Chicago Public SchoolsCommunity Planning Process

Mid-South Communities

Presentation for the MPC RoundtableFebruary 12, 2004

Topics covered today How CPS is supporting the Plan for

Transformation The Mid-South Planning Process

Why Now? The CHA Plan for Transformation will result in

dramatic shifts in the numbers and locations of families with school aged children.

All children living in Mid-South should have access to high quality neighborhood schools with a range of educational programs

Performance of existing schools is uneven

Our Challenge……to create a plan which is:

Bold Innovative Incorporates current CPS plans and activities Reflects the desires of the current and future

residents of the Mid-South communities

Opportunities Create portfolios of high-quality and varied

neighborhood schools Extend learning opportunities across the day,

calendar and generations; Build human capacity of principals, teachers,

parents, as well as the staff of community organizations;

Link resources, including public and private housing, schools, community-based organizations, foundation and corporate support

The Goal of the Planning Process Improve the schools to enhance the lives of all

Mid-South community residents. All families will be able to choose among high-

quality neighborhood schools for their children. To insure that every opportunity – both in

education and in life – is accessible to all of our children through the schoolhouse doors in Mid-South communities.

Create a process which can be replicated in other communities

Mid-South Communities 31st - 47th Street, Lake to Dan Ryan 3.3 square miles, 2,109 acres 3 Wards - 2nd, 3rd, 4th Communities:

North Kenwood Oakland Grand Boulevard Douglas

Mid-South Communities25 Schools

21 Elementary Schools 4 High Schools

Five of the 9 CHA planned mixed-income communities are within the project area 2,645 units of public housing planned 7,999 total units planned

Mid-South’s goals Build instructional capacity High quality teaching and leadership Expand choice within neighborhoods Strengthen existing high school programs Enhance accountability

Planning in Partnership with The residents of Mid-South communities The Chicago Public Schools The Chicago Housing Authority The Annenberg Institute for School Reform Members of the six working groups Bank One The MacArthur Foundation Chicago Community Trust

Structure of the Planning ProcessExecutive Committee

Community Forums

Implementation Committee

Support Staff at CPS and AISR

Six Working Groups

The Working Groups High-Performing Neighborhood Schools Strengthening Early Childhood Learning Building Human Capacity Linking Housing, Schools and Communities Extending Learning Opportunities Supporting Innovation

Examples of possible Big Ideas Big Idea: Create a coordinated system of

learning opportunities from infancy through year 8 of a child’s life that would work to guarantee that by age 8, all children would have the basic academic and social skills to thrive in school

An Implementation Strategy: Develop an integrated early childhood intake center located in Mid-South. A mom with a 6 month old, 2 year old and a 5 year old,

would go to the center to coordinate all daycare needs.

Possible big ideas cont. Big Idea: Every child should have the ability

to pursue learning opportunities outside of school which allows them to pursue areas of interest.

An Implementation Strategy: Music & dance classes, recreational programs, and many other after-school activities are offered within walking distance to every school in Mid-South.

Linking Housing Schools & Community Working Group Developers CHA senior staff Resident leadership Lenders Community organizations Universities Elected Officials Foundations

It’s the most challenging The group focuses mostly on schools

because its hard to make connections Examples of success on the same scale do

not exist Lack of research Historically, community development and

education communities do not meet and talk the same language

It’s complicated

Themes emerging from Linking Housing, Schools & Community Partnerships with significant institutions: Partners

need to be responsible for success Community organizing: Residents need to be

organized to demand and support quality schools Signature Programs: Schools need signature

programs with proven records of success (NKO, Field Museum, High Tech High)

Community centers: Schools should be hubs of community activity through extended hours, co-located facilities (e.g., library and social services located inside the school) etc.

Timeline: The Mid-South Planning Process Phase 1 – Developing Design Principles –

December 18, 2003 to March 18, 2004 Phase 2 – Drafting a Plan – March 19,

2004 to May 24, 2004 Phase 3 – Creating an implementation

strategy May 25, 2004 – January 2005

The completed plan… The Plan will not:

Include new school buildings Identify schools scheduled for closing

The Plan will: Build on good things already underway in

Mid-South Align with the CPS Education Plan Identify new academic programming and

ways to support learning in and out of school

The Completed Plan will also include recommendations on… How to use schools to their maximum capacity Ways central office can change policies and

procedures to support a new system Before and after school programs Early childhood programs High performing neighborhood schools Schools that should be clustered, including a mix

of specialties School models Sizes of schools

Plan implementation will include...

A process which involves parents, teachers, community partners, universities, and funders

Regular community updates The opening of some Mid-South schools in

the Fall 2005 for the residents of Mid-South A 5-year phased strategy