This summer a dedicated group of students from around the city of Chicago gathered to answer the question:
For the past 8 weeks students have been gathering data and collecting research in order to create recommendations to present to Mayor Rahm Emmanuel on his new graduation requirement Learn. Plan. Succeed!
WHAT IS LEARN. PLAN. SUCCEED (LPS)?
Weinburg gallery
Our Mayoral Youth Commission reflected on the youth curated art pieces they saw at the Weinberg Gallery during their field trip today. They were truly inspired by the various platforms and materials used by the artists to speak out on social issues such as police violence, immigration stereotypes and the criminal justice system. Don’t forget to check out this amazing exhibit! It ends September 3rd!
Alan mather, head of office of college and career success at CPS
"We need to get this [Learn. Plan. Succeed] really articulated, you can never communicate enough, even in times that we think we have”
The biggest issue with the implementation of the plan is that there is a lack of counselors in CPS schools, the student to counselor ratio needs to be kept below 330:1 even though the recommended ratio is 250:1.
Schools didn’t believe that they were getting enough credit for getting students involved in other programs after high school besides college, which caused them a lower rating on School Quality Rating Policy.
“if we don't think that high school is the end all be all, the pinnacle. That would be the success”
"City colleges will be one of the most important resources for Learn. Plan. Succeed...it's that the whole curriculum at city colleges is organized around setting up a career plan” ~Chancellor of Chicago City colleges Juan Salgado
Chancellor Juan Salgado met with the Mayor’s Youth Council to emphasize the point that Chicago Public Schools and Chicago City Colleges need to be working in unison in order to provide a strong and open pathway for students post-graduation. Since college can be such an expensive option for families, knowing that city colleges is a more affordable and successful choice would help a plethora of students from across the city to get a college degree. In order for students to actually feel as though they can make the decision they need, resources needed to be provided for them. Juan Salgado is an advocate to ensure that students are not only provided with a degree, but a degree and skills that will prepare them for a specific job or trade that the student is interested in.
Dr. Eve Ewing
A SOCIOLOGIST OF EDUCATION, AS WELL POET AND ESSAYIST
As a graduate of Northside College Prep, Eve acknowledged the millions of dollars of funding that were being put into selective enrollment schools during her high school years, while conversely there was a hunger strike in Little Village as the community fought to just have a proper neighborhood high school.
“FOR EVERY PERSON LIKE ME THERE’S 1000 OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS, 1000 OTHER TEACHERS, 1000 OTHER STUDENTS THAT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.”
The “Learn. Plan. Succeed.” policy is only realistic for students with resources to make post-secondary plans and typically such resources are most easily available to non-minority students. Eve concluded that “they’re telling students to make a plan, without actually providing resources to make the plan.” There needs to be increased access to post-secondary resources for all CPS students in order for them to succeed.
“IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITIZEN IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY TO CARE ABOUT ALL CHILDREN, NOT JUST THE ONES WITH PRIVILEGE"
on august 8th, 2017 they presented their recommendations to the mayor
“YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO GO TO COLLEGE IF YOU’VE GOTTEN A LETTER, MORE LIKELY TO GO TO THE ARMY IF YOU’VE GOTTEN A LETTER, MORE LIKELY TO GET A JOB IF YOU’VE GOTTEN A LETTER...IT’S MUCH EASIER TO GET ON TRACK WHILE STILL IN THE CPS SYSTEM”
recommendations
Rec. 1: Provide parents tools that are accessible and parent-friendly.
Rec 2: Student input throughout the Learn. Plan. Succeed. policy would improve understanding and confidence.
Rec. 3: Increase support for counselors in order for them better serve students and prepare them for sucess.
Rec. 4: Build and enhance One Summer Chicago features by including trades, entry level opportunities and job descriptions.
Rec. 5: CPS schools should partner with nonprofits and coordinate high school alumni networks to offer more mentorships.
Rec. 6: Increase awareness by incentivizing students to connect more with City College students.
congratulations to MYc for their hard work this summer!
Credits:
Photos by: Nia McFall