Dear Parents and Community Members,
As concerned parents we
ask that you call Mr. Brizard, Chicago Board of Education CEO, on
Tuesday, January 31, and urge him to immediately withdraw plans to close
6 schools and turn around 10 others. It will send a strong message if
CPS receives many calls on the same day. Also, please call each Tuesday--February 7, 14, and 21—prior
to the February 22 Board meeting when they will vote on the proposed
actions. Please forward this email to others, share on facebook, and
spread the word!
School closings and
turnarounds are harmful to children, their families, and their
communities. These 15-year old policies have failed. When schools are
closed students have to walk or be transported out of their
neighborhoods. This results in an increase in violence and disruption of
students' education. Students lose up to six months of academic
achievement for each school change. At turnaround schools
administrators and teachers are fired. This disrupts the continuity of
students’ relationships and academic instruction in a traumatic way. The
affected schools are in low-income African-American and Latino
communities. Would the mayor and Board members inflict these policies on their children?
Call Mr. Brizard at 773-553-1500. Parents, please identify your child’s school when you call.
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Tell him...
Mr.
Brizard, I urge you to immediately withdraw plans to close 6 schools and
turn around 10 others. Closing schools and turning them around did not
work in the past and will not work now. These 15-year old policies
increase violence, disrupt students' education, and have not led to
higher academic achievement. That students will attend better schools
has proven to be a false promise. CPS should make every neighborhood
school a great school.
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Closing schools and
turning them around blames teachers, administrators, students, and
families. But the root causes of the problems are (1) the effects of
racism and poverty (2) CPS’s refusal to invest sufficiently in high
poverty schools (3) policies like high stakes tests and large class
size.
Privatization
continues. CPS proposes that six of the 10 turnaround schools be run by
Academy for Urban School Leadership--a private corporation. AUSL's
record shows it has not improved schools, even as they have been paid
millions--at taxpayer expense. Chicago Board of Ed Chair David Vitale
and CPS Chief Administrative Officer Tim Cawley are former AUSL
employees. In whose interests do these public servants serve?
Please email us at parentsfourteachers@gmail.com to let us know CPS heard your voice. We’d like to keep track of how many calls they receive. Parents 4 Teachers is a new group of parents who have come together to stand up for teachers and defend public education.
Thank you very much,
Parents 4 Teachers
Defending Public Education
We are a gaggle of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with valuable info to work on. You have performed a formidable job and our whole community will probably be thankful to you.
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Thanks Mike. I called early and often.
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