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 Communities
25 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 Process
Executive 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