The following article was selected from the Internet Edition of the Chicago Tribune. To visit the site, point your browser to http://chicagotribune.com/. ----------- Chicago Tribune Article Forwarding---------------- Article forwarded by: Cayata Dixon Return e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Article URL: http://chicagotribune.com/news/metro/chicago/article/0,2669,ART-52200,FF.html ---Forwarded article---------------- Chicago charters showing progress By Ray Quintanilla Four years into the Chicago Public Schools' five-year experiment with charter schools, results on the latest Iowa Tests of Basic Skills show that more schools improved their reading scores than ever before. And the results couldn't have come at a better time for charter school proponents, considering schools chief Paul Vallas has voiced disappointment with the schools in recent weeks and even threatened to close one or more schoolsunless he saw academic progress. Preliminary Iowa test scores at the city's nine charters -- obtained by the Tribune and scheduled to be released Monday -- show the schools posted the most widespread improvement in reading since 1998. In all, seven schools saw an increase in the numbers of 3rd through 8th graders capable of reading at or above national norms. In math the results were mixed, with four of the nine schools posting improvement in the number of children at or above national norms. "I think we are beginning to see the positive results we had hoped for," Vallas said, noting the scores have prompted him to reconsider closing any charter schools this academic year. The 2001 results were so promising, the Board of Education may open the door for another two charter schools in the fall, Vallas said. "We have to give this more time," he said. Charter schools were created by the legislature in 1996 to foster creativity in the classroom by allowing teachers freedom without state and local restrictions. In all, the state has authorized creation of 45 charter schools, with Chicago, the suburbs and Downstate each getting 15. At the ACT Charter, 4319 W. Washington Blvd., 21.2 percent of pupils in grades 3 through 8 read at or above national norms, up from 16.8 a year ago. In math, 14.2 percent of pupils could do math problems at or above national norms, down from 16.8. Officials attribute the improvement in reading to a change in curriculum. Since fall, the school has required every pupil to take a 45-minute reading class. "It's an in-depth reading period where everyone is helped," said Michelle Smith, the school's co-principal. "Kids are grouped by their abilities, and given materials that are suitable for them. It's expected that everyone can improve, and they are improving." Still, the school's math scores were less than stellar, she said. But, Smith added, the number of pupils scoring far below national norms has begun to decline. Only the Young Woman's Leadership Charter School, one of two charter schools that opened in the fall, had more than half its pupils reading at grade level. In mathematics, only the Chicago International Charter at Bucktown could boast such an accomplishment. To some school reform advocates, this suggests the city's experiment with charters has been overblown. These schools still have not shown they can perform much better than regular neighborhood schools, said Julie Woestehoff, executive director of Parents United for Responsible Education. "What do students and parent really get?" she said. "For one thing, none of these schools has a local school council, which give parents a voice in how the schools are run." Chicago Teachers Union officials argue that charter school test scores should be higher, considering the schools have lower student-teacher ratios. "If you cut down the number of kids in neighborhood school classrooms, you would see test results improving there as well," said Jackie Gallagher, a CTU spokeswoman. Iowa scores were unavailable for the ACORN Charter School or the Youth Connections Charter School. ---------------------------------------------------- This is the CPS Mathematics Teacher Discussion List. To unsubscribe, send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For more information: <http://home.sprintmail.com/~mikelach/subscribe.html>. To search the archives: <http://www.mail-archive.com/science%40lists.csi.cps.k12.il.us/>
