For reasons including a lack of space, changing priorities and tight budgets, 98 Chicago public elementary and middle schools don't have outdoor playgrounds, which poses a logistical problem when Mayor Rahm Emanuel's longer day is introduced citywide and recess will be part of the schedule at all elementary and middle schools.
With this week’s developments in the CPS-CTU contract negotiations, check out Catalyst Chicago’s recently updated timeline of the contract talks.
Charlotte Danielson, an international expert in teacher effectiveness who visited the Chicago area recently, talked with Catalyst Chicago about using test scores to evaluate teachers and whether evaluations teachers can actually improve their practice. Listen to the interview here.
Illinois started training people to become certified teacher evaluators this week. Roughly 9,000 people will undergo the online training before next school year. New state laws require districts to change their evaluation systems and tie them to student achievement in some way. But using student test scores or other achievement measures is controversial and hasn't been well received by teachers or their unions. (WBEZ)
Working with the Chicago Teachers Union and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, CPS officials say they'll be collecting food between April 23-27. CPS will also have an online "Virtual Food Bank" that can be accessed here.
A Berwyn parents group on Thursday blasted the racist posts that appeared on the Facebook page of a local high school board member, as calls for him to resign mounted, the Sun-Times reports.
IN THE STATE
Illinois’ largest public employee pension fund, the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) of Illinois, paid more than $1 billion in fees to hundreds of financial managers over the past decade but reaped only a paltry annual return on its investments over that same period, according to a Better Government Association investigation. (Sun-Times)
IN THE NATION
Gene Wilhoit, the executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers, calls on states to revolutize teacher and principal preparation. (Education Week)
President Obama is pushing to retain a low interest rate for student loans, but Republicans counter that such a move is a fiscally irresponsible attempt to buy the youth vote. (NYT)
Video: Teacher Town Hall In Denver
