Castillo's group has recommended that instead of banning overnight retreats, the board, with the help of LSC members, prepare a guide to assist schools in planning high-quality retreats. It also should negotiate reduced rates from local hotels or other sources, the group says. O'Hagin contends that the board lacks legal grounds for imposing any guidelines. It blows me away that they are trying to do this. Hess, who drafted the Chapter 1 section of the Reform Act, agrees.
Schools can spend that money any way they want to improve student achievement.
The proof of the pudding is in whether student achievement improves. Hess says that even the proposed limits on pay for tutors, parents and the like are out of bonds. These are useful if they are couched as recommendations to LSCs, but it exceeds their authority to impose them as restrictions. But Tanya Patton, who oversees state Chapter 1 spending statewide for the Illinois State Board of Education, says that the Chicago board does have the authority to restrict schools' use of state Chapter 1 money. A policy of capping stipends or not allowing overnight travel expenses is within the authority of the Chicago Board.