At the July 23 HPKCAC meeting the body approved the following statement, which has been submitted through channels to Dr. Janice Jackson, Chief of Network 9.
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Proposal regarding Area
Middle Grade Program support beginning SY2014-15
Approved at the July
23, 2014 HPK CAC meeting
To develop
specific requests related to the HPK CAC three-point plan’s priority re: the
middle school experience, the Strategic Planning Committee invited Heather
Patay, a middle grades expert from NEIU, to speak with the HPK CAC, met with
Network 9, gathered information, and conducted interviews with several area
principals regarding ideas for supporting and improving the middle grade
experience for all area students.
We request
Network 9, in consultation with OS4 and Central Office, to commit to sustainable
multi-year funding for:
1)
The necessary, promised supports to ease the
transitions for the three middle school populations that are affected by the
closing of Canter: grade 6 at Shoesmith, grades 6-8 at Ray, and grades 6-8 at
Bret Harte.
2)
A consultant who is not a CPS employee to help
area schools identify needs and develop stronger middle grade programs
addressing academic, social, and emotional growth.
3)
Coordination of vertical alignment between the
elementary and high school principals, staffs, and their programs in order to
smooth the transition from middle grades to high school and from 6th
to 7th grades (when a school change is involved).
4)
Social workers/counselors specifically to work
with middle grade students.
5)
Opportunities for all area middle grade students
and families to interact such as extracurricular neighborhood-wide programs,
after-school programs, parent education, etc. For example, math/robotics camp,
computer science workshops, summer theater, team sports, and seminars and
round-table discussions hosted by HPK schools and open to all.
