Questions about school closings
Here is a letter sent to Barbara Byrd-Bennett, chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools, asking important questions about the process being used to determine which public schools will be closed. It was written by Wendy Katten, executive director of a nonprofit organization called Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education, a grassroots coalition of parents and citizens who advocate for quality public education. The questions asked about the process are specific to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) but they also speak to other problematic policy decision processes in districts around the country. Last month, Ipublished a piece about a suit that parents and other education activists in Philadelphia filed with the City Ethics Board requesting an investigation into some of the behind-the-scenes players in school policy decisions.
Dear Ms. Byrd-Bennett,We are sending this letter because we have made numerous requests through various staff members at CPS to set up a meeting with you to discuss our space utilization findings presented at the last CPS board meeting and have not yet received a response. We also presented to the CEFTF [Chicago Educational Facilities Task Force] and
NYU's 2 1/2-week for-credit winter term (where you can study 'Jersey Shore')
It's not too late to sign up for New York University's two-week January term, where visiting and already enrolled students can enroll in business, arts and sciences courses and earn up to four college credits.
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