At-Risk
and Dropout Youth Advocacy
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
the 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.
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.
Additional
Available Documents:
- Guide
Information Sheet: This
document provides the history and background on the Community
Coalition on the Dropout Crisis and the reenrollment guide.
.
- Guide
to Reenroll: This document is a guide for parent to retain
or reenroll their child in a Chicago Public School.
- Guia
para Re-matricular: Este
documento es un guia para padres que quieren re-matricular
sus hijos/as en las escuelas públicas de
Chicago. .
- 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.
.
- 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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may click
here to contact us via email, or phone (312-432-1300 ext113)
or fax (312-432-1051). Please include your name and contact information
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