Progress Illinois

A recent report from the University of Chicago revealed that after intervention in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), despite rising test scores, the student body and staff saw considerable changes in demographics, prompting the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) to further question the CPS model for education reform.

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“Some Valentine’s Day,” read the sign Angela Coleman, a Chicago Teachers Union delegate for George Washington Carver Primary School, held as she pleaded that her school not be shut down at last night’s Chicago Public Schools community hearing for the Lake Calumet Network.

Coleman and hundreds of other far South Side residents representing the 10 schools that remain on CPS’ latest list of possible school closures, which was released Wednesday, filled the bleachers of Olive Harvey College in attempts to save their schools.

Minutes before the meeting started, the feisty crowd, some holding signs reading “What would Ira Aldridge say?” (referring to the namesake of one of the schools) chanted in unison, “Take us off the list,” while stomping in the bleachers.

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As a part of the “Pencils Down” campaign against high-stakes testing in schools, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) released a position report yesterday afternoon discussing the history and advancement of the standardized testing movement, aiming to provide evidence against its effectiveness.

The report, titled “Debunking the Myths of Standardized Testing,” attempts to expose shortcomings in the high-stakes testing model. The CTU claims standardized testing contributes to a growing achievement gap, takes up valuable instruction time and negatively impacts student learning.

“Overreliance on standardized tests has led to reduced graduation rates among students of color, narrowed the curriculum in all subjects and grade levels and ill prepared our students for fulfilling the careers and civic engagement,” the report reads. “The reforms of the accountability era are harmful policies that lead to neither short-term successes nor long-term prosperity for students.”

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