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While New York city's public school system undergoes radical restructuring designed to empower individual schools, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) face major challenges in the coming months as it tackles pressing issues related to autonomy and accountability, according to the February edition of Catalyst magazine, an independent news magazine that documents, analyzes, and supports school-improvement efforts in Chicago's public schools.
The special edition of Catalyst focuses on how educators - and school districts - in Chicago are coming to terms with new ways to grant schools more independence and authority while also paying close attention to student achievement.
The issue is titled "Schools Set Free," and the front-page notes that "Beyond Charters, Chicago's version of school freedom pales in comparison to New York City's.
But CPS says it is moving in that direction."
For example, schools with more authority can benefit from extra funding and greater control over curriculum; meanwhile, they can also be graded, based on student performance.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, the district's Autonomous Management and Performance Schools initiative (AMPS) has not given schools "much more" freedom than regular schools - not yet, at least.
This fall, the district also wants to introduce per-pupil budgeting in AMPS schools, according to Pedro Martinez, Executive Finance Officer with CPS.
The district recruited The Big Picture Company, an education nonprofit based in Providence, RI, and opened schools Chicago's Bronzeville and Back of the Yards communities, based on the company's model.
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Posted on February 14, 2007 10:24 PM
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