Officials remind parents, students that 132 schools begin classes Aug. 10

An increasing number of elementary schools have been shifting to the year-round calendar over the past several years.

The 2009-10 school year for students at 132 Chicago Public Schools will begin in three weeks, top CPS officials reminded the city’s school community today.

Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott, Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman and Chief Education Officer Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins delivered the message during a press conference and back-to-school kickoff event at Brian Piccolo School, 1040 N. Keeler.

The top CPS officials were joined by 37th Ward Alderman Emma M. Mitts, and other civic and community leaders to emphasize the importance of back to school and first day attendance.

Piccolo is one of 91 CPS schools that will shift to the district’s year-round “Track E” calendar beginning with this school year.

“For the approximately 80,000-plus students who attend our year-round schools, now is the time to begin preparing for the upcoming school year,” Huberman said. “We’ve come to Piccolo today to remind families in our Track E communities about the importance of making sure their children are in school on Aug. 10, ready to engage in the serious business of learning.”

An increasing number of elementary schools have been shifting to the year-round calendar over the past several years. While CPS has had year-round schools for a while, the number of schools moving to the Track E calendar has increased from 18 two years ago to 41 last year to 132 this year. All of the Track E schools are elementary schools except for one.

“The mission of year-round schools is to improve student achievement by reconfiguring the school year to increase learning opportunities,” said Dr. Eason-Watkins “The traditional school calendar has a longer summer break. Students attending a year-round program have the same number of school attendance days but vacation is spread throughout the year into shorter, more frequent breaks.”

The benefits of the year-round schools include: eliminating summer learning loss for students; enhancing teachers’ time management and planning; providing better opportunities for remediation; and eliminating teacher burnout. Year-round schools also provide students with the safety and security of a school environment during the summer months.

Huberman also pointed to indications that students at year-round schools are making test score gains at a faster rate than those of the district as a whole. This year’s preliminary ISAT composite data show that students at Track E schools improved by 3.1 percent compared to a 2 percent gain for the district as a whole.

Further, the ISAT composite at Track E schools showed that the gap with the district as a whole has narrowed, from 10.1 percentage points in 2008 to 9 percentage points in 2009.

Individual schools petition the district for permission to move to a Track E calendar. The process begins at the local school level, with collaboration among the principal, teachers and larger school community.

“More of our educators and parents are coming to the conclusion that year-round school makes sense,” Huberman said.

“We must look for ways to advance learning, to increase student engagement and to promote learning retention. The year-round school learning concept is an important tool in accomplishing those goals,” he added.

Following the press conference Monday, CPS officials walked door-to-door in the Piccolo community, distributing backpacks with school supplies and fliers that emphasize the start date for year-round schools.

Students at existing and new year-round schools were given written notices prior to the end of the 2008-09 school year with information about the Aug. 10 resumption of classes. Additionally, school and district officials are distributing fliers and posters in Track E communities, and making personal visits to selected areas with year-round schools to remind families of the impending start date.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to have all student physical and immunization records complete for the first day of school but will have until the state-mandated date of Oct. 15 for full compliance.

Five year-round multitrack CPS schools began their academic year on July 6.

Chicago Public Schools serves about 408,000 students in more than 660 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school system.

It should be noted that none of the preliminary ISAT test score data contained in this press release includes Early Language Learning (ELL) scores.

About Chicago Public Schools

Chicago Public Schools serves approximately 407,000 students in 666 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.

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Monique Bond, 773-553-1620
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