Board officials say they hope that the program will motivate middle-class parents to give Chicago's public school system a try. CEO Paul Vallas explains that because classroom grades will now be counted in deciding whether to promote students to the next grade, the board has a new interest in ensuring that grades accurately reflect class performance. November 15 Racial guidelines shift Hoping to make it easier for principals to fill teaching vacancies, the School Board votes unanimously to loosen the guidelines for faculty integration. The guidelines are the result of a 1980 desegregation consent decree between the board and the U.S. Department of Justice, which must approve any changes. The Justice Department does not indicate its position on the changes.
Many schools are already open before class- time.
20 Principal guidelines toughened The board votes to raise the bar for prospective principals, increasing the amount of course work that candidates must complete and requiring them to submit to more complex screening procedures, including registering and interviewing with a public-private review board. Once hired, new principals will be required to participate in a new training program. 20 Three charters approved The board votes to approve three new charter schools even though state law technically leaves room for only two more in the district. One of the three will become an arm of an existing charter school. Principals, assistant principals and teachers are paid by the day to staff the supplemental academic program.