Top Education Stories You Don’t Want to Miss: October 8 – October 14, 2022

What We Owe to Our Black Boys

By The Noble Schools

“Hansberry College Prep, Muchin College Prep, Noble Staff, Noble Street College Prep, Noble Students

For several years, Black students have faced suspensions, explusions, and other exclusionary discipline practices in U.S. schools at higher rates than their peers (American University report, Brookings report). Our Black boys* have received the brunt of it – ultimately leading to their overrepresentation in the school-to-prison pipeline with every one out of 11 young Black men being incarcerated (Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality). Our Black boys have also seen some of the worst academic and college outcomes (University of Texas). * WHY WE CHOOSE TO SAY “BLACK BOYS” The use of the term “Black boys” to describe our students is intentional in this article. Oftentimes, Black boys are forced into adulthood and this term is an attempt to honor their innocence. For years, U.S. schools have been sending a message to our Black boys that they don’t belong and they don’t matter. Noble Schools has not always been the exception.”

 

Childhood vaccinations in Chicago public schools rebound after pandemic dip

By  Samantha Smylie for Chalkbeat

“Chicago Public Schools last year saw an increase in the number of students in kindergarten through third grade who had received routine childhood vaccinations to combat illnesses such as polio and measles, according to the district’s data. The increase came after rates for routine vaccinations among the district’s youngest students dipped below 70% the previous school year, which started off with remote learning as the coronavirus pandemic surged. In the 2020-21 school year, buildings were closed when students were expected to turn in their immunization forms.”

 

Students rebounded in academic growth on 2022 Illinois Report Card; school ratings return

By Karen Ann Cullotta for The Chicago Tribune

“The soon to be unveiled 2022 Illinois Report Card shows student academic growth has rebounded and slightly outperformed pre-pandemic levels in reading and math — a positive trend that state education officials attribute to statewide investments of federal pandemic relief funds. Although student academic growth slowed significantly during the pandemic, the 2022 baseline student growth percentile on this year’s state report card shows that academic growth appears to be heading in the right direction, Illinois State Board of Education spokeswoman Jackie Matthews said.”