecostlyandtimeconsuming,allowingthatteachertostayintheclassroomwithchildrenisfarmoreharmful.

Transforming Schools

Moretimelearning,morehigh-qualityschoolchoices,morereasonsforkidstobelieveeducationisthepathtoabetterlife

Everystudentineverycommunityshouldattendahigh-performingschoolregardlessofsocio-economicstatus.Thiscanbeachievedby:

Turningaroundunder-performingneighborhoodschools; Expandingthenumberofmagnetschools; Increasingthenumberofselectiveenrollmentcollegepreparatoryschools; Replicatingsuccessfulcharterandcontractschools; Providingvoucherstostudentsinchronicallyfailingschools.

Thisisabigtask,butGerysrecorddemonstrateshisabilitytoseeitthrough.UnderGerysleadership,CPSwasoneofthefirstschoolsystemsinthecountrytoembraceandopencharterschools.Further,underGerysleadership,thenumberofhigh-performingmagnetschoolsdramaticallyexpanded,andthepublicschoolsystemopenedthenationsfirsthighschoolmilitaryacademy.Theseinitiativesexpandedopportunitiesforqualityeducation,andresultedinunprecedentedgrowthinthestudentpopulation.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:IncreaseLearningTime

Studieshaveproventhatincreasingthetimespentlearningleadstoanimprovementinstudentachievement.TheChicagoPublicSchoolshasoneoftheshortestschooldaysandoneoftheshortestschoolyearsinIllinois.AsPresidentoftheChicagoBoardofEducation,Gerydevelopedextendedschool-dayprogramsthatkeptmorethan125,000childreninschoollongerandexpandedsummerschoolopportunitieswhichservedasmanyas175,000childreneachsummer.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:

Seektolengthentheschooldayandtheschoolyear.Gerywillworktoextendtheschooldayfromasixhourdaytoaneighthour,andthecalendaryearfrom176to200daysayear.Morelearningtimewillgiveteacherstheabilitytocovercoresubjectsingreaterdepthandallowsstudentsparticularlyinhighschooltoaddmoresubjectstotheirschoolschedules;

Furtherpromotetheyear-roundschoolmodelYear-roundschools,inwhichstudentsandteachershaveshorterbreaksduringtheyear,withnolongsummerbreak,proveacademicallybeneficial.Byeliminatingthelongsummerbreak,teachersnolongerhavetoreteachinthefall.


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ExpandSchoolChoice

AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillworktoidentifyandexpandhigh-qualityschoolssotherearecomprehensiveschooloptionsineverycommunity.Gerywill:

Identifyhighquality,existinglocalschoolmodels,whetherneighborhoodorcharter,andexpand,replicate,orfranchisetheseschoolmodels;

Expandhighlyeffectivemagnetprogramsandmagnetschooleducationalopportunitiesbyputtingadditionalmagnetprogramsinneighborhoodschools(e.g.,InternationalBaccalaureateProgram);

Expandthehighlysuccessfulnetworkofcollegepreparatoryhighschools.

SupportaVoucherInitiative

Forparentswithchildreninchronicallyfailingschoolstheremustbeanoptionthatallowsforchildrentoreceiveaqualityeducation.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillsupportavoucherinitiativethatwillallowparentsofstudentsinchronicallyfailingschoolstoreceivea$3,717

vouchertowardelementaryschooltuition,anda$7,500vouchertowardhigh-schoolchildrenwhichcanbeusedatprivateandparochialschools.Theprogramcouldimpactupto50,000students.

IntegrateCareerCurricula

Whileourgoalisgenerallytoencourageallstudentstoachievehighereducation,weneedtoprepareourstudentstosucceedwhethertheychoosetoentercollegeortogodirectlyintheworkforce.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:

Workwithbusinesspartnerstobuildtechnicalandcareerprogramsthatpreparestudentswiththetechnicalandoccupationalskillstheyneedtofindgoodemployment;

Workwiththecorporatecommunitytoexpandwork-studyprogramsthatallowstudentstoparticipateinpaidwork-studywhileattendingschool.Conquer the Digital Divide

Schoolsofthefuture,laptopsforeverystudent

TheDigitalRevolutionishavingaprofoundeffecton21stcenturyeducation.Schoolsnowhavetheabilitytoincorporateinternet,digitalaudioandvideoandsmartboardsintotheirinstruction.As

MayorofChicago,GeryChicowillempowerourstudentsintheinformationage.

Wenowspendmillionsofdollarsontraditionaltextbooks,whichwearandbecomeobsolete.Byredirectingaportionofthesefundstodigitaltools,studentscanhaveconstantlyupdatedtextbooks.Evenbetter,theycanhaveaccesstomultimedialessonsintegratedintotheirtexts.


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Teachingandlearningwillbothbeenhancedasourteacherslearnhowtoeffectivelyusethetoolsavailable.ClosingtheDigitalDividewillenableourchildrentocompetewiththeirpeersinseekingcollegeadmissionsandapplyingforjobs.

AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:

Ensureeverystudenthasalaptop.EveryhighschoolstudentwillbeissuedalaptopimmediatelyandeverystudentinCPSwillhavealaptopwithinChicosfirstterm;

Addinteractivetextbookswithlessonsonline; AcceleratethecitywidewiringofChicagoforWiFi; Institutetrainingforteacherstoensurethattheyknowhowtousenewtoolsoflearningin

theirinstruction;

ProvidecomputertrainingforparentsthroughtheParentAcademiesandtheCityColleges; Offercoursesforstudentsonlineinindividualandgroupsettings.

Safer SchoolsAnenvironmentplaguedbybullying,violence,andalackofdisciplineisnotconducivetolearning.Studentsareunabletolearn,teachersarenotfocusedonteachingandparentsaredeterredfromsendingtheirkidstopublicschools.AsPresidentoftheChicagoBoardofEducation,Gerysinitiativesdramaticallyincreasedsecurityintheschools.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:

Createeffectivelyfunctioningalternativeschoolsfordisruptiveorat-riskstudentsby

contractingwithprivateprovidersandsolicitingalternativeschoolcharters;

Identifyover-agebutunderachievingstudents,andplacethemintospecialtransitionalsettingstoseparatethemfromtheyoungerchildrenwhileprovidingthemwithmoreintensiveage-appropriateeducationalsupportservices;

Preventbullyingbyinitiatingaproactiveanti-bullyingprograminallCPSschools,coordinatedwithrelevantLGBTorganizationsandothersocialserviceagencies;

Evaluateandassessstudentbehaviortoidentifyproblemsearlybeforetheyendangerteachersandotherstudents;

PutmoreChicagoPoliceinandaroundschoolsinneed.


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Placingallbudgetsandfinancialreports,includingupdatesforanychanges,ontheinternet,andifnecessary,providingasupplementaldocumentthatsimplifiesthedatainamannerthepubliccaneasilycomprehend;

Releasingteacherperformancedatatothepublic,aswasrecentlydoneinbothLosAngelesandNewYork.

EngagetheCommunity

Inordertoimplementsubstantiveandsustainablereform,weneedstrongMayoralleadershipthatengagesthecommunityasatruepartnereverystepoftheway.Geryknowsthatwhilesomedecisionsmustbemadeattheadministrationlevel,themajorityofdecisionsareenhancedbyaninclusiveandopenapproachthatinvolvestheinputofparents,teachers,principals,studentsandtheentirecommunity.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:

Createacultureofleadershipwhereinnovation,transformationandentrepreneurshipbecomethenorm;

Haveanelectronicforumwhereanyonecanjoinadiscussion,exchangeideas,orseekadviceabouteducationalissues.

GiveSchoolsFlexibilityandAutonomy

Highly-successfulcharterschools,likethecharterschoolsrunbytheHarlemChildrensZone,teachusthatthefreedomtoimplementnewandcreativestrategiesisoneofthekeystoacademicsuccess.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:

Promoteautonomyforschoolstoimplementcreativeideasandrespondtotheevolvingneedsoftheparentsandtheircommunities;

Offergrantstotop-performingschoolssothattheycanreplicatesuccessfulmodels.

Buildcommunitypartnershipstobenefitschools

Chicagoisaculturallyrichanddiversecity,andeachcommunityprovidesuniqueopportunitiesforpartnershipsthatcanenhanceourchildrenseducation.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:

Partnerwithfoundations,communitygroups,museums,governmentinstitutions,etc.tobringinnovativeanddiverseprogramsandlearningopportunitiestoourschools.

InstitutionalizeaDualEnrollmentProgram

Somehigh-achievinghigh-schoolstudentsarecollegereadywhilestillinhighschool.Weshouldberewardingthosestudentsandincentivizingotherstoreachthislevelofsuccessbyofferingarobustdualenrollmentprogramavailabletoallstudentscitywide.TheCityCollegesofChicagoprovideanextraordinaryresourcetoourcity,withaccesstohigher-educationfacilitiesthroughoutthecity.AsMayorofChicago,Gerywill:


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