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Chicago Teachers Union
Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
12:36pm
Wed Feb 6

CTU Pushes Back Against High-Stakes Standardized Testing With New Report

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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Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
5:29pm
Fri Dec 14, 2012

Hundreds Descend On The Magnificent Mile To Rally For A Higher Minimum Wage (VIDEO)

Hundreds of Chicagoans marched down the Magnificent Mile Thursday, chanting, carrying signs, and demanding a higher wage for downtown’s service industry and retail workers.

Part of the Workers Organizing Committee of Chicago’s “Fight For 15” campaign to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, the protest started with a 4 p.m. rally at Cityfront Plaza. As protesters chanted “we can’t survive on $8.25,” minimum wage employees spoke of economic hardships and community leaders spoke in support of raising wages for downtown’s food and retail employees.

“I have a step-child to look after, medical bills I can’t afford and student loans I have to pay off, but I’m not making enough money,” said Robert Wilson Jr., 25, a seven-year employee of the McDonald’s on Navy Pier. Wilson makes $8.35 per hour.

“We work hard for little pay and we deserve way more than what we’re getting,” he said.

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PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
5:53pm
Wed Dec 12, 2012
1 comment

CTU Holds Education Summit To Push Back Against School Closings, Charters

Education

Hundreds of Chicago Teachers Union members, public school parents and activists began a grassroots education movement Saturday in response to Chicago Public Schools plan to expand charters while closing neighborhood schools at the end of this academic year. Progress Illinois was there to learn more about the movement and their plans.

Quick Hit
by Aricka Flowers
4:09pm
Mon Nov 26, 2012

CPS Proposes Moratorium On School Closings After This Year, CTU Disagrees With Plan

Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett has proposed a five-year moratorium on school closings starting next school year.

The caveat? That state legislators approve a request to push back the announcement of the schools the district plans to close at the end of this academic year. The district, which should — by law — announce impending school closures by December 1, would like to push back the announcement to March 31, but needs the state legislature to approve the delay. 

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Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
7:34pm
Thu Nov 15, 2012

Emanuel Calendar Shows Mayor Holding On To National Profile

Through a public information request, the Chicago Tribune obtained Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s daily calendar between January and August of 2012. The Tribune’s focus on the hundreds of pages of documents is almost identical to the Chicago Reader, which did a two-part review of Emanuel’s public schedule between January and November of 2011. In a nutshell, the publications noted that Emanuel meets a lot with business leaders.

Emanuel’s ties with business are important given his policy record of ramming the Infrastructure Trust through city council in April, a nebulous effort to use private money for public projects, and expanding his own role as chairman of World Business Chicago, which coordinated the NATO summit in May.

But perusing through the calendar, available on the Tribune Web site, reveals other elements of Emanuel’s tenure including his national profile and approach to the Chicago Teachers Union labor dispute. Read more »