Why We Fight for Better Schools
Every Chicago Public Schools (CPS) student deserves to have the same quality education as the children in wealthy families and elite schools. This can happen, but only if policymakers prioritize education that is research-based, fully funded and staffed, and delivered equitably. Today’s students have suffered from years of experimentation as CPS closed, turned around and consolidated their schools. The unproven “fixes” CPS continues to implement do nothing for our children. CPS endlessly alters rules for attendance, lesson plans, tests and grades with no apparent benefits to students. This impacts the education that students ultimately receive and hurts economically disadvantaged Black and Latino students the most. Our children deserve better!
We can increase student learning using smaller class sizes; a robust well-rounded curriculum; and services that address their social, emotional and health needs. Our children deserve professional teachers who are treated as such, fully resourced school buildings and a school system that partners with parents.
Movechicagoschoolsforward.com is a movement focused on informing the public, raising the standard of performance for Chicago public schools and ensuring that every student in Chicago receives the quality education they deserve.
We can increase student learning using smaller class sizes; a robust well-rounded curriculum; and services that address their social, emotional and health needs. Our children deserve professional teachers who are treated as such, fully resourced school buildings and a school system that partners with parents.
Movechicagoschoolsforward.com is a movement focused on informing the public, raising the standard of performance for Chicago public schools and ensuring that every student in Chicago receives the quality education they deserve.
Why do we need a movement for Educational Justice in Chicago?
We have the 5th largest class sizes in the state. Students cannot learn as well when there are 35 or even 50 students in a classroom. Our children deserve better.
Chicago has a homicide disaster but 96% of schools are without full time social workers.
Chicago students have attendance problems but there are no truancy officers to do family and community outreach.
Our children have health issues but there aren’t enough nurses or psychologists.
We want our children to go to college but CPS has too few counselors.
CPS claims to need to close 100 to 200 schools to save money but seeks to open 60 new non-union under-performing charter schools.
Students are being cheated out of a better school day. Testing is out of control at many schools, while the arts, world languages and more course offerings suffer cuts.
CPS and the Mayor appoint Frank Clark, from Com-Ed, to head up the commission to close schools. Clark is a co-founder of a Noble Street charter, a politically connected charter network seeking to close schools so they can open their own.
Chicago has a homicide disaster but 96% of schools are without full time social workers.
Chicago students have attendance problems but there are no truancy officers to do family and community outreach.
Our children have health issues but there aren’t enough nurses or psychologists.
We want our children to go to college but CPS has too few counselors.
CPS claims to need to close 100 to 200 schools to save money but seeks to open 60 new non-union under-performing charter schools.
Students are being cheated out of a better school day. Testing is out of control at many schools, while the arts, world languages and more course offerings suffer cuts.
CPS and the Mayor appoint Frank Clark, from Com-Ed, to head up the commission to close schools. Clark is a co-founder of a Noble Street charter, a politically connected charter network seeking to close schools so they can open their own.
What do we need to do?
- Organize a community forum.
- Sign up to canvass with one of the many community, student and labor groups working on this issue.
- Join the Grassroots Education Movement.
- Facebook – Students Organizing to Save our Schools (SOS).
