Yes, there are Challenges at CPS

Todays Chicago Sun Times Editorial entitled 'CPS Can Cheer, but Challenges Remain' is right on target. Yes, graduation rates are up as are ACT scores in addition to some other gains. Also, the rate of adding charter to the system has slowed considerably during the upcoming school year.

What is most troubling, at least to me, are two factors. Neighborhood schools took another hit on funding for the coming year. In addition to taking a massive drop in funding last year the traditional public schools will take another knock, losing an additional $67 million. This is at a time when individual principals at the various schools can barely find the funds to continue various programs, get substitute teachers and, yes, even find enough funding for simple things like supplies and toilet paper.

Related to the funding is a second issue. There are still simply too few professionals in the buildings to deal with the social and emotional woes that children bring to the classroom. Make no mistake about it, these are very critical concerns and have an enormous impact on the ability of students to learn let alone with simply trying to enable them to cope with the various issues and problems.

When one gets right down to it, unless these mental-health concerns are properly addressed then the advances will slow to a trickle.

Thanks,
Dick