Chicago

Chicago Public Schools

• Chicago Public Schools
  The official website of the Chicago Public Schools offers information for teachers, principals and administrators, parents, students and researchers. Available are procedural guides, budget information, school directories, curriculum standards, statistics, services, calendars, and news. The web site is divided as follows:
  • Student Zone: The web portal for CPS
  • Parents: Information and links for parents of CPS students
  • Community: Resources and Partnerships, Local School Councils, Learning Centers, etc.
  • Schools: School locator and directory, report cards, guides to CPS Charter, Magnet, Small, and Year-Round Schools
  • Instruction: Curriculum materials and support for CPS Teachers, including standards, lessons, library services, technology, continuing education, etc.
  • About CPS: Chicago Board of Education, Departments, Financial Information, etc.
• Renaisannce 2010
  The Chicago Public School's reform plan, managed by the Office of New Schools. Launched in 2004, Renaissance 2010 goal is to "increase the number of high quality educational options in communities across Chicago by 2010". In 2005, Chicago Public Schools opened the first "cohort" of Renaissance 2010 schools. 100 new schoolsa are planned by 2010.
• Chicago Teachers Union
  The Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1/AFT/IFT/AFL-CIO, is the primary union for Chicago Public School teachers.
  

Other Primary and Secondary Schools

• Chicago Archdiocese Office of Catholic Schools
  The Chicago Archdiocese manages 256 K-12 schools in Cook and Lake County, Illinois.
• Chicago Area Independent Schools
  Directories of independent, private K-12 schools in the city of Chicago and surrounding areas.
  

Colleges and Universities

• City Colleges of Chicago
  The City Colleges of Chicago is a system of seven community colleges in Chicago.
• Colleges and Universities: Illinois Board of Higher Education
  Provides a directory of colleges and universities in Chicago.

Other Educational Organizations

• Chicago Public Library
  The gateway to the collections and services of Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library, the Sulzer and Woodson Regional Libraries, and its other neighborhood libraries.
  
• Catalyst
  An independent new source created in 1990 to document, analyze and support school-improvement efforts in the Chicago Public Schools. It is published by the Community Renewal Society, a faith-based organization founded in 1882 that works to create racially and economically just communities in metropolitan Chicago.
• Urban Education Initiative (UEI) at the University of Chicago
  In 2004 the University launched the Urban Education Initiative (UEI) to 'produce the knowledge needed to improve urban schools and to develop a new paradigm for university involvement in PK-12 schooling'. The UEI consists of four components:
  • Center for Urban School Improvement (USI): The group which operates the University Charter School and directs training and development programs designed to improve urban schools.
  • Committee on Education (COE): An interdisciplinary commiteee of faculty members in the social and behavioral sciences who are pursuing questions of fundamental importance to education.
  • Consortium on Chicago Public School Research (CCSR): s nationally recognized for its research on the Chicago Public Schools.
  • Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP): a two-year MA program in Education that specializes in training students for work in urban, public schools.
    
• Chicago Education Alliance
  Founded in 1995, this began as a consortium of Chicago area universities dedicated to the improvement of K-16 education. The CEA now includes seven major universities (including the University of Chicago), the City Colleges of Chicago, the Chicago Public Schools, other education organizations, as well as community organizations and business representatives. Current projects include Chicago GEAR UP (see listing below), scholarships and awards, and professional development initiatives.
• Chicago GEAR UP Alliance
  GEAR UP is the acronym for the federally-supported program "Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs." The purpose is "to increase the number of students graduating and going on to post-secondary education by effecting positive whole-school, systemic change in Chicago public schools. The Alliance works with schools, teachers, students and parents in order to improve achievement levels, improve classroom instruction and increase awareness of the possibility of post-secondary education." The work is carried on by several different networks that operate in different areas of the city; the University of Chicago GEAR UP serves Dunbar High School, Price Elementary and Robinson Elementary.
• Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc.
  This is the public interest law consortium of Chicago's leading law firms and law schools. Each year more than 15,000 hours of donated professional legal services are directed to civil rights issues. The Committee enforces fair housing laws and works to preserve affordable housing, advocates for the rights and interests of poor children, works to improve the ability of Chicago's Public School system to meet the needs of its 89% minority student population, and represents victims of hate crimes.
• Literacy Chicago
  This non-profit organization is dedicated to improving the literacy skills of Chicago area adults and families. Literacy Chicago was created through the 1992 merger of Chicago's two largest literacy organizations: Literacy Council of Chicago (1968) and Literacy Volunteers of Chicago (1984). Today, Literacy Chicago is the largest provider of free, individualized adult literacy services in Illinois. The organization offers programs for adult basic education, GED preparation, adult and family literacy, workplace literacy, and English as a second language.