Strikingly, CPS determines its investigative needs, by what seems like a show of hands. Investigations were conducted by a patchwork of both school-level personnel and District personnel without any District-wide coordination of efforts and results. This patchwork structure compromised the ability of students to learn in a safe educational environment. No processes, no policies. This hurts our children. Why would CPS Legal be compelled to investigate when it potentially increases the District's liability? This is the same District whose employees regularly push parents into mediation, due process or flat out tell parents to "sue us". And to that point, CPS's General Counsel admits there is no central process for investigation of complaints. "The District lacked written guidelines or procedures for school-based Title IX investigations, and District witnesses did not describe a consistent practice or approach. The District’s General Counsel acknowledged that no entity in the District’s central office, including the Law Department, supervised investigations into sexual harassment allegations that were handled at the school level..." How is it that the General Counsel's office sits at the top of CPS's organization chart, but doesn't implement basic needs for our students? At what point will CPS be overseen in full by outside agencies - it's becoming clearer day by day that CPS can't manage itself.
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 Looking at the Chicago Public School Leadership Organizational Chart, you'll see that CPS Attorneys are ABOVE Janice Jackson, the District's CEO. Is this how other Districts operate?In New York City, the largest school district, Legal is a service group under the Chief Operating Officer. In Los Angeles, the second largest school district, Legal reports to the Superintendent and to the Board of Education. In Miami-Dade, Legal is a service group spread out under Compliance and Human Capital, under the Superintendent. In Clark County Nevada, Legal is a service group under the Superintendent and on par with the other operating offices in the District. In Broward County, Legal is on par with the Superintendent's office with Broward County Community listed at the top of their organizational chart. This is because the Board of Education is elected. In Houston, Legal reports to the Superintendent. In Hillsborough, Florida, the Board of Education has its own attorney separate from the District and the District's General Counsel reports directly to the Superintendent. And in Hawaii, the Legal Department is underneath the Administrative Assistant Office, which then reports to the Superintendent.
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​Chicago Public Schools released its Capital Spending plans with its new budget but doesn't know its own numbers. From Walter Brezski, "Then, Rivera said it would take $600M to make all CPS schools fully accessible when asked by a board member. How does Rivera know this if he doesn't know how many schools are accessible? And, people wonder why Chicago children aren't being protected by CPS..."
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​According to the most recent CPS Accessibility Report in 2015, 42% of CPS schools aren't fully accessible/ADA compliant with 194 schools not accessible and 50 being first floor usable only.
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Board Member Breland asking Mr. Rivera questions about decision-making:
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Board Member Sotelo asking Mr. Rivera questions about ADA compliance:
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 | When Janice Jackson took to the radio with WBEZ, she discussed the upcoming expenditures on accessibility - about $10.5 million slated in the upcoming CPS budget. Chalkbeat covered the lack of accessibility in CPS schools. The expenditure does not go far enough, as one parent writes to the Chicago Tribune. CPS disabilities access is shameful Listening to Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson on WBEZ’s “The Morning Shift” was heartbreaking. Advocates for people with disabilities were stunned when Jackson proudly proclaimed that she is working hard to get children with disabilities access to first floors in schools. Does she realize we aren’t in the 1919 school year, but the 2019 school year? It’s unacceptable that children with disabilities do not have access to entire schools. Luckily for Jackson, she isn’t physically disabled. But if she were, how would she feel if, every day, she couldn’t leave the first floor at CPS headquarters? What about educators with disabilities? They can teach only on the first floor? Vendors with disabilities have to be turned away? Parents with disabilities? They can’t see their child perform in a second-floor auditorium? Jackson goes on and on about equity in CPS. But she appears to be only interested in race equity. Equity is also accessibility, no matter your race. Every other government agency from the CTA to City Hall to the post office is accessible. It’s unacceptable that schools aren’t. — Nancy Curran, Chicago |
 | Redwood Literacy is looking for schools to partner with them on dyslexia training for teachers and implementing proven interventions. As research suggests, early intervention is important for students with dyslexia. Redwood wants to work with Chicago area teachers to improve outcomes for students with dyslexia while building a partnership through training. Check out the opportunity - maybe your school would like to partner! |
 | Thanks to Walter Brzeski for sharing his up-to-date from June 2019 accessibility information from Chicago Public Schools (which he received in a FOIA request). While some CPS schools are completely accessible, some are first floor only accessible. Unfortunately, not all Chicago Public Schools buildings are accessible. CPS uses designations - usable, first floor usable and not accessible. |
The American with Disabilities Act general requires that school facilities built after 1992 (and renovated after 1992) be accessible. One way to make CPS buildings accessible is if, upon a request, a person with a disability requests that a class that is offered on the 2nd floor be offered on the 1st floor.
Read after the jump if your school is accessible.
Read after the jump if your school is accessible.
The Court ruled on May 23, 2019. There are only a few open issues now.
Read the ruling here >>>
The issue of pay and when the suspension starts will be orally argued on May 31, 2019.
The Judge seemed not very impressed with either sides' legal work but did a great deal of her own legal work on this case.
Read the ruling here >>>
- The Judge ruled that the LSC lacked standing in this lawsuit. Therefore, all LSC members were removed from the lawsuit *with* prejudice.
- Counts 1 and 2 dismissed as moot.
- "Plaintiff's argument smacks of bad faith." pp. 21
- Count 3 stands. The Board can now answer this Count. This one deals with whistle-blowing.
- Mr. Beyer may wish to try and re-file a Count 7.
The issue of pay and when the suspension starts will be orally argued on May 31, 2019.
The Judge seemed not very impressed with either sides' legal work but did a great deal of her own legal work on this case.
Jackie Ross, an attorney in Equip for Equality's Special Education Rights Clinic, will present parents with tools and knowledge to advocate more effectively for their children's school-based needs. Jackie will also advise parents on their options to formally challenge the school district when parents and schools reach an impasse.
Come prepared: Read more about the Special Education Rights Clinic here to get a head start on this important presentation.
This training will take place Monday, May 20 at 6:00pm at:
Oriole Park Library
7454 W. Balmoral Avenue
Chicago IL 60656
Come prepared: Read more about the Special Education Rights Clinic here to get a head start on this important presentation.
This training will take place Monday, May 20 at 6:00pm at:
Oriole Park Library
7454 W. Balmoral Avenue
Chicago IL 60656
Join in for another informative workshop!
A group of parents and advocates writing about CPS.
Have an idea for a topic or want to contribute to the blog? Email Us >>>
Have an idea for a topic or want to contribute to the blog? Email Us >>>
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