Full Day Kindergarten is Another Brilliant CPS Plan

I read in disbelief as CPS announced that they were mandating full day kindergarten at all schools.   At my school that means that we need to find at least 4 extra rooms.  We’re going to make classes larger and probably lose the music and art rooms, and possibly the library for good measure.  When they mandate things for all schools, they fail to take every school’s unique circumstances into account and this is a great example.

Mayor Expands Full Day Kindergarten to All Chicago Public Schools

“When you talk to the teachers, every one of them will tell you the different between what a child can get in three hours versus seven hours,” Emanuel said. “Identifying the letters, identifying their numbers, the shapes, the colors, how the numbers go together. And that is essential so when a child gets to first grade they are ready to do first grade work.”

Another Chicago Charter School with Clout? Why We’re Suspicious of the School Closing Process

“Anyone who’s spent any time around power, politics and clout in Chicago knows, however, that you don’t have to get caught breaking the rules to profit from your position in this city. And Jeannie Kim’s employment with CPS and her involvement with a group that’s planning on winning a contract from CPS to operate a school in a neighborhood with schools listed as “underutilized” raises many of the questions that typically come up when clout in Chicago is discussed. What are their motives? Who stands to profit? How does Kim’s employment in the CPS administration benefit Be the Change, and what connections and inside knowledge has she been sharing with this charter school? What edge do they have thanks to her involvement? And finally, what economic interest does Jeannie Kim have in the Be the Change charter school?”

Congressman Kimble Introduces Freedom to Commute Bill

“Opponents of transportation choice, say that such a program will take needed funding away from public transportation, making the system worse for those who will still be dependent on it because of age or infirmity.  There are no easy answers here.   Would you deny a commuter the right to better transportation simply because other people may be impacted by his decision?”

[Note: This seems to be satire on school vouchers]

Chicago Teachers Pension Fund Takes Unexpected Dip

“The fiscal cliff facing Chicago Public Schools got significantly larger today, with the release of a report disclosing that the cash-strapped system will have to come up with an extra $400 million next year — $70 million more than had been expected — to pay teacher pensions unless something changes.”