Community Development

Once Chicago Public Schools were called the nations worst. Now, public officials and school administrators flock to Chicago to see how the public schools here can be applied to other troubled urban school systems that face similar challenges. Nowhere in Chicago does the challenge remain greater than in Bronzeville.

As a result of local school test scores and Chicago Public School system-mandated levels of achievement, 12 public schools in the Greater Grand Boulevard community are on probation or assigned for reconstitution. This means that the Chicago Public Schools leadership team has identified a need to concentrate energies on these schools to improve academic performance and achievement.

The removal of probationary or reconstitution status requires improved scores in state tests, and ongoing review, and change, as appropriate, of school administrative and instructional staff. The Chicago Public Schools have also mandated summer school sessions for those students performing below grade-level requirements.

As a leading component of this proposal, IIT will organize its resources and those of neighboring institutions to improve the schools' performance and to help maintain the gains achieved through school reform. IIT’s programs will increase student test scores, develop innovative enrichment programs and utilize creative teaching methodologies.

As specific school needs are identified through individual school improvement plans and the resultant resource needs are secured from IIT and/or its community partners, at least 25 percent of the schools in the target area that are now on probation will be removed from that condition within five years. Further, as a result of establishing a more positive learning environment, school attendance is projected to increase as will student achievement tests scores in reading and math.

Activity	IIT Partners	Community Partners
Bronzeville Educational Collaborative	Center for Community Development & Technology	De La Salle Institute Illinois College of Optometry Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority SouthSide Partnership Chicago Public Schools VanderCook College of Music
Volunteer Mentor and Tutor Program	Center for Community Development & Technology Student Organizations Office of Student Affairs	Selected Local Schools Chicago Public Schools
Facilities Use for Education, Recreational and Social Programming	Center for Community Development & Technology	Ada S. McKinley Center Selected Local Schools
Partners in Education	Center for Community Development & Technology Computer and Networking Services Distance Learning Office	Daniel Hale Williams School Chicago Public Schools A. Finkl & Sons
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)	Department of Biological, Physical and Chemical Sciences Center for Community Development & Technology	Selected Local Schools Chicago Public Schools Teachers Academy for Math and Science
Visualizing Learning to Improve Educational Outcomes	Institute of Psycology Department of Computer Science and Mathematics College of Law Institute of Design	Chicago Public Schools Selected Local Schools

Education