Community Action Alert

At-risk and Dropout Youth

Advocacy

The Community Coalition on the Dropout Crisis launches Parents’ Rights’ Campaign!

How to use this Guide - download reenrollment guide now!

This guide outlines the city-level and state-level amendments to the Attendance and Truancy policies in Chicago Public Schools. This document is a guide for parents to retain or reenroll their child in a Chicago Public School, a published resource to advocate on behalf of parents confronting barriers to reenrolling their child and reminds parents of the rights and responsibilities they and their children have in the Chicago education system.

History and Background

A report done by Greater West Town Project in 2003 revealed that over half of our Chicago Public School students were dropping out. “In 2001-2002, the dropout data covered in the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Year-End Report, Chicago’s dropout numbers rose to unprecedented levels: 17,404 students dropped out, representing a dropout rate of 17.59%. Another key finding of the report was the revelation that Chicago’s one-year dropout rate is a staggering four and a half times larger than the rest of the State.” – Download report now!

During November 2003, a group of organizations came together to address the severe dropout crisis in the Chicago Public Schools (this group is now called the Community Coalition on the Dropout Crisis - CCDC). Early 2004 the CCDC lead a dropout awareness campaign and with support from Senator Miguel del Valle was able to secure significant reforms to the policies affecting the At-risk and Dropout youth population. The impact at the State-level included the enactment of legislation sponsored by Senator Miguel del Valle known as the “Dropout Package.” The Dropout Package included policies on attendance and truancy, school accountability, and raised the compulsory attendance age to 17 years old. The local impact included the Chicago Public Schools’ amendment to the attendance and truancy policies. The attendance and truancy policies clarify the right to due process before the child is dropped, the right to reenroll if the student is able to graduate before they are 21 years old and the signing of the Consent to Withdraw form to dropout. – Download quick facts on the Dropout Package now!

What is the CCDC and who is involved?

The CCDC is a diverse, local education advocacy network of over 20 community-based organizations and community activists committed to serving at-risk youth through progressive policymaking and public accountability. CCDC sponsoring organizations include: Office of Senator Miguel del Valle, Near Northwest Neighborhood Network /Humboldt Park Empowerment Partnership, Instituto del Progresso Latino, ASPIRA of Illinois, Erie Neighborhood House, the Westside Health Authority, the Westside Ministers Coalition, Onward Neighborhood House, the Greater Englewood Community and Family Task Force, Uhlich Children Advantage Network (UCAN), Youth Connections Charter Schools (YCCS), Association House, Bethel New Life, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Mexican Museum of Cultural Art and History, Chicago ENLACE Partnership, and Greater West Town Project. The initial goals of the CCDC are: attendance policy reform, expanding options for re-enrolling students, and supporting and enhancing the quality of Chicago’s neighborhood open enrollment high schools (where most dropouts come from.)

Join The Effort! At-risk kids and dropout youth need our help now more than ever!

Greater West Town Project is a founding member of the "Community Coalition on the Dropout Crisis" (CCDC), an umbrella group of Chicago community organizations dedicated to addressing the severe dropout crisis in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

Let us know if you are interested in joining ongoing efforts to improve services for at-risk and dropout youth in Chicago. Email us at dropoutcrisis@gwtp.org or call us at 312-432-1300 ext 113.

Documents:

Guide Information Sheet: This document provides the history and background on the Community Coalition on the Dropout Crisis and the reenrollment guide. .*** NEW DOCUMENT ***
Guide to Reenroll: This document is a guide for parent to retain or reenroll their child in a Chicago Public School.*** NEW DOCUMENT ***
Guia para Re-matricular: Este documento es un guia para padres que quieren re-matricular sus hijos/as en las escuelas públicas de Chicago. .*** DOCUMENTO NUEVO ***
Due Process Sample Letters (RETAIN) or (REENROLL): This document is a sample letter for use by parents who are trying to retain or reenroll their Chicago Public School student. .*** NEW DOCUMENTS ***
Quick Facts on the Dropout Package Legislation: The Dropout Package included policies on attendance and truancy, school accountability, and raised the compulsory attendance age to 17 years old

Please Comment!
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