CPS Releases Preliminary School Closure List Criteria

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Barbara Byrd-Bennett
Barbara Byrd-Bennett

"As a former teacher and principal, I know that our limited education resources are spread much too thin," said Barbara Byrd-Bennett, Chicago Public Schools, chief executive officer. "By combining schools that lack sufficient numbers of students, we can redirect our limited resources to give all of our children the quality education they need and deserve to succeed."

Byrd-Bennett is expected to trim the preliminary list, released last week, before unveiling a final one at the end of March.

Administrators, in the coming weeks, will determine which schools are saved amid a final round of community meetings to hear arguments from parents, teachers and community groups about why their schools should stay open.

The District faces a $1 billion deficit in the coming fiscal year, while nearly half of CPS' schools are underutilized, stretching resources thin and limiting the District's ability to provide students a well-rounded and high-quality education.

A set of criteria will help identify underutilized schools that will be combined with high-performing schools in order to free up resources.

Additionally, the safety and security of students continues to be an issue.

"I will not close any school where I don't have confidence that children will have a safe and smooth transition at welcoming schools next fall," said. Byrd-Bennett who promised to continue to engage parents, principals, faith and community leaders, the Chicago Police Department and her safety and security team before making any decisions on which underutilized schools may need to be closed.

Currently, the District has space for over 511,000 students, but only 403,000 are enrolled. Nearly 140 schools are more than half empty.

In response to the Commission on School Utilization's interim report, CPS announced it would not consider high schools and high-performing Level 1 schools. Today, based on additional community feedback and additional commission recommendations from their interim report, CPS will remove from potential closure those schools meeting the following criteria:

·High schools

·High performing, Level 1 schools

·Schools in the process of adding grades that are expected to reach efficient utilization based on enrollment trends

·Schools with greater than 600 students enrolled on 20th day of School Year 2012-13

·Schools with a utilization rate of at least 70% in School Year 2012-13

·Schools that have recently experienced a significant school action. This is defined as schools that have been a designated welcoming school in the last 3 years or were part of a co-location approved last year that went into effect this year

·Schools that are "on the rise" - defined as meeting one or both of the following:

A.Level 2 schools that have gained enrollment over the last 3 years

B.Any schools that are "sustainable and improving performance." These schools meet ALL of the following:

Greater than or equal to 300 students enrolled 20th day SY2012-13

Same or higher performance level for SY2011-12 as SY2010-11

ISAT composite meets / exceeds trend value that indicates increase in student proficiency

Students are performing at or above their peers in reading or math for each of the last 3 years

·Schools that are isolated from nearby neighborhood elementary schools

·Schools that are surrounded by schools that are at or near capacity and do not have space to welcome students

Byrd-Bennett urge all members of the community to participate in the next round of community meetings to continue providing feedback needed before presenting final recommendations to the Board of Education later in March.

The updated meeting schedule for this week is:

·Wednesday, February 27, 7 p.m.: Garfield-Humboldt Network, Mt. Vernon MB Church, 2622 W. Jackson.

·Thursday, February 28, 7 p.m.: Fullerton Network, Armitage Baptist Church, 2451 N. Kedzie.

·Saturday, March 2, 11 a.m.: Midway Network, Daley College, 7500 S. Pulaski Rd.

·Monday, March 4, 7 p.m.: Pilsen-Little Village Network; Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave.

To view the entire list and criteria, go to www.cps.edu/qualityschools.

By Deborah Bayliss

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