FOX Chicago News

Chicago - FOX Chicago has been focusing a lot of our reporting on public schools in recent months. With the crisis in education, teachers are often in the cross hairs. So FOX Chicago’s Robin Robinson accepted an invitation to get just a small taste of the most important job in the world.

Robinson spent two days at Amandla Charter School in Englewood, where she taught about journalism.

A little lesson in the “who, what, when where and whys,” of journalism. It's only possible because of the hard work of the real teacher: Hope Evans.

Robinson’s stint as guest instructor started by watching the way this english teacher handles a class full of energetic 5th graders ..

“It’s really important to do countdowns, they need to know how much time and if they're going to be held accountable,” Evans said. “If your head's down, or you're not paying attention or your eyes are glazed over, you're looking around the classroom, I know that you're not paying attention.”

Miss Evans is a second year corps member of Teach for America. TFA is an army of overachieving college graduates recruited from other fields to teach in the country's neediest areas.

“We take every student - some couldn’t write a sentence – and build them up from there,” Evans said. “It’s a long process, but we build them up bit by bit.”

Numbers at Amandla are up from just about 50 percent of students meeting state standards in the school's first year, to 70 percent last year.

The goal, for every student, is to go to college. These fifth graders are working on practice essays for college applications.

So they had the foundation for Robinson’s lesson, and homework.

“For the first time in 23 years, Chicago has a new mayor,” Robinson said. “That will be the hook. It can be short and to the point. Read it out loud to yourself, better yet, have somebody else read it out loud tonight.”

She returned the next day to find a room full of reporters

The students talked abou Oprah Winfrey’s last show, the Chicago Bulls comeback, Osama Bin Laden’s death, and of course, Mayor Emanuel, and his connection to President Obama.

Robinson said it was a great day in the classroom for her.

She said if these youngsters learned anything, its a tribute to those who spend every day keeping them straight.

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Students to learn how a good education will prepare them for careers later in life

On Saturday, May 14th, 2011, Amandla Charter School will be hosting its first ever Career Day from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The event is being sponsored by the Stanford University Alumni Association’s Beyond the Farm project.

Beyond the Farm is a program that is base on Stanford’s founding principles is "a desire to render the greatest possible service to mankind." Though these are Jane Stanford's words, generations of Stanford alumni, students and faculty have made these words their own—this commitment is what Beyond the Farm is all about. Beyond the Farm seeks to extend Stanford's spirit of service to communities around the world through the volunteer efforts of Stanford alumni, family and friends. With the dedication of every individual within the University's 200,000-strong alumni community, thousands of local causes can be supported and hundreds of global initiatives can be launched. Every day.

The event will allow 15 to 20 professionals the opportunity to share with Amandla students the importance of education in their chosen field and meet one-on-one or in small groups with students to discuss career opportunities. “Career” classrooms will be set-up in the areas of sciences, business, law, politics, public service, performing arts, teaching, etc. with each volunteer making 20 minutes presentations on their career. Students and their parents will rotate through each classroom, learning about different career opportunities. The event is open to all Amandla students and their families.

“It’s not about getting a student to choose a career right now but enlightening them as to what college and success beyond can look like in these fields,” explained David Nelson, project coordinator and a Stanford Alum.

For more information on this event, please contact Barbara Tieder at 773-535-7150, extension 102.

Annual Lobby Day event brings hundreds of charter supporters face-to-face with their legislators

On March 30th, 2011, Amandla Charter School joined the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) and a group of more than 600 students, teachers, school leaders, and education reformers to lobby at the Capital Building in Springfield, Illinois to advocate on behalf of the state’s public charter schools. The annual Lobby Day activities will focus on support for Senate Bill 79, which will improve charter school quality in Illinois and establish an alternative charter school authorizer.

“Lobby Day is a chance for supporters of public charter schools across the state to meet with their legislators to explain the impact public charter schools have made in their families and communities,” said Andrew Broy, President of INCS. “Our charter community takes school quality very seriously and we are working to ensure that as we expand the Illinois charter school sector we also ensure that school authorization focuses directly on quality schools.  This movement is about creating great public schools of choice and that is the message we carry to Springfield."

Parents, students, community members, teachers, and administrators from many of the state’s 116 current charter school campuses boarded buses from Chicago for the trip to Springfield to meet with their elected representatives.  Amandla Parent Denise Poore was among those who participated in the day. “As a parent, I wanted our legislators to know how important my child’s education is to his future”, Ms. Poore stated. She added “Public charter schools like Amandla provide the curriculum, structure and focus children need to be successful in school, college and beyond.”

During her time in Springfield, Ms. Poore and Barb Tieder, Director of Development and Communications for Amandla visited with our legislators to encourage their support of Senate Bill 79 and to support equal funding for public charter schools. As a result of those meetings, plans are being made for State Representative Andre Thapedi to visit Amandla and address the students.


Amandla Charter School is a free, open enrollment, college preparatory public charter school proudly serving Chicago students in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's Southside. Amandla is currently in its third year of operation, serving students in the 5th, 6th and 7th grades. Amandla will continue to expand until we are serving students from 5th grade through the end of high school. Amandla Charter School supports all students within a structured, disciplined, and engaging school environment, and provides a quality college preparatory public education to our students. For more information regarding Amandla Charter School, contact Barbara Tieder at 773-535-7150, extension 102.

This week Amandla Charter School received preliminary 2010 ISAT scores, showing huge gains compared to last year.
This year 70% of students achieved a score of meets or exceeds on the ISAT reading test, compared to 48% in 2009. Seventy two percent of students achieved a score of meets or exceeds on the math assessment, compared to 58% last year.
“We worked hard and now we have great test scores.” said 6th grader Isiah Campbell. “I feel great.”
At the beginning of the school year, Executive Director, Erin Ferguson, issued her students an ISAT challenge. If 70% of students scored in the meets or exceeds category, Ferguson agreed to shave her hair into a mohawk.
Preliminary scores were released to schools on Tuesday and that evening Ferguson took out her clippers.
“It may look silly, but I am very proud of this haircut and what it represents.” said Ferguson. “Our students and teachers worked very hard this year and accomplished a great deal. I can’t wait to see what they do next year.”

Alyssa in U of C:

"What we have been learning in math class is how to find probabilities, make graphs, and calculate mean, median, and mode. We've learned so much in the past two months. It is just fun to be back in school again."

Catherine in U of C:

"We are learning high-school level writing, and it's not as easy as you think. They are prepping us for college. This school might have a lot of rules but it's for the best!"

The Chicago Board of Education recently awarded a Building Excellent Schools Fellow with the last available charter for new schools opening in the city in 2008.

Amandla Charter School, founded by BES Fellow Erin Ferguson and other Chicago Public School teachers, is one of 14 schools approved by the Board for 2008 and four schools approved for 2009. Amandla will serve grades 5-12, with a college prep curriculum starting at the middle school level. The school will share space with Parker Elementary School and will begin accepting fifth-graders in 2008.

http://www.buildingexcellentschools.org/sp.cfm?

School for autistic children, U of C charter and elementary replicators among approved

The Chicago Board of Education approved 14 schools to open in the fall of 2008 and four schools to open in the fall of 2009 at yesterday’s board meeting.

Among the approved was the Hope Institute, serving K-8 children with autism and developmental disabilities, Disney II and Burroughs II, replicating the academic successes at Disney Magnet School and Burroughs Elementary, and a charter school that will be run by the University of Chicago and serve middle-grade students.

The schools were among 19 new school proposals recommended to the Board by Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Arne Duncan two weeks ago. One school, Community Services West, was deferred by the Board until its November meeting.

"We’re very excited about the truly unique, high-quality education opportunities these schools will give parents and children," said Chicago Board of Education President Rufus Williams. "We’ve always said that not every child learns the same way, and these schools are an excellent example of just how diverse great learning environments can be."

The 14 schools approved by the Board for 2008 are:

Virtual Opportunities Inside a School Environment (VOISE), a performance school that will serve grades 9-12. It will fully integrate technology into the classroom to provide students with enriched learning environments. VOISE will open fall of 2008 at Austin High School, 231 N Pine.

Noble Street Charter High School UIC, a charter school that will serve grades 9-12. It will have a college prep curriculum with an emphasis on careers in health and medical fields as part of its partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago. The school will open fall of 2008 on the near West Side near the UIC campus. The Noble Network of Charter Schools currently operates five schools throughout the city.

Noble Street Charter School Comer Campus, a charter school that will serve grades 9-12. It will have a college prep curriculum and have a partnership with Gary Comer Youth Center. The school will open fall of 2008 in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. The Noble Network of Charter Schools currently operates five schools throughout the city.

Amandla Charter School, a charter school that will serve grades 5-12, with a college prep curriculum starting at the middle school level. Founded by several CPS teachers, including a Building Excellent Schools Fellow, this school will share space with Parker Elementary, 6800 S. Stewart. The school will begin accepting fifth-graders in 2008.

Perspectives Chicago Lawn, a charter school that will serve grades 6-12. Its culture and curriculum will reflect the Perspectives philosophy, "A Disciplined Life." The school will open fall of 2008. Currently, Perspectives Charter School operates four charter schools across the city.

Perspectives Math and Science Academy, a charter school that will serve grades 6-12 and similarly reflect the Perspectives philosophy, "A Disciplined Life," with a math and science focus. The school, partnering with the Illinois Institute of Technology, will open fall of 2008 at 300 W. Pershing. Currently, Perspectives Charter School operates four charter schools across the city.

University of Chicago, a charter school that will serve grades 6-8, with a college prep curriculum and a mission to strengthen the community through research, leadership and service. The school will also serve as a professional development site for teachers, principals and support staff, and will open fall of 2008 at Woodson South Elementary, 4444 S. Evans. Currently, University of Chicago operates three charter school campuses across the city.

The Academy for Global Citizenship, a contract school serving grades K-8, will incorporate the curriculum of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program and focus on global citizenship. The school will open fall of 2008 at 4101 W 51st St.

LEARN Charter School West Garfield Park, a charter school that will serve grades K-8. Its curriculum will focus on preparing students to be contributing citizens of tomorrow in a safe, nurturing environment today. The school will open fall of 2008 at a yet to be determined location in West Garfield Park. Currently, LEARN operates an elementary charter school in North Lawndale.

Chicago International Charter School-Friesse, a charter school that will serve grades K-3. It will have an innovative and rigorous curriculum. The school will open fall of 2008 at 9535 S. Throop.

Disney II, a performance school that will serve grades K-8. Its curriculum will be modeled after Disney Magnet School, an elementary school located on the North Side, and will incorporate many of the same successful instructional practices. Disney II is one of two franchised elementary schools that will open fall of 2008 at a location yet to be determined.

Burroughs II, a performance school that will serve grades K-8. Its curriculum will be modeled after the curriculum at Burroughs Elementary, a neighborhood school on the Southwest Side, and incorporate many of the same successful instructional practices. Burroughs II is one of two franchised elementary schools that will open fall of 2008 at a location yet to be identified.

American Quality Schools (AQS) Plato Learning Academy, a contract school that will serve grades K-8. Its curriculum will incorporate a mission and belief that every child has the innate capacity to achieve success through high academic and personal standards, competent and caring faculty and staff, and involved and caring parents. AQS Plato will open fall 2008 in the Austin community.

Kwame Nkrumah Academy, a contract school that will serve grades K-5. The school takes its name from the first president of Ghana, Francis Nwia Nkrumah, considered the founder of the Pan-African movement. Its curriculum will be African-centered, and approach teaching and learning through the African concept "Ubuntu," which means, "I am because we are" and "my humanity is expressed through your humanity." The school will open fall of 2008 at 901 E. 95th St.

The four schools approved by the Board for 2009 are:

Air Force Academy, a performance school that will serve students in grades 9-12. It will have a rigorous college prep curriculum designed to prepare students for post-secondary education. The Air Force Academy will open fall of 2009 at a location yet to be identified.

Chicago High School for the Arts, a contract school that will serve students grades 9-12. A state of the art performing arts school with a comprehensive college prep curriculum, it will provide artistically gifted students with intensive pre-professional arts training. Chicago High School for the Arts will open fall of 2009 at a location yet to be identified.

LEARN Charter School North Lawndale II, a charter school that will serve grades K-8 with a curriculum similar to the other approved LEARN school. The school will open fall of 2009 at a yet to be determined location in North Lawndale.

Hope Institute, a contract school that will serve students in grades K-8 with autism and developmental disabilities. The Hope Institute for Children and Families, based in Springfield, will open fall of 2009 at a location yet to be determined.

Also, six schools were approved by the Board last November to open in fall of 2008:

UNO Charter School Network-Archer Heights Campus South will be one of two elementary school campuses at 4248 W 47th St. As with the North campus, the South campus also will offer effective direct instruction methods within a disciplined environment. The Archer Heights campus will open fall of 2008.

UNO Charter School Network-Archer Heights Campus North will be one of two elementary school campuses at 4248 W. 47th St. The school will offer effective direct instruction methods within a disciplined environment. The Archer Heights campus will open fall of 2008. UNO currently runs four charter campuses in Chicago and seeks to relieve overcrowding while generating community involvement.

UNO-Archer Heights Campus High School will be United Neighborhoods Organization’s (UNO) first school serving students in grades 9-12. UNO will combine its model of direct instruction within a disciplined environment with high academic expectations for its students. The Archer Heights campus will open fall 2008 at 4248 W. 47th Street.

ASPIRA Rosa Parks Communication and Technology High School will be an additional charter campus and serve grades 9-12, preparing students for technology-based jobs. The school will offer a 4-year college prep math and science curriculum within the areas of computer science, media arts, and communications. The school also will emphasize the social, cultural and political climate of the surrounding community. ASPIRA currently operates three campuses: a traditional high school, an alternative dropout recovery high school, and a middle school. The Rosa Parks campus will open fall of 2008 at 1856 N. LeClaire.

ASPIRA Trade Tech High School will be an additional charter campus serving grades 9-12 with a focus on specialized areas of the construction trades. It will also offer a 4-year math and science curriculum, and also emphasize the social, cultural, and political climate of the community. The Trade Tech campus is proposed for fall of 2008 at 4101 W. Ann Lurie Pl.

Henry Ford Power House Charter High School will serve grades 9-12 and feature a college prep curriculum, where students will engage in hands-on learning programs utilizing a wide range of local resources. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in structured, supervised internships with a variety of corporations throughout Chicago. Located at 931 S. Homan, the old Sears Powerhouse, the school will open fall of 2008 with 9th graders in the first year.

This past summer, CPS received 38 new school proposals submitted by teachers, community leaders, and local and national educators through the Renaissance 2010 Request for Proposals process. After an extensive review process involving parents, educators, elected officials, local and national experts, community leaders and CPS staff, Duncan chose 19 proposals to submit to the Board for approval.

Funding for the new schools comes in significant part from the Renaissance Schools Fund, a private partner to the Chicago Public Schools in fundraising, strategy and accountability for Renaissance 2010.

"Investments by Chicago’s business and civic communities are helping to bring successful school models to scale," said Phyllis Lockett, Chief Executive Officer of the Renaissance Schools Fund, which has raised more than $41 million in private funds for Renaissance 2010. "Many of the schools approved today will offer innovations, including a longer school day, more professional development for teachers, and programs that encourage active parental involvement—innovations we hope to see translated across the system."

Mayor Daley began Renaissance 2010 three years ago to create 100 new schools by 2010, replacing low-performing schools with new educational options in underserved communities and relieving school overcrowding in communities experiencing rapid growth.

Under Renaissance 2010, 18 new schools opened this fall, 15 new schools opened last fall, and 22 new schools opened in the fall of 2005, for a total of 55 schools. Also, three additional schools opened at Dodge, Williams and Terrell in 2003 and 2004 under the original pilot program that preceded the June 2004 start of Renaissance 2010.

The Chicago Public Schools is the nation’s third-largest school system. It includes more than 600 schools and about 409,000 students.