Community Renewal Society

The Center for American Progress released a report recently, “Teacher Diversity Matters,”detailing the “teacher diversity gap” state-by-state.

The findings paint a sobering picture of minority under-representation, statewide, in the teaching profession: Just 54 percent of Illinois students are white, but 89 percent of teachers are. Read more »

Chicago Amplified has posted the audio and Power Point from the second forum in the 2011 Chicago School Policy Forum Series. Listen here to Christopher Koch, state schools superintendent; Daniel Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers; and Samuel Meisels, president of the Erikson Institute. If you missed Read more »

CPS' new point man on school actions faced an angry crowd of about 60 people at the first community hearing on proposed guidelines for school closings. Not only were many audience members opposed to school closings, they were also skeptical that Oliver Sicat, the chief portfolio officer, would have the power to make changes based on their feedback. Read more »

Catalyst Chicago and The Chicago Reporter has joined a new advertising network of 15 local websites funded with a $50,000 start-up grant from the Chicago Community Trust. 

The new venture, called the Chicago Independent Ad Network,  will help independent news outlets like the Reporter and Catalyst become more sustainable through advertising income. Read more »

Preschool and the primary grades lay an educational foundation for children’s schooling, but chronic absenteeism in the early grades can crack that foundation—and in CPS, 15 percent of children in preschool through 3rd grade missed a month or more of school in 2010. A new study will shed more light on the problem and point the way toward solutions. Read more »

Catalyst depends on readers like you to support its in-depth reporting and breaking-news analysis. Truly, every dollar counts! This year, every new or additional dollar counts twice. That’s because a donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has pledged to match every new or increased contribution up to a total of $35,000. That is just one of many reasons for you to join—today.

The Catalyst staff and editorial advisory board thank members whose terms are expiring and welcome their successors.

Those departing are Tim King, president and CEO, Urban Prep Academies for Young Men; Robert Lee, director, Chicago Teacher Education Pipeline, ISU; Dea Meyer, vice president, Civic Committee; and Maria Vargas, chair, Social Sciences and Early Childhood Department, St. Augustine College.

Their successors are: Brian Fabes, chief executive officer, Civic Consulting Alliance; Emily Krone, associate director for communications, Consortium on Chicago School Research; Lila Leff, chief partnership development officer, UMOJA Student Development Corporation; Stacy McAuliffe, chief operating officer, Illinois Network of Charter Schools; and Alfred Tatum, associate professor, University of Illinois at Chicago, and director, UIC Reading Clinic.

Watch Catalyst Chicago Founder and Publisher Linda Lenz discuss the Illinois school reform bill including longer school days, performance based teacher layoffs, and teacher tenure with Chicago Tonight's Phil Poncé. Read more »

Congratulations to the amazing reporters at Catalyst Chicago and The Chicago Reporter for their six Peter Lisagor Award wins. Read more »