$32 MILLION INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE WEST SIDE

Chicago Public Schools recently announced they will be investing $32 million dollars in expanding academic programming at 32 schools throughout the city over the next six years. Photo Credit: Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools recently announced they will be investing $32 million dollars in expanding academic programming at 32 schools throughout the city over the next six years. Photo Credit: Chicago Public Schools

$32 Million Investment In Public Schools Will Make An Impact On The West Side

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) recently announced that they will be investing $32 million across the district to expand educational programs at 32 different schools. This investment will impact nearly 17,000 students and will be the largest academic program expansion that CPS has ever implemented.

The investment will allow for brand new international baccalaureate (IB), science technology engineering and math (STEM), Adual language, world language, fine and performing arts, personalized learning, and gifted programs to be added to the curriculum at the 32 different schools that have been chosen for investment.

Because of this investment, Michele Clark High School in Austin will become the first IB high school on the west side.

The IB program focuses on international education and is designed to help students develop the knowledge, understanding, and skills that are needed to actively and responsibly participate in a changing world. The IB program is also a comprehensive college prep program, according to information from CPS.

“I’m excited because I got into education to help change lives and I feel like being here at Michelle Clark, and being awarded this new IB program, will give me an opportunity to do that and be more committed to making a change in these students’ lives which then will change the neighborhood and the community,” said Charles Anderson, principal at Michele Clark High School.

This investment by CPS is about expanding academic programs across the city and the school district was very intentional about creating IB and STEM neighborhoods where students can access advanced programming at a young age and be able to complete the course work in their own community without having to commute.

Making Michelle Clark an IB high school means that there is now an IB neighborhood on the westside with four elementary schools in the Austin community that offer IB programs. Up until now, those elementary students would have to eventually leave the neighborhood if they wanted to stay in the IB program through high school.

“For me, this is bigger than Michelle Clark,” said Anderson. “There are about four IB elementary schools in the Austin area and if those students wanted to continue on with the IB certification they had to leave Austin. They had to go to other communities to do it which sent a few messages like maybe our community wasn’t smart enough or if you want to pursue it, you have to go out of the neighborhood to learn more.”

Implementation of the new programs will take place over the next six years to make sure that each school is receiving adequate training and learning resources for their faculty and staff.

“I’m really grateful that CPS awarded us this opportunity because it means a lot to hear them say that they are investing,” said Anderson.

“It’s a mindset to think that if you want to be smarter you have to change where you live so I’m just really excited that they did this for us.”

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