UIC, IIT involved in bringing new charter schools to the area
By Kathy Hills
The face of Chicago’s schools is changing. Private schools and open-enrollment public schools are no longer the only choices for children: add charter schools to the list. Nationally, the business community is stepping up to enrich the educational landscape by financially supporting charter school education, often in conjunction with the public schools.
Three years ago Mayor Richard M. Daley, along with the Chicago business community, began Renaissance 2010, which is supporting the charter school effort by funding start-up costs for 100 new schools by 2010, replacing low-performing schools with new educational options in underserved communities, and relieving school overcrowding in communities experiencing rapid growth.
So far, 55 new schools have opened under “Ren Ten,” and this year has brought 19 new school proposals. Two charter schools that will open in August 2008, if the Chicago Public School Board gives its approval, will be a Noble Street charter school with the assistance of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and a new Perspectives charter school assisted by the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). Both schools will take applicants citywide.
UIC has worked with the Noble Street organization for more than two years in developing a high school curriculum emphasizing health sciences to prepare students for careers in that field.
The new school will be located somewhere west of UIC, close to the university’s health sciences facilities, where high school classes will be held. Noble Street hopes to open with 125 seats in the freshman class, adding classes yearly. The curriculum will offer the standard four years of science, mathematics, English, and history as well as four years of health science.
“The health sciences will be an integral part of all the classes as well, discussing in history, for instance, the health issues suffered by early settlers to this country,” said Lon Kaufman, PhD, vice provost for undergraduate affairs and the dean of the Honors College at UIC.
“We want to admit students interested in careers in the health sciences,” Kaufman explained. “Then we must work to keep them interested. By their senior year, we want these students on our campus, not taking AP classes, but the real thing. We want them mentoring with faculty, learning how to show interest in the sciences, to have conversations, to ask questions of our instructors. Our campus here at UIC will be close to the high school, giving plenty of opportunity for campus internships, volunteering, and the like.
“I feel that the fit with Noble Street is perfect,” he added. “We both have the same goals: to prepare children for satisfying college careers. This is a top priority item for the university.”
David Baker, vice president of executive affairs at IIT, feels the same way about working with Perspectives Charter Schools. The two institutions’ partnership was cemented late last fall with the decision to work together to form a math and science academy for grades six through twelve. IIT is designing the curriculum for the new school, with educators Judy and Norman Letterman at the helm. The new school likely will be located on West Pershing Rd., just south of U.S. Cellular Field.
Zach Duffy, grants and communications director of Perspectives, has been active in planning the new math and science academy.
“We will open with a maximum of 250 students in the lower grades and work up to 500 students through the 12th grade,” Duffy said. “Perspectives has been involved every step of the way. We have been working with IIT on the curriculum since last December. We want our students to be really prepared for entry-level college courses. Mathematics and science will be incorporated in all subjects. The great thing is that IIT’s master’s and doctoral students will be able to work with the academy’s teachers to enhance their professional development. It will be kind of a lab school.”
