Committee on Education and Child Development meeting, May 21, 2024
- When: Tue, May 21, 2024, 10:30 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Education and Child Development
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928507/video/946753220
- Transcript: full text (16,748 words, official captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Education and Child Development held a subject matter hearing on the Alternative Schools Network and Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS), their programming, and budget needs. Public commenters, many of them current students, alumni, and staff of YCCS campuses, described their experiences with alternative schools. Leaders of the Alternative Schools Network and YCCS testified that enrollment has fallen from about 4,000 to 2,600 students, citing a CPS policy on referrals, and asked for greater flexibility, a different evaluation approach, and funding based on need. Members of the committee and non-members spoke in support of alternative schools and asked about disconnected youth data, school funding formulas, capacity, and a possible middle college in Englewood. The committee approved the March Rule 45 report; no other action was taken on the hearing topic.
Topics: alternative schools, Youth Connection Charter School, school enrollment, CPS referral policy, school funding, disconnected youth, youth employment, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 19:32 Subject matter hearing on the Alternative Schools Network, its programming, and budget needs: discussed
- 1:20:56 Approval of the March Rule 45 report: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Jeanette B. Taylor (chair): Said about 5,000 young people never returned after school closings and described her son's experience in an alternative school. (1:21:15); Said the committee needs to determine whether state law must change to address the rules affecting alternative schools. (1:22:06); Said many young people involved in the justice system are not in school and that the adults need to fix what they got wrong. (1:22:25)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said she is a graduate of a YCCS school and described being expelled from a traditional high school before finding a supportive environment there. (54:24); Said YCCS is not meant to compete with CPS but to serve students who did not benefit from traditional schools. (57:35); Outlined questions for the hearing on how many young people are out of school or unemployed and how that affects community safety. (58:33)
- Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Praised YCCS schools in her area and said traditional programs do not work for every child. (59:46); Said alternative schools are not in competition with CPS and that resources must be kept so children of color have these options. (1:01:22)
- Ruth Cruz (alderperson): Said her husband graduated from an alternative school and that such schools meet students where they are, and urged continued support. (1:02:19)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Said he has long supported these schools, described their graduations, and said they need more resources because they serve young people others give up on. (1:04:24)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Described his sister's success after attending a school for pregnant students and the Community Youth Development Institute in the 17th Ward. (1:24:35); Said he opposes traditional charter schools but supports these long-standing alternative schools and will pursue funding, including in Springfield. (1:26:48)
- William E. Hall (alderperson): Said alternative approaches are needed because difference in students should not be treated as deficiency. (1:29:24)
- Peter Chico (alderperson): Described working at a children's shelter where many youth attended alternative schools and said non-traditional routes are important. (1:31:14)
- Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Said as a former board member of an alternative school he saw the commitment of staff and students. (1:32:34); Asked how Chicago compares to other big cities on out-of-school, out-of-work youth. (1:33:43); Asked what the solution is to inequities in the per-pupil school funding formula. (1:36:35)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Praised the schools' adaptability and resilience and said funding is needed rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. (1:47:48); Asked how many students YCCS currently serves and what its capacity is. (1:49:01); Offered to join the trip to Springfield and called this an important issue for the women's caucus. (1:49:27)
- Chris Taliaferro (alderperson): Asked how long the network of schools has existed. (1:53:01); Suggested replacing the word 'alternative' with a name students can be proud of. (1:56:22)
- Stephanie D. Coleman (alderperson): Asked the YCCS director whether a middle college at Kennedy-King College had been considered. (1:57:47); Asked the chair and YCCS to work together to bring a middle college opportunity to the greater Englewood community. (2:00:26)
Exchanges between members
- 59:46 Alderperson Michelle A. Harris thanked the chair for the opportunity to speak.
- 1:01:22 Alderperson Michelle A. Harris echoed her colleague's point that alternative schools are not in competition with CPS.
- 1:03:50 Alderperson Ruth Cruz said her colleague's story speaks to the value of alternative schools.
- 1:04:24 Alderperson Walter R. Burnett thanked the chair before speaking in support of the schools.
- 1:06:49 The chair thanked Alderperson Walter R. Burnett.
- 1:23:46 Alderperson David H. Moore said he appreciated the chair's remarks about lived experience.
- 1:32:27 Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez thanked the chair for allowing him to speak as a non-member.
- 1:33:34 Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez pointed to Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes as an example for students.
- 1:47:44 Alderperson Nicole T. Lee thanked the chair.
- 1:49:27 Alderperson Nicole T. Lee asked to join the chair's planned trip to Springfield on alternative school funding.
- 1:52:06 Alderperson Chris Taliaferro thanked the chair.
- 1:57:47 Alderperson Stephanie D. Coleman thanked Chair Jeanette B. Taylor before her question.
- 2:00:26 Alderperson Stephanie D. Coleman publicly asked the chair and YCCS to work toward a middle college for Englewood.