Fed logo

A weekly update of Federation news and events

 
May 24, 2012
In This Issue
American Teacher Highlights Community Schools
Oppose State Budget Cuts
US House Examines Parent Engagement Efforts
SAVE the DATE
- October 19, 2012 -  Chicago, IL 

 

 8th Annual Illinois Community Schools Forum
Creating a Community Vision for Our Children's Success

 

Our annual Forum supports community school development by gathering stakeholders to share creative approaches to organizing systems and resources to support student and family success.   

 

*****

Now accepting 

workshop proposals! 

The Federation is looking for community school practitioners, educators, and those whose work supports the implementation of high quality community schools to share their expertise at the Forum.

 

Potential workshop topics include:

  • Maximizing data
  • Linking to classroom learning
  • Parent, family & community engagement strategies
  • Advisory board planning and development
  • Building buy-in with teachers and school administrators 
  • Health and wellness efforts
  • Leveraging resources and sustainability planning
  • Linking to early childhood and/ or higher education
  • Youth development
  • Affecting systemic change


Workshop Proposals  due by Friday, June 28.  

Discounted registration rates available for workshop presenters.   

 

***** 

 

Contact Havilah Darnieder with any questions about the Community Schools Forum 


Quick Links

 

 

 

American Teacher Highlights Positive Outcomes of Community Schools 

  

The cover story of the May/June 2012 edition of American Teacher, a publication of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), is dedicated to community schools and the ways in which they give teachers the support they need to help students excel. Again and again teachers working within community schools credit the strategy, which coordinates partners and resources to meet students' academic, enrichment, social, and health needs, with enabling them to focus on teaching.  As the article puts it "it's hard to get there [academic success] if the student is hungry, worried over conflict at home, or otherwise preoccupied with personal issues."  The American Teacher does not just rely on anecdotal support for the community school model.  The article also cites research from community school initiatives around the country which attribute like improved attendance and academic achievement, higher graduation rates, increased family engagement, and healthier students to implementation of the community school model.  Read Community Schools: A pathway to student success to learn how community schools provide a framework for enabling schools, communities, and families to work together to support students and their teachers   

 

Additionally, in July the AFT will hold its annual Summer Academy which will feature a course focused on providing teachers and community partners alike with an understanding of their role in community schools, and the ways in which family, community and school partnerships support student learning.  Visit the AFT TEACH Academy website to learn more about the Summer Academy and other professional development opportunities available through the AFT.    

Take Action -- Oppose State Budget Cuts

 

As the General Assembly moves toward finalizing the state budget, it is very important that we reach out to our senators and representatives to oppose drastic cuts to programs and services critical to our schools and communities. Illinois Partners for Human Service is finding that the message of "How can you close facilities and reduce Medicaid without having an option for people in need?" is resonating. However, there is talk that the House is considering an additional 5% cut on top of Gov. Quinn's proposal. (To see the cuts as proposed by the Governor without the additional proposed cuts from the House see the  budget fact sheet.)  A cut to Teen REACH is still on the table as is shortening the lifetime limit for TANF to 36 months instead of 60.

 

It is not too late to affect the outcome of the FY13 budget. We ask that each of you make at least 1 phone call to your senators or representatives between now and next Wednesday, May 30. Your call should be to share what will happen to clients, families, and communities if there are cuts to critical human services funding. If there are specific budget lines that fund your programs, please be as specific as possible.

 

If you have questions, please contact Jennifer Doeren at 312-629-4994 or [email protected]. We would also appreciate if you can share any feedback you receive on your calls.

US House Examines Parent Engagement Efforts 

 

On May 16, the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Workforce Committee (Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education) held a hearing to examine state and local efforts to increase parental engagement.  Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), chair of the subcommittee, noted in his opening statement: "We know increased parental engagement leads to higher grade point averages, better attendance, improved behavior and social skills, and a stronger interest in more challenging academic programs."  Among those offering testimony were the PTA and the Connecticut Parents Union. Visit the Committee's webpage to view the archived webcast and access testimony. 

Call for Peer Reviewers for FY 2012 Promise Neighborhoods Competition 

 

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII), is seeking individuals to serve as peer reviewers for the FY 2012 Promise Neighborhoods planning and implementation grant competitions. Promise Neighborhoods is a competitive grant program that supports cradle-to-career services designed to improve educational and developmental outcomes for students in distressed urban and rural neighborhoods.  The selected reviewers should have expertise in at least one of the following areas: education reform, community and youth development, strategy and policy, and grant application review. The selected reviewers may have expertise in various geographies, including rural and tribal communities. For complete information on the peer reviewer application process download the FY2012 Call for Peer Reviewers. The deadline for peer reviewer applications is Friday, June 8, 2012.