What Is CPS
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) the region’s first school was established in the early 1930s. Early schools were makeshift and rudimentary funds earmarked for public education reached only a fraction of the school-age population. Schoolhouses were adapted from existing structures and often served multiple functions.
When Chicago received it’s charter in 1837 volunteer examiners were appointed to oversee the schools, But funding remained meager. In 1845 an inspector reported schools housed temporary quarters, crowded, poorly equipped, and foul-smelling. Well calculated to create in the minds of children a disgust for the school room. Public school classes remained large, often conducted in poorly maintained rooms and inadequate items
What is CTF
Chicago Teachers Federation (CTF) was formed to advocate a uniform pay scale teacher pensions and better conditions in the public schools. It claimed thousands of members and became one of the most influential teachers organizations in the United States. Led for more than 30 years by Margaret Haley, the CTF was an advocate for improved school funding and teachers rights.
The union also successfully fought laws proposed by Cooley to create a separate track for students outside of long established high schools. The CTF was connected for a short time with organization labor before being attacked by the board of education under the leadership of Jacob Loeb.
What Is CTU
Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) started in 1937 when the competing teacher union formed a strong single group. CTU won recognition in 1966 as the official bargaining agent for Chicago teachers got it’s first contract in 1967.
In the following 10 years or more there were several strikes which improved both learning and working conditions for both students and teachers the advantages of the strikes got them limits on class size, preparation periods, money for classroom materials.
How It Got Better Over The Years
Graduated rates have went up to 77.5, increasing more than twice as fast. College entrance exam scores were at an all time high. Low income students at cps were faring better than other students in Chicagoland or downstate.
The report comes from a study from the university of Illinois at Chicago. Academic test scores on cps students are 25 percent higher than the average among large urban systems according to data from Stanford University
How School Leaders Impact Student Learning
Research shows school leadership is second only to teacher instruction. Teachers are the element of every academic success but great teachers don’t stay in buildings without supportive, transformational leaders. Chicago took this research and used it to better themselves by putting in high quality principles through initiatives and the development of the Chicago leadership collaborative.
The district identifies the highest performing leaders through smart, multi-indicator evaluations, including the Illinois performance standards for school leaders and school climate surveys called “My voice, My School” to provide actionable feedback based on research.
Data Research With University Researchers
Shortly after Bennett’s critique, the university of Chicago consortium on school research was created. Launching one of the nation’s first data partnership’s between higher education researchers and an urban school district. This partnership has come out with plenty of reports that provided CPS with guidance for the next 30 years.
A key insight for the reports are the importance of freshmen year and keeping them on track till they graduate high school. The network for college success provided training and resources to help schools use the data to greatest effect freshmen rates began to move then they began to skyrocket CPS achieved a 24 point increase in on rates.
By Demyer Anthony
Source
edpost:
Encyclopedia: Schools and Education
ctulocal: CTU History
Featured Image Courtesy of Mitchell Zappa’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Chris Josh Kalov’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
