Public forum on the new single application process for CPS high schools (GoCPS) on July 20

On Thursday July 20th, 6-7:30pm, at Juarez High School, Generation All, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Chicago Teachers Union and Raise Your Hand will hold a public forum on the new single application process for CPS high schools, GoCPS.   CPS approved the new application at the April Board of Education meeting: All students applying to high school must use single app process Selective Enrollment HSs are NOT included in single app, and charters may opt-in CPS does not yet know how many charters will participate Students will get one offer for high school admission (i.e. from non-SE schools) Neighborhood HS will still be “default” option An algorithm will be used to match students based on their top picks and available seats, but the details of this algorithm have yet to be released For more info, you can read Generation All’s issue brief on the single application here: Will a Single Application for High Schools Help Expand Equity in Chicago Public Schools? Questions? Send an email to: info@ilraiseyourhand.org

Enter contest to win school supplies for an entire school

Parents, teachers, and community members are all eligible to enter a contest to win school supplies for an entire school.

Applications must be postmarked by July 24. Winners will be announced on August 7.

This DNA Info story provides more information and links to the application:
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170628/downtown/want-win-school-supplies-for-every-kid-at-your-school-heres-how

This is a great way to support our neighborhood schools!

Next meeting of the HPKCAC to take place at Blackstone Library from 6-8pm on Wednesday, June 28

The next meeting of the HPKCAC will take place this Wednesday at Blackstone Library (4904 S. Lake Park Avenue) from 6pm-8pm. 

We will be talking more about the new single application for high schools. 

Everyone is welcome.

Programs at University of Chicago for middle school and high school students

Middle school and high school students may be interested in the following programs offered through the University of Chicago.

1) CoderSpace youth learn to code, collaborate on local client projects, and develop leadership skills for a digital world. There are still few seats still available for CoderSpace's 8-week Summer 2017 program. Free to high school students.  

To learn more, visit the website.

2) StoryArts Summer Camp is an affordable, full-day summer camp for Mid-South Side middle school students. At StoryArts, campers explore their personal and community narratives through different artistic mediums. The program runs from July 5 - July 28, and will take place at the University of Chicago. 


To learn more, visit the website.

3) University of Chicago Bridge Program
Take College Courses while you are in High School! The University of Chicago's College Bridge program is accepting applications for the 2017-2018 Academic Year. Accepted high school students will be able to take University of Chicago courses for free (including books). Note: the application requires letters of recommendation from HS teachers & counselors.

For More information and to Apply:  visit the website.

Professional Development Opportunities for CACs

Due to constraints on how CACs could spend Title I funds, CPS is making available some professional development opportunities for CACs. Hyde Park-Kenwood CAC folks can attend any of the workshops listed below.

THE PACKAGE: CAC Professional Development Circuit (SY_2016 - 2017)

Effectively Addressing Trauma

Effective Discipline

Engaging Families (HS)

Understanding Parental Engagement

Preparing for College_Parents

Helping Your Child Succeed_Comm

Participant CACs

Date

Date

Date

Date

Date

Date

Humboldt Pk (West)

7-10

8-14

Chicago Commons (1st training 12pm-3pm) Blocks Together (2nd training 12pm-3pm)

Austin

6-27

6-13

Michele Clark HS, 5101 W. Harrison (1st training 5pm-8pm) (2nd training 11am-2pm)

Englewood

6-22

8-3-17

Dyett Parent University (Trainings 5pm-8-pm)

South Shore

6-15

8-17

Dyett Parent University (Trainings 5pm-8-pm)

Thinking about the new CPS single application for high schools

At our May HPKCAC meeting, we talked about the new single application for CPS high schools.

Generation All has prepared an interesting research brief on the topic: http://www.generationallchicago.org/will-a-single-application-for-high-schools-help-expan-equity-in-chicago-public-schools/ 

This short video presents a few issues with the new application:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9GFbQdqysU 

The HPKCAC hopes to learn more about the new system through the community engagement component of the roll-out of the single application.

Next meeting of the HPKCAC on Wednesday, May 24 at Dyett HS from 6-8pm

The next meeting of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Action Council will take place on Wednesday, May 24 from 6-8pm at Dyett HS in Room 113. 

Topics for discussion include updates on HPKCAC's art and science support and further discussion of 'Read for a Day in Pre-K' event this fall. If you have a favorite picture book that you think would be appropriate for the CAC to purchase and distribute to Pre-K students, please bring it to the meeting.

We were unable to get a CPS representative to attend the meeting to answer questions about the new single application for high schools. For your information, below is an announcement from CPS on the new application. The website is now live: http://go.cps.edu/. We may have some additional information about the application at the May 24 meeting. If stakeholders would like to review the information and come to the meeting with specific questions, we could pass those questions on to CPS after the meeting.

Chicago Board of Education Approves ‘GoCPS’ Common Application for High School 

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Transformation of Application System Will Simplify Process and Create More Equity and Transparency for Families

                                                

CPS Office of CommunicationsPhone: 773-553-1620

CHICAGO – The Chicago Board of Education voted today to move toward GoCPS – a single streamlined application process for eighth grade students to evaluate available high school options and to be matched to the best possible school that fits their needs. 

 When launched, GoCPS will empower families with a one-stop hub for information on available options, as well as housing the application system to Chicago schools. With nearly 31,000 offers to high school students going unused, this process will also improve equity for disadvantaged students who face barriers in navigating the current process. 

“GoCPS will simplify the high school enrollment process and create a more equitable system to ensure that students have access to their best possible option for high school,” said Dr. Janice K. Jackson, Chief Education Officer. “Parents, counselors and community members have made it clear that this process needs to be simpler and more equitable, and we are taking action to provide the streamlined application system our families deserve.”

GoCPS will apply to all schools with admissions criteria, including District-operated schools and specialized schools like military and magnet schools, as well as participating charter schools. All students will always have the option to attend their neighborhood school, and selective enrollment options will exist in their own track, utilizing the current criteria and methodology for admission.

CPS is moving to a simplified application process because the current system is overly complex, with great variety in deadlines and requirements among schools and programs. Under the current system, some students receive multiple offers while others receive none, which leaves students, families and schools unable to properly plan and prepare for the upcoming school year.

As a result of this system, deserving students miss out on quality opportunities because offers were held open for too long, and many families are not able to identify the best possible option for their students because of the lack of visibility into options and application processes. CPS aims to address these problems in a significant way by moving to a system that uses a single application and a matching system to ensure every child receives an offer. 

Overview of Improvements:

To provide families with a system that is easier to manage and promotes greater equity, CPS will transition from a system of multiple offers to a Single Best Offer (SBO) System that maximizes the number of students who receive an offer to their best possible match, increasing efficiency and providing schools and families with more time to prepare for the upcoming school year. This evidenced-based SBO approach has seen great results in other large urban districts, like the New York City Department of Education:

• Before the reforms in NYC, 37 percent of students did not get an offer to any of the choices on their application.
• After implementing a SBO system, 11 percent of students did not get an offer to any of the choices on their application. Nothing changed that year about school capacity – the changes in operations removed numerous surplus offers from the system, creating greater opportunity for students.

GoCPS will simplify the high school application process and make it more accessible, equitable, and transparent to the benefit of students, families and schools. Benefits include:

• Families will be able to access school and program information in one comprehensive place to research school and program options and make informed decisions when ranking choices.
• Students will receive a single best offer to the highest ranked choice with an available seat that they are eligible to attend.
• Schools will be able to more effectively plan for the first day because they will know sooner which students have accepted an offer to enroll.

Implementation:

In order to implement GoCPS, The Board of Education has adopted the following changes today: 

• Added requirements for students applying for 9th grade seats outside of their attendance area to utilize the GoCPS platform to apply for district managed and participating charter high schools and program
• Established specified time frames to facilitate 9th grade student transfers and reduce the current churn of transfers.

CPS has worked with countless stakeholders to determine the best possible improvements for the high school application process. Schools and parents have overwhelmingly expressed that the system is too complicated and education experts from across the country have shared their insights and best practices while implementing a similar system. 

GoCPS will launch in fall 2017 for eighth graders applying for their freshman year in SY 2018-19. In coming weeks, CPS will share a new web site that will provide a portal into the universe of CPS high schools and programs. Next month, families can subscribe for updates, instructions, announcements and advance notifications before the enrollment period begins.