Igniting Black Boy Joy | S2 Ep 3 | Changing the Course

By The Noble Schools

“In episode 3 of Changing the Course: Building An Antiracist Education Season 2, Nicholas Jones talks with George Beecham, a Noble alum and 9th-grade biology teacher at Chicago Bulls College Prep, and Norma Gutierrez, Noble Schools’ Assistant Director of Student Experience. During the conversation, Beecham and Gutierrez talk about their work to create better school experiences for our Black boys. Beecham focuses in on his perspective and experience as an alum of Bulls Prep now coming back as a teacher. Gutierrez speaks about her work with the Black Boys Collaborative, a group designed to address the educational inequities we see our Black boys facing.”

 

Mayoral hopeful Brandon Johnson promises students free transit, more staff

By Mauricio Peña and Becky Vevea for Chalkbeat

“Chicago Teachers Union organizer and former teacher Brandon Johnson released his formal education platform today — one of a few candidates for Chicago mayor to do so with only a few weeks left before the municipal election.  Johnson, a current Cook County commissioner, unveiled his vision for Chicago Public Schools Wednesday afternoon at a City Club of Chicago luncheon. His plan includes free bus and train rides for students on the Chicago Transit Authority, expanding opportunities for students through partnerships with City Colleges and trade schools, and having under-enrolled schools share space with child care and health clinics. Johnson’s vision draws on the union’s decade-long push to tackle broader issues such as affordable housing and gun violence.”

 

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HIT RECORD GRADUATION RATE AS MATH, READING SCORES DROP

By Hannah Max for Illinois Policy

“Academic proficiency is down, chronic absenteeism is up and Chicago Public Schools celebrates its rates of students graduating and freshmen “on-track.” Nearly half of Chicago Public Schools students missed at least 18 days of school last year. Just one-fifth of high school students are reading and completing math at grade level. Yet CPS celebrated a record-high graduation rate. Something is wrong with this picture. Contradicting metrics in CPS. CPS students are struggling to show up to class and meet proficiency in core subjects, district data released by the Illinois State Board of Education shows. Yet the district celebrated a record-setting graduation rate and rising freshmen on-track rates.”