New Video for Community Schools Released
NCBG's partner in the Building Educational Success Together collaborative, the KnowledgWorks Foundation has just released a new video tool to assist you in identifying opportunities for you, your organization, and your community to create schools that are the centers of your community. To order a free copy or view the video and download the discussion guide, visit the American Architectural Foundation web site at www.archfoundation.org/aaf/aaf/News.15.htm

KnowledgeWorks Foundation’s 2005 National Search for Excellence
NCBG is a proud partner in KnowledgeWorks Foundation’s 2005 Schools as Centers of Community: A National Search for Excellence. Each year KnowledgeWorks Foundation and its partners search across the country for excellent schools that successfully model the growing trend to build schools as centers of community. The top selected school, chosen by a panel of national experts, receives the "Richard W. Riley Award for Excellence" and a $5,000 grant. The panel also selects several schools with innovative design elements and initiatives to be members of the "Schools as Centers of Community Honor Society" and be part of the National Search website. Submissions will be accepted from March 1 through June 24, 2005. For details, visit the National Search website www.nationalschoolsearch.org.

Homeless Children and Parents Go To Court To Challenge Chicago Public Schools’ Closings
Homeless children and parents, represented by the Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless are going to court to force the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to challenge CPS’ June 2004 school closings that violated promises made to protect them from being uprooted from their schools.

For more information about the case, visit the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless at http://www.chicagohomeless.org/projects/lawproject.htm.

CPS’ DESEGREGATION PLAN UPDATE: APPLY NOW!
As you recall, CPS was required by its Federal Desegregation Plan to provide slots to minority students in schools with high percentages of white students. CPS told the judge and the US Justice Department last year that there were no slots available for minority transfers for this school year. Prompted by NCBG’s design capacity data, CPS’ statements and evidence were challenged. As of Dec. 22nd, CPS identified 41 new slots. Coincidently, it was also revealed that other white students had transferred into many of these slots that were intended for minority students.

NCBG agrees that mobility and transferring should not create overcrowding conditions. However, we do believe that CPS could have done a better job to communicate that these slots were available to students of color. Instead, they kept very quiet and then allowed white students to fill these seats. NCBG and communities have been questioning CPS’ space utilization policies and practices for year. Hopefully, the desegregation plan the outcome will force CPS to finally develop a clear method for adequately assessing space and class size, a method that is applied fairly across schools in all neighborhoods.

How can you apply? If you want to transfer your student to one of these eligible schools and there is space available, you may apply. Students will be selected by a lottery. Visit CPS’ website (see below) to find out which schools and grades have available seats. Applications are due to CPS, postmarked no later than Friday, January 14th, 2005! If you apply and are accepted, your student will be begin his/her new class February 1st, 2005.

However, please note that while initially CPS was required to provide transportation to accommodate these student transfers, CPS will not provide transportation to these schools in this instance. If a bus route to the school already exists in or near your neighborhood, your child may ride that bus.

CPS’ website to learn more about transferring: http://www.cmp.cps.k12.il.us/mid_year_transfers.asp

Applications:
English http://www.cmp.cps.k12.il.us/application/OFK_Application_English_2005.pdf
Español http://www.cmp.cps.k12.il.us/application/OFK_Application_Spanish_2005.pdf

You may hand-deliver or mail the application to:
Chicago Public Schools
Office of Academic Enhancement
125 S. Clark St 9th floor
Chicago, IL 60603
(773) 553-2060

Renaissance 2010
CPS Will Announce Its New School Closing “Guidelines” Be on the look-out for CPS’ school closing guidelines. CPS is also expected to announce the next round of school closings this month under Renaissance 2010. NCBG will keep you posted. In the meantime, contact NCBG to find out how you can begin planning to enhance your school, before CPS shuts it down!

- Download NCBG’s critique of R2010.

NCBG has been working with West Town Leadership United to develop a Facilities Master Plan with parents, communities, and schools involved in the process – this process enables the schools and communities to be the change-agents and participants in envisioning what their school could and should look like given the community needs, demographic changes, and resources needed to provide higher quality educational opportunities and facilities for the children in West Town. This is a more inclusive and comprehensive model rather than CPS’ proposed R2010 theory for improving our schools. NCBG also has a school closing manual and alternative school closing policy that CPS should incorporate into the existing School Closing Policy because R2010 will require many schools to close.

City Council Education Committee
Mr. Duncan will be briefing the Education Committee on the Renaissance 2010 Policy on Monday, September 20^th.  Again, it is important that our elected officials hear a balanced perspective on the R2010 Plan.  You can sign up to speak upon arrival and up through public comment or you can just document your position towards Renaissance 2010.  Usually Mr. Duncan presents his plan to the Committee, the Education Committee and attending elected officials have an opportunity to raise questions, and then the floor is open to public testimony.  At this time of public testimony, CPS often excuses themselves.  Although there may be a time limit, of the few education meetings I’ve attended, the Committee was not as time stringent as CPS.  But again, to be safe, you should anticipate a 2-minute testimony and provide them with it in writing.

Monday, September 20^th Education Committee meeting @ 9 AM City Council (121 N. LaSalle, 2^nd Floor Council Chambers).

NCBG's Educational & Facilities Master Plan Will Be Unveiled Shortly!
School leaders and advocates have been working to develop a Master Planning framework that address education and facilities planning more fairly, equitably, and systematically. To find out more, attend our upcoming Schools Task Force meeting on January 12th.

Lawsuit Filed Against CPS on the 1st Day Back to School!
Legal Update:
Another hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, November 4th at 9:30 AM at the Daley Center, Room 2510. A show of support through attendance at the hearing is encouraged. It makes a big difference when the judge sees that parents and community leaders are concerned about the impacts school closings and mobility are having on our students.

The Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Public Schools yesterday for violating the rights of the homeless children during this past summer’s school closings The claim outlines that:

1. CPS has taken away the homeless children’s school of origin by closing schools;
2. CPS actually increased educational disruption of the students and failed to coordinate its plans with the families, principals, the CHA, and others involved with the students and families;
3. CPS has actually increased the mobility of the homeless students.

In a nutshell, the Coalition hopes to get CPS to study the impacts and affects that this forced mobility is having on the homeless children, include the involved parties and community in these plans, and develop a better plan for moving children and closing schools.

Not only is filing the legal claim a courageous step and victory for the homeless students affected by school closings, but the claim also serves as a framework to support and address what CPS should be doing for all children affected by school closings. Our Recommendations: Just as the Coalition recommends, NCBG would like to see CPS re-write its existing school closing policy to include a one-year warning and a real opportunity for those affected to work with CPS and other partners to develop an alternative strategy and/or plan for closing schools. This may even include taking the $100 million committed to R2010, and investing it in the schools. Furthermore, NCBG would like CPS to work with us and school reform groups and LSC allies to develop a real comprehensive School and Facilities Master Plan, which goes further than what the R2010 Plan proposes. NCBG and our local Commission have developed a draft Facilities Master Planning Framework of what a truly comprehensive plan would address.

- Read the text of the motion filed

- Facts about the challenge

Also, watch CAN TV tomorrow and learn more about the legal claim, school closings, and Renaissance 2010! Rene Heybach will be on CAN TV (Channel 21) on Friday at 4 PM, hosted by parent LSC, Eben Credit. Rene will talk about why she filed the legal claim and why CPS needs to change its ways when it comes to school mobility, school closings, and community participation and involvement in school closing decisions. You can also call in at (312) 738-1060 and ask questions on the concerns of homeless children, school closings, and Renaissance 2010!

NCBG provides advocacy tools, research, and organizing assistance to parents, Local School Councils (LSCs), and community based organizations in Chicago to help successfully organize and win capital improvements for their children's school and seek out more state and National school funds. Furthermore, NCBG’s Rebuilding Our Schools Task Force enables community leaders to support and work to improve local issues, while simultaneously providing citywide school capital policy recommendations to influence systemic changes necessary for improving schools across Chicago.

This website is designed to provide resources for parents, community leaders, educators, school district administrations, policymakers, and researchers concerning the importance of Rebuilding Our Schools From the Ground Up! Research and analyses are provided to help you better understand why facilities matter, familiarize yourself with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Capital Improvement Program (CIP), provide policy recommendations that community leaders are putting forth to improve schools citywide, and explore advocacy strategies to help you improve the conditions of your school facility

Find out Why Facilities Matter!