The University of Chicago Urban Education Institute

Chicago Public Schools kicked off the school year through a heatwave that brought some of the hottest days of the year. From funding challenges to learning recovery, here is WBEZ's round-up on what to keep an eye on.
https://ow.ly/teKu50TcCxX

Rising temperatures are making it more difficult for students to learn in the classroom. The effect extreme heat is having on schools and childcare is starting to get the attention of policymakers and researchers. Read more in The Hechinger Report

As climate changes fuels hotter temperatures, kids are learning less - The Hechinger Report Rising temperatures mean dehydrated, exhausted kids, but some policy makers are starting to take notice.

Illinois has become the fifth state in the nation to prohibit corporal punishment in all schools. Already prohibited in the state's public schools 30 years ago, the ban now extends to private schools as well. Read more in AP
https://ow.ly/Q9Fy50T9pQk

Join The University of Chicago To&Through Project and BUILD Chicago for an interactive data collaborative on Sept. 24 at 2 PM CT. Attendees will learn about how BUILD used games to center perspectives and gain buy-in from program staff and try out this game-based approach in real-time.
https://ow.ly/oxVs50T8iAr

Regular attendance in middle school is one of the strongest predictors of success in high school and beyond. In this article, The University of Chicago To&Through Project's Manager of Coaching and Improvement, Jennifer Ciok talks about how to understand and combat chronic absenteeism.
https://ascd.org/el/articles/the-middle-matters

The 2024-2025 school year is well underway and will be one for the history books. From budget challenges to its first school board elections, here are five new issues that Chalkbeat Chicago is watching this year.

Chicago Public Schools students go back to class on Monday, Aug. 26 Here are five education issues we’re watching this school year. What else do you think we should be covering?

RSVP for The University of Chicago To&Through Project's September Data Collaborative with BUILD Chicago Dave Koch will present on two games which helped center the perspective and gain the buy-in of program staff while developing and implementing a new logic model.
https://ow.ly/NGa650T3Hyw

CPS officials are looking into creating a transportation hub program, where general education students could go to a school near their home to catch a bus to their assigned school and be dropped back off there. Learn more in WBEZ
https://ow.ly/4ft850T3Hxq

Charter school officials and families are pressing the Chicago Board of Education for more clarity as the district is poised to shift away from school choice in its incoming strategic plan. Read more in Chalkbeat Chicago
https://ow.ly/6wPu50T3j3P

Next year's FAFSA will require students to apply through a new process. The updated form rollout will be in phases this fall and be made available to all students on or before December 1. Read more in Chicago Tribune
https://ow.ly/AblH50T2kYb

Wealth in Chicago’s Black and brown communities was eroded intentionally by discriminatory policies and linked with education, health, and other social determinants, according to a study from Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy and The Chicago Community Trust Read more in Chicago Tribune
https://ow.ly/f0b250SYeM6

Running a successful campaign is becoming harder for parents and community members in Chicago's school board elections. Some have found it difficult to navigate petition challenges, fundraising, and balancing their day jobs. Read more in Chalkbeat Chicago
https://ow.ly/fmbE50SYeHX

How can you use The University of Chicago To&Through Project's Learning Cases to develop learning opportunities for educators? By sparking discussion around common challenges, these cases help educators collaborate around adaptive challenges and apply learnings to their own practice.
https://toandthrough.uchicago.edu/learning-cases

Hosted by Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago check out this free two-hour interactive professional development workshop on August 20 meant to help prepare IL educators to include Asian American history, stories, and voices into the curriculum. Register here: https://ow.ly/9hqv50SWvaQ

How does Ingenuity tailor their data products for different stakeholders, inform strategy, and drive change within arts education in CPS? Join them and The University of Chicago To&Through Project for their Data Collaborative on August 20 at 2 PM CT to learn more.
https://ow.ly/A8Tp50SWuWg

Some Chicagoland schools are taking stricter measures to limit cell phone use in class, hoping they will limit class distractions, encourage students to be social during breaks, and curb cyberbullying. Learn more in WBEZ
https://ow.ly/7CPC50SSCvP

For the first time, Chicago voters will begin electing school board members this November. Chalkbeat Chicago unpacks why school boards exist, what they do, and what effective governance looks like.

As Chicago's school board shifts, how can it be effective? Former Chicago school board member Sendhil Revuluri explains how the school board works and what future members can do to ensure it is effective.

Join The University of Chicago To&Through Project and Ingenuity for their August 20th Data Collaborative at 2 PM CT! This webinar will showcase how they tailor data products for different stakeholders, informing strategy and driving change within arts education in CPS.
https://ow.ly/LGLZ50SSCto

Few people realize how many career and technical education programs CPS offers, says columnist Lashaunta Moore. She studied broadcast media as a teen and writes about how classes like these can be especially important in underserved communities in Chicago Sun-Times
https://ow.ly/TFRE50SRMX2

Many CPS students with disabilities receive additional support in the classroom, but affordable summer programs are few and far between. Learn about the challenges faced by parents of children with disabilities in Chalkbeat Chicago
https://ow.ly/oqRc50SRMWk

Join The University of Chicago To&Through Project and Ingenuity for their Data Collaborative on August 20 at 2 PM CT. Angela Lin and Christine Ng will present on Ingenuity’s data products tailored for different stakeholders, informing strategy and advancing arts education in CPS.
https://ow.ly/epU550SOSgh

Encouraging good attendance has a strong return on investment in the long run. A UChicago Consortium study found that low-income children who attend preschool regularly benefit more than their high-income classmates. Read more in Illinois Times
https://ow.ly/Ufbg50SOScp

We're excited to welcome Dominique McKoy as The University of Chicago To&Through Project's new Executive Director this week! He has spent the past 6 years filling many critical roles steering everything from strategy, team culture, and equity, to communications, engagement, and qualitative data and research.

CPS's Board of Education unanimously voted to pass its 9.9 billion spending plan for the 2024-25 school year last Thursday. Read more in Chicago Tribune
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/07/25/cps-passes-budget/

CPS has officially eliminated school resource officers in favor of holistic safety strategies. A UChicago Consortium study found that eliminating SROs did not increase disciplinary issues or make students and staff feel less safe. Read more in .

No More Police in CPS Schools as Chicago Education Officials Approve New Safety Plans The Chicago Board of Education unanimously approved a new whole school safety plan, which brings to an end the use of school resource officers (SROs) inside district buildings following a yearslong review of CPS safety protocols and procedures.

How can The University of Chicago To&Through Project's Learning Cases create learning opportunities for educators? These cases foster discussion around the topics presented and create opportunities to collaborate around adaptive challenges and apply learnings to their own practice.
https://toandthrough.uchicago.edu/learning-cases

Some schools are taking stricter measures to limit cell phone use in class to help curb classroom distractions and cyberbullying. Learn about what Chicago area schools are doing in WBEZ
https://ow.ly/m9pm50SJOZf

How will Chicago's school board elections shape local education? Come out to this July forum on Chicago's Elected School Board featuring The University of Chicago To&Through Project's Deputy Director, Dominique McKoy.
https://ow.ly/BIJa50SIQiv

Chicago's 2024 school board candidates have raised over $400,000 collectively. Learn who is running and how campaign finance works in local elections in Chalkbeat Chicago
https://ow.ly/cszF50SHTES

"In November, let’s show the country that Chicagoans will show up for our public schools." For the first time, Chicagoans will have a say in who represents them on the city's school board. Read more in Chicago Sun-Times about the importance of voting this cycle.

This fall's school board election should matter to every Chicagoan: It's time now to start paying attention When school systems are effective, they have a powerful role in shaping cities for the better. In November, Chicagoans have a chance to show up for our public schools.