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Elaine Chen

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Teacher shortage blamed as Illinois SAT scores fall, PARCC test scores flatten
FROM Chalkbeat Chicago
Teacher shortage blamed as Illinois SAT scores fall, PARCC test scores flatten

Fewer Illinois juniors met state standards on the SAT, while elementary and middle-school scores on the PARCC exam flatlined. State education officials blamed an acute teacher shortage.

By 
Cassie Walker Burke
and
Elaine Chen
 | September 12, 2018
Five Chicago student activists on why they will be in your face this summer
FROM Chalkbeat Chicago
Five Chicago student activists on why they will be in your face this summer

A Chicago peace march led by students is in the national spotlight. Chalkbeat Chicago sat down with five vocal youth to hear why they take action.

By 
Elaine Chen
 | June 15, 2018
What Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s decision to not seek re-election means for schools
FROM Chalkbeat Chicago
What Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s decision to not seek re-election means for schools

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s decision to drop his reelection bid has serious implications for several big public education initiatives in Chicago and for district leadership, from the membership of the appointed school board to the district’s handpicked CEO, Janice Jackson. Emanuel announced he’s not seeking a third

By 
Cassie Walker Burke
,
Elaine Chen
and
Steve Hendershot
 | September 4, 2018
What crowdfunding is telling us about the future of Chicago education
FROM Chalkbeat Chicago
What crowdfunding is telling us about the future of Chicago education

Using DonorsChoose.org, Chicago teachers have been financing not only basic supplies, but more and more, also cutting-edge and innovative projects.

By 
Elaine Chen
 | September 4, 2018
Chicago Schools’ background checks send many teachers into limbo just as school sets to open
FROM Chalkbeat Chicago
Chicago Schools’ background checks send many teachers into limbo just as school sets to open

The Chicago Teachers Union announced Friday that it has received dozens of phone calls in the past few days from anxious teachers who were notified that they have not cleared background checks and are not yet allowed to teach.

By 
Elaine Chen
 | August 31, 2018
Chicago schools start Tuesday, but 511 employees don’t have clearance yet
FROM Chalkbeat Chicago
Chicago schools start Tuesday, but 511 employees don’t have clearance yet

The majority of Chicago schools’ 43,000 employees have cleared background re-checks, the district said Sunday. Still, 266 employees have not been cleared, and 57 of those employees are teachers.

By 
Elaine Chen
 | September 2, 2018
What’s job No. 1 for a new principal? Three new Chicago chiefs say it’s building trust.
FROM Chalkbeat Chicago
What’s job No. 1 for a new principal? Three new Chicago chiefs say it’s building trust.

New principals have a lot to juggle. On top of overseeing staff and curriculum, many Chicago schools are dealing with budget cuts that are the result of decreasing enrollment. Principals also have more responsibility for monitoring volunteers and training staff in the wake of the sexual misconduct scandal.

By 
Elaine Chen
 | August 27, 2018
4 ways to give people of color more voice in Chicago schools
FROM Chalkbeat Chicago
4 ways to give people of color more voice in Chicago schools

Chalkbeat Chicago sat in on a racial equity summit hosted by non-profit Chicago United for Equity, the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and education non-profit Generation All.

By 
Elaine Chen
 | August 20, 2018
Leadership instability atop Chicago schools contributed to mishandling of student sex cases: report
FROM Chalkbeat Chicago
Leadership instability atop Chicago schools contributed to mishandling of student sex cases: report

Instability in leadership at Chicago schools — from a revolving door of chief executives to changes in network chiefs and principals — contributed to a gap in oversight that would have helped protect student victims of sexual abuse, according to a preliminary report released today.

By 
Cassie Walker Burke
and
Elaine Chen
 | August 17, 2018
How many students apply to Chicago’s most competitive high school programs? Search by school.
FROM Chalkbeat Chicago
How many students apply to Chicago’s most competitive high school programs? Search by school.

How many students ranked each public high school program among their top three choices for the 2018-2019 school year? Search the first-of-its-kind data, drawn from Chicago Public Schools' new high school application portal, GoCPS.

By 
Elaine Chen
and
Sam Park
 | August 16, 2018

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