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Upcoming Events
Month of March
ISBE 21st CCLC Training
The Family and Community Pillars: Engaging Community Stakeholders
Friday, March 16
Community School Orientation
Bradley University, Peoria, IL
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Visit our calendar for the training description and to register
Tuesday, March 20
Common Core Training
Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
More info at right
Tuesday, March 27
Webinar: Bringing the Community to Schools
Hosted by edweek.org
1:00 p.m. CST / 2:00 p.m. EST
Illinois 21st CCLC 2012 Spring Conference Innovative Practices for Expanded Learning Hosted by ISBE and AIR Tinley Park Convention Center 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Community Schools National Forum Join community school and education reform practitioners and advocates at the 2012 Community Schools National Forum on May 9-12 in San Francisco. Watch this short video for a glimpse of what you can expect at the conference. |
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ATTENTION:
CPS Community School Agency Partners
Last week Chicago Public Schools (CPS) issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Community Schools Initiative. All current community school lead partner agencies and other partners MUST RESPOND to this RFQ in order to be eligible to continue serving as community school partners and provide services within CPS schools.
The deadline for submission is March 23, 2012 at 10 a.m. Download the RFQ here.
All questions should be directed to Nanzi Flores, Department of Procurement and Contracts, at (773)553-2273 or nflores@cps.k12.il.us. |
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Parent engagement up... along with health and human service needs
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Teachers, Parents and the Economy (2011), which examines the teaching profession and parent-school engagement, provides evidence that supports the pillars of community schools, namely family engagement and coordination of wrap-around health and social supports. 
Based on surveys of over 3000 parents, teachers, and students, the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher found that parent engagement has increased in the past 25 years, but remains a challenge for many schools. In schools that place a high value on parent engagement, parents report that schools are more collaborative, responsive, and flexible about meeting times with parents and also more readily share information and contact parents about learning issues. Notably, a higher level of parent engagement is also associated with higher job satisfaction among teachers.
The report also provides strong evidence for the holistic supports offered by community schools. In schools across all demographic areas, teachers report an increase in the number of students and families who have health and human service needs. Two-thirds of students and three-quarters of parents reported being stressed over money and job stability. According to the report, "at the same time teachers report a reduction in school budgets, programs, and services, students and their families report an increase in needs." We encourage you to read this report and look for ways that your work is reflected in its findings, and the ways that the information in this report can support your community schools' efforts.
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AFT President Randi Weingarten
discusses community schools
This weekend on his nationally syndicated show, Smiley & West, host Tavis Smiley spoke with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, about the effects of poverty on women and children. Weingarten spoke of the need for "multifaceted strategies" in education policy that mitigate poverty's impact on families. Referencing the community school work underway in Cincinnati, OH and Syracuse, NY, as well as the Harlem Children's Zone in NYC, she said "We know that we have to, in this growing globalized economy, have a very different level of education for not some kids - for all kids. But, we also know teachers can't do it alone. But when we actually have services wrap-around schools... health services, social services, afterschool services really help level the playing field for poor kids." Smiley spoke with Weingarten a week before he is scheduled to moderate an all-woman panel of forward thinking experts - including Weingarten - for "Made Visible: Women, Children & Poverty in America."
Listen to the entire interview with Randi Weingarten and watch a live stream of "Made Visible: Women, Children & Poverty in America", to be held at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, March 18. |
Community Schools Core Connections Workshop
March 20, 2012 from 9am - 12 noon
The Center for Urban Education at DePaul University is hosting their 4th and final in a series of workshops focused on aligning out of school time programming with the Common Core Learning Standards. At this session, participants will receive:
- Guides for art, culture, literacy, and science extended day learning activities aligned with Common Core standards
- "Blueprints" for fourth quarter units and performance assessments integrating reading / writing / art and emphasizing CRITICAL THINKING
- Parent Workshop Guides
Cost per participant is $25.00. For more information and to register download this Registration Form.
Location for this workshop:
Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL
Parking voucher will be provided.
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