Skip to main content

Saying Goodbye to the 2020–21 School Year and Looking Ahead

 

Saying Goodbye to the 2020–21 School Year and Looking Ahead


Dear CPS Families, 
 
Our 2020–21 school year is officially a wrap, and it was certainly unlike any we have experienced before. While this was a hard year, it was also full of immense growth, strength and accomplishment. Our staff and community members came together to support our schools through a difficult time. And I want to say a huge thank you to all of the parents, guardians, and family members who wore many hats these past few months and ensured our students continued their learning from home. I am so proud to be a member of the CPS family. 
 
Please continue to keep your child engaged this summer.
As we all experienced firsthand this year, learning is not limited to the classroom. Keeping your child engaged over the summer is critical to ensuring he or she continues learning and is prepared for the next school year. We are fortunate to have community partners and educators from across the city working to ensure your child has access to free and fun online enrichment learning opportunities all summer long. You can take virtual field trips to Chicago’s most iconic museums and cultural institutions, attend a virtual online summer camp, and build stories through the Chicago Public Library's Summer Learning Challenge.
 
Grab-and-go meal sites will remain open this summer.
As a reminder, our summer grab-and-go meal sites will be open Monday, June 22 through Friday, August 28, from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. every weekday. Find the most up-to-date list of meal sites near you at cps.edu/mealsites. Please note that meal sites will be closed on Friday, June 19 due to a scheduled day off for staff.  
 
Be on the lookout for opportunities to provide input on our plans for the next school year.
As I shared last week, we will soon be launching a series of surveys to get your feedback on how we can provide a safe, welcoming, and productive learning environment for students this fall. We sent a student survey yesterday to students in grades 4–12. Please check your child’s cps.edu email account. You and your family are critical partners in this work, and I look forward to hearing your feedback.
 
The district will move Local School Council elections to November.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the district was unable to hold the Local School Council (LSC) elections in April. LSCs play a critical role in our schools––making policy changes that directly impact student outcomes, selecting school leaders, and approving how school funds will be spent. Yesterday, Governor JB Pritzker signed a law that will allow the district to move the LSC election to November and extend current LSC terms until the new election takes place. The law also allows for flexible voting formats to protect the health and safety of all participants. We will share new election dates and voting formats with you as soon possible. Thank you to the dedicated, passionate members of our CPS community who are running for election to create positive, well-rounded learning environments where every child has the opportunity to succeed.
 
I hope you have a safe and healthy summer. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Janice K. Jackson, EdD
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Public Schools

Despedida del año escolar 2020-21 y nuestros futuros planes

 
Estimadas familias de las CPS:
 
Ha terminado oficialmente nuestro año escolar 2020-21, uno muy distinto a cualquier otro que hayamos tenido antes. Si bien nos hemos enfrentado a muchos desafíos, este también ha sido un año de solidez, crecimiento y éxitos para nuestro distrito. Nuestro personal y los miembros comunitarios apoyaron conjuntamente a nuestras escuelas en momentos difíciles. Por lo tanto quiero agradecerles enormemente a todos los padres, tutores y familiares que desempeñaron diferentes papeles en estos últimos meses, y que se aseguraron que nuestros estudiantes continuaran aprendiendo en casa. Estoy tan orgullosa de ser miembro de la familia de las CPS. 
 
Continúe manteniendo a su hijo ocupado este verano.
Como hemos experimentado a primera mano este año, el aprendizaje no se limita al aula. Mantener a su hijo ocupado durante el verano es fundamental para que siga aprendiendo y se prepare para el próximo año escolar. Tenemos la suerte de contar con la colaboración de socios comunitarios y educadores de toda la ciudad, quienes se aseguran que su hijo pueda acceder en línea a oportunidades enriquecedoras y divertidas. Éstas se ofrecerán de manera gratuita durante todo el verano. Entre estas actividades se encuentran: realizar excursiones virtuales a los museos e instituciones culturales más emblemáticos de Chicago, asistir a un campamento de verano virtual y crear historias a través del programa Summer Learning Challenge de la Biblioteca Pública de Chicago.
 
Los sitios de distribución de comida permanecerán abiertos este verano.
Para recordarle, nuestros sitios de distribución de comida estarán abiertos este verano del lunes 22 de junio al viernes 28 de agosto, y operarán de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. todos los días de la semana. Para encontrar los sitios de comida más cercanos a usted, visite cps.edu/mealsites. Tenga en cuenta que los sitios estarán cerrados el viernes 19 de junio, ya que será un día libre para el personal.  
 
Estén atentos a las oportunidades de aportar sus opiniones sobre nuestros planes para el próximo año escolar.
Como le informé la semana pasada, pronto lanzaremos una serie de encuestas para que los padres y los estudiantes nos den sus opiniones sobre cómo podemos crear un entorno de aprendizaje seguro, acogedor y productivo durante el otoño. Ayer enviamos una encuesta para estudiantes de 4.º a 12.º grado. Le pedimos que revise la cuenta de correo electrónico de cps.edu de su hijo. Ustedes son socios críticos en este trabajo, y quedo a la espera de sus comentarios.
 
El distrito realizará las elecciones del Consejo Escolar Local en noviembre.
Debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, el distrito no pudo llevar a cabo las elecciones del Consejo Escolar Local (LSC, por su sigla en inglés) en abril. Los LSCs desempeñan funciones importantes en nuestras escuelas como: realizar cambios políticos que afectan directamente los logros estudiantiles, elegir líderes escolares y aprobar las maneras como se gastan los fondos escolares. Ayer, el gobernador JB Pritzker firmó una ley que permitirá al distrito cambiar el mes de la elección  a noviembre, y extender los términos actuales del LSC hasta que la nueva elección se lleve a cabo. La ley también permite la votación de manera flexible a fin de proteger la salud y la seguridad de todos los participantes. Le compartiremos las nuevas fechas de elección y  votación lo antes posible. Les agradecemos a los dedicados miembros de las CPS que se postularán para las elecciones con el fin de crear entornos de aprendizaje positivos donde todos los niños tengan la oportunidad de triunfar.
 
Espero que se mantenga seguro y saludable durante este verano.
 
Janice K. Jackson, EdD
Directora Ejecutiva    
Escuelas Públicas de Chicago
 
___________________________________________________________
 
We invite you to sign up for the virtual North/Northwest region ARA on July 9th.   
The link is at the bottom of this email.
 
 
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) today announced an $18 million multi-year investment to expand high-quality academic programs for nearly 10,000 CPS students at 22 elementary and high schools across the city. The $18 million investment will support staffing, training and learning resources for programs including International Baccalaureate (IB), STEM and Dual Language over the next six years.

The investments announced today are the result of the district’s second annual academic program application process, which invited school communities to apply for new high-quality programs. This school year, the district strengthened the application process through an increased focus on community engagement. Five community outreach events were held in high-needs communities, and three principal workshops were conducted to help schools determine the programs that would best meet their unique needs and develop strong implementation plans.

“These critical academic investments push the district closer to a future where every student has access to high-quality educational experiences regardless of the neighborhood they live in,” said CPS CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson. “We remain focused on our Five-Year Vision as we expand academic programming and opportunities to strengthen schools through the second year of our program RFP.”

New high-quality programming will benefit a student population that is approximately 80 percent low-income. By prioritizing resources that address community needs, the investments announced today fill programmatic gaps in 11 of the 16 regions outlined in the district’s Annual Regional Analysis (ARA), including the district’s first Early College STEAM programs at North-Grand and Uplift High Schools, the district’s first Gifted program on the West Side at Morton School of Excellence and first Fine & Performing Arts High School in the Greater Calumet (Far South Side) region at Julian High School.

This investment will build on existing programs and expand programming so that more CPS students than ever will have access to high-quality academic programming next school year:
  • IB: More than 20,000 students at 63 schools will have access to International Baccalaureate programs—the largest IB network in North America. New programs will be created or expanded to serve more than 900 students at three schools.
  • STEM/STEAM: More than 20,000 students at 43 schools will engage in modern STEM and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) programming. New programs will be established at six schools—including the district’s first-ever Early College STEAM programs at two high schools—to serve more than 2,100 students.
  • Fine & Performing Arts: More than 43,000 students at 70 schools will benefit from comprehensive arts instruction. New programs will be created to serve more than 2,500 students at four schools.
  • Dual Language: Students at 42 schools will develop literacy and fluency in two languages through Dual Language programs. New programs will be created at Schubert and Tarkington. Whittier, which has an established Dual Language program, will be designated as a magnet school with its current boundaries, pending Board approval.
  • World Language: Students at 33 schools will build their cultural knowledge through World Language programs. New programs will be created to serve more than 800 students at two schools.
  • Personalized Learning: Students at 119 schools will engage in teacher-driven Personalized Learning instruction. New programs will be created to serve more than 1,100 students at three schools.
  • Gifted: More than 4,600 students will engage in accelerated coursework through Gifted programs at 23 schools. Morton is receiving a Gifted program that will support 30 kindergarten students next school year and add one grade level each year until the program spans from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Increased Focus on Community Engagement to Address Programmatic Gaps

Schools were selected to receive new academic programs based on a thorough evaluation process. Following the inaugural application, the district held five community-based information sessions and three administrator workshops to encourage and support schools in high-needs areas to apply. Four schools in high-needs communities who applied last year are receiving a programmatic award this year.

After evaluating each application by using the ARA to identify programmatic need, reviewing letters of support from community stakeholders, interviewing school staff and receiving letters of support from Local School Councils (LSCs), the district selected the following 22 schools to receive a new academic program:
  • Armour Elementary School (STEM)
  • Brentano Math & Science Academy (World Language – Spanish)
  • Burr Elementary School (Personalized Learning)
  • Clark Elementary School (World Language – Spanish)
  • Dawes Elementary School (Fine & Performing Arts)
  • Ebinger Elementary School (IB – Primary Years Programme)
  • Farragut Career Academy (IB – Career-Related Programme)
  • Julian High School (Fine & Performing Arts)
  • Kelvyn Park High School (Fine & Performing Arts)
  • Libby Elementary School (Personalized Learning)
  • McCutcheon Elementary School (STEAM)
  • Morton School of Excellence (Gifted)
  • North-Grand High School (Early College STEAM)
  • Parkside Community Academy (STEAM)
  • Plamondon Elementary School (STEM)
  • Pullman Elementary School (Personalized Learning)
  • Rogers Elementary School (Fine & Performing Arts)
  • Sayre Language Academy (IB – Middle Years Programme)
  • Schubert Elementary School (Dual Language)
  • Tarkington School of Excellence (Dual Language)
  • Uplift Community High School (Early College STEAM)
  • Whittier Elementary School (Dual Language Magnet With Boundary)
Schools that were not selected this year were provided clear feedback that identified specific areas of improvement to support them in working toward successful program implementation in the future. Whether schools are applying for the first time or strengthening a previous application, CPS is committed to helping them throughout the next application cycle, which is scheduled to begin later this year.

“From Fine & Performing Arts and Personalized Learning programs on the South Side to our first Gifted program on the West Side, the second year of our academic program expansion is a critical step in supporting our neighborhood schools in every community in the city,” said CPS Chief Education Officer LaTanya D. McDade. “We remain committed to expanding programs and seeking additional opportunities for engagement so that more schools in more neighborhoods will apply for these programs in the future.”

New Website to Increase Access to Data and Information

To foster community involvement around further opportunities for investment, the district today released the latest iteration of its Annual Regional Analysis (ARA), a fact-based report designed to empower communities with school-level and regional education data. CPS and Kids First Chicago created the first ARA in 2018 to ensure the district can work collaboratively with its stakeholders to expand opportunities using objective, communal information. The ARA outlines data on school quality, enrollment patterns, choice, and program offerings across 16 geographic regions to help inform decisions such as program expansion.

This year, based on feedback from parents, educators and community members, CPS created its first-ever ARA website to provide the ARA report in a more interactive and accessible format. The ARA has expanded in recent years to include more data and information, and this year’s report is available in eight languages and for the first time includes information on the district’s Community Schools partnerships.

Ongoing Community Engagement

In order to learn more about the unique needs in each region of the city, CPS will hold four virtual community workshops this summer. Each workshop will give attendees an opportunity to provide feedback and ideas on the ARA and learn more about how it connects to the district’s recent community engagement efforts on SQRP, school funding, capital planning and more. Families can register for the following meetings with the links below, or by visiting cps.edu/ara.

South Regions (Bronzeville / South Lakefront, Greater Stony Island, Greater Calumet, South Side):
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 from 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. CDT
Link: https://cpsarasouth.eventbrite.com

Southwest Regions (Pilsen / Little Village, Greater Stockyards, Greater Midway, Far Southwest Side):
Wednesday, July 1, 2020 from 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. CDT
Link: https://cpsarasouthwest.eventbrite.com

Central/West Regions (Greater Milwaukee Avenue, West Side, Near West Side, Central Area):
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 from 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. CDT
Link: https://cpsaracentral.eventbrite.com

North/Northwest Regions (North Lakefront, Northwest Side, Far Northwest Side, Greater Lincoln Park):
Thursday, July 9, 2020 from 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. CDT
Link: https://cpsaranorth.eventbrite.com

Chicago Public Schools serves 355,000 students in 642 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.