News
The work of the Urban Education Institute (UEI) is often featured in the news. Here is a sampling.
Texas Districts, Scholars Form Research Consortium
Modeled after the Consortium on Chicago School Research, the newly formed Texas Consortium on School Research kicked off last month. This group is the latest of several education consortiums that have recently been formed across the country.
Education Week, 11/16/09
Texas Consortium on School Research Launches with a Focus on College Readiness
The Texas Consortium on School Research, which was modeled on the Consortium on Chicago School Research, was launched in October in Houston, Texas. In attendance were CCSR's Christopher Mazzeo and Vanessa Coca.
Reuters, 10/29/09
Shutting Down Schools To Save Them?
ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent and "This Week" Host George Stephanopoulos blogs about CCSR's recent study on school closures in Chicago.
ABC News, 10/28/09
Report Questions Duncan's Policy of Closing Failing Schools
NYT uses CCSR research findings to call into question the effectiveness of the practice of closing failing Chicago public schools.
The New York Times, 10/28/09
Chicago School Closings' Impact Minimal, Report Finds
The Chicago Tribune cites CCSR findings that only 6 percent of Chicago students affected by school closings landed at top schools, with many of the remaining students ending up at some of the worst schools in the district. Standardized test scores show that the latter group did no better at their new school than they had at their previous school.
Chicago Tribune, 10/28/09
Chicago School Closings Found to Yield Few Gains
Coverage of a study released today by CCSR cites evidence that the majority of students (within the study) whose schools were closed were sent to other low-performing schools. The study shows that the closings had no significant impact on student performance.
Education Week, 10/28/09
Study: Do School Closings Impact Students Academically?
Julia Gwynne, a Senior Research Analyst at CCSR, discusses a new study released today called When Schools Close: Effects on Displaced Students in Chicago Public Schools. The study examines how school closings affect students and how closings relate to incidents of violence among youth in Chicago.
WBEZ, 10/28/09
Nichole Pinkard Teaches Students to Take Control of Digital Media
Nichole Pinkard, Director of Innovation & Research at the Urban Education Institute, discusses teaching students at the University of Chicago Charter School's Carter G. Woodson campus.
WBEZ, 10/26/09
College From Pennsylvania to Chicago's South Side to the Future, With Fish
Triggered in part by the 2008 CCSR report and Bucknell's plan to increase diversity on its campus, the New Frontiers of Knowledge Program facilitates collaboration between Bucknell University and nine Chicago public and charter schools. Bucknell students will spend three days helping Chicago students think critically, scientifically, and economically about food, while imparting knowledge and establishing a familiarity with the culture of higher education.
Huffington Post, 10/22/09
Unintended Outcome
Catalyst Chicago uses CCSR data to analyze dropout rates among 16-year-olds across urban high schools in Chicago. A 2004 law raised the compulsory attendance age to 17, which is putting pressure on alternative schools and making attendance difficult to track.
Catalyst Chicago, 10/09
Black School Leadership: How Do They Do It In Chicago?
The United Kingdom's Lambent Productions for Teachers TV examines how Chicago schools, including several UEI Charter schools, approach black leadership differently.
Urban Education Institute, 10/21/09
Urban Teacher Education Program on Chicago Tonight
"Chicago Tonight" highlights what makes UTEP different and more effective than other traditional teacher training programs.
wttw 11, 10/20/09
The debate on Digital Literacy
UEI's Director of Innovation Nichole Pinkard takes part in a discussion about technology's influence on one's ability to write and how this will affect children growing up in the digital age.
Art of Learning, 10/5/09
YOUMedia breaks all the library rules
University of Chicago Charter School student Shani Edmond discusses the new digital technology space at the Harold Washington Library and the film she and fellow student Shannon Jackson did about revitalizing 71st
Street through the use of public art that was recently shown in Washington, D.C.
Chicago Sun-Times, 10/12/09
- Watch the mini-documentary on how art inspires community revitalization by students Shani Edmond and Shannon Jackson on YOUMedia
Reviving America's schools: Ready, set, go
As Arne Duncan leverages unprecedented funding to try to shape a new educational horizon, Tim Knowles adds his thoughts on the outlook of various reform practices.
The Economist, 10/1/09
Student Misbehavior in Chicago Serves as Raw Material
According to a report issued by CCSR, about 100 Chicago schools suffer from high teacher turnover. As Janice Hypolite explores in her book Disorder in the Classroom, written about her experience substitute teaching in Chicago, teachers tend to leave schools with the highest rates of student misbehavior.
Ground Report, 9/22/09
Third Week of School, Kids Still Lack Teachers
When more students show up on the first day than a school anticipates, students suffer. UEI Lewis Sebring Director Tim Knowles discusses the importance of establishing teacher-student relationships from the outset of the school year.
Chicago Public Radio, 9/21/09
Renaissance 2010 Gets A Solid 'B'
The report on Renaissance 2010 recently released by CCSR outlines what traditional schools can learn from charter schools in areas like school culture, attendance, using data to track students, and drawing on the strengths of teacher unions.
Huffington Post, 9/13/09
After Years of Toil, Sustaining Change in Education is Still a Vexing Problem
In the context of an upcoming University of Chicago Center for Elementary Mathematics and Science Education working group, UEI's Rob Schnieders discusses his and UEI's interest in solving the problem of why positive innovative change doesn't always take root in education.
Science Daily, 9/11/09
Duncan Urges Colleges to Help Underperforming Schools More
An overview of the education panel: The Role of Higher Education in Improving Urban Schools (that took place in DC on Sept. 10) featuring UEI's Lewis-Sebring Director Tim Knowles and other key education thinkers, as well as the keynote address from Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 9/10/09
New Studies Find Mixed Results in Chicago High School Reform
Highlights some of the positive and negative findings of the five recent reports released by CCSR and SRI International and questions what teachers can hope to learn from this research.
Education Week, 8/20/09
Director of the Institute of Education Sciences: Who is John Easton?
A closer look at John Easton, a co-founder of CCSR, and his professional trajectory leading up to his newly-appointed role as head of the Institute of Education Sciences in Washington, DC.
allgov, 8/23/09
MacArthur, Digital Youth Network & Chicago Public Library launch "YouMedia" digital youth center
View a video about the launch of "YouMedia" youth media center. The center is located downtown in the Harold Washington Branch of the Chicago Public Library.
The Click Heard Round the World, 8/21/09
Transformation fails to spark improvement in Chicago high schools, say researchers
According to a new report issued from CCSR and SRI International, Arne Duncan's High School Transformation project has failed to spark significant improvement. Among the findings are lingering concerns about poor attendance, bad teaching, ineffective testing and data, stagnant test scores, and high teacher turnover.
Catalyst Chicago, 8/20/09
SRI International and the Consortium on Chicago School Research Release Reports on High School Reform in Chicago
The five reports recently released by SRI and CCSR address the efforts to improve high schools in the Chicago Public Schools. The findings highlight both challenges and opportunities.
Fox Business, 8/18/09
Three Peas in a Pod
CCSR's 2004 report examining the effects of promotional gates at the third-, sixth-, and eighth-grade levels, in conjunction with a forthcoming study conducted by the RAND corporation, calls into question the effectiveness of the current NYC school system's promotional policy.
Gotham Schools, 8/12/09
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, educational kingmaker
UEI Director Tim Knowles comments on Duncan's contributions to Chicago education.
Politico, 8/9/09
Turnaround schools keep most students
CCSR
examines data from the Academy for Urban School Leadership's turnaround
schools to evaluate the cause for improvements in test scores.
Catalyst Chicago, 7/30/09
Mini think tank surveys Chicago neighborhoods to implement promising public policy
Students at the University of Chicago collaborated with the Office of Civic Engagement and the Urban Education Institute to research potential Chicago areas for a "Promise Neighborhood" similar to the Harlem Children's Zone in New York City. The collaboration led to the creation of the Woodlawn Children's Promise Zone.
Media Newswire, 7/28/09
UW-Madison profs help shape bold initiative for community colleges
A report co-authored by Christopher Mazzeo of CCSR argues that the federal government needs to invest federal money in community colleges and make them a prominent part of the higher education agenda.
The Capital Times, 7/20/09
Chicago Report Says Obama Misled Public About Duncan
Tim Knowles comments on the problems associated with lowered test score standards, while remaining optimistic about the gains in Chicago public schools, in response to a report released by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
USA Today, 7/12/09
Promise and Peril: Charter Schools, Urban School Reform and the Obama Administration
UEI Director Tim Knowles and University Professor Charles Payne argue that given Obama’s support of charter schools, it's time for educators and policymakers to closely consider both the possibilities and the limitations of these schools in the context of urban school reform.
Harvard Educational Review, 7/7/09
WebExtra: Mentoring to a new beat
The Digital Youth Network, which was launched by UEI in 2005, works to match trained mentors with Chicago Public Schools students as they develop digital learning projects through access to cutting-edge technology. DYN recently unveiled a new 5,000-square-foot space inside Harold Washington Library.
Catalyst Chicago, 6/2009
Teacher Turnover Plagues Chicago Public Schools
School stability, including high teacher retention, is key to student success. A new study released by CCSR shows that Chicago Public Schools are losing more than a quarter of their staff each year, which creates a troubling cycle in low-performing schools.
Chicago Tribune, 6/29/09
IES Seeks Strategies to Rescue 'Chronically' Failing Schools
The IES recently unveiled a grant program that encourages researchers to develop new practices for improvement in low-performing schools. One example is the on-track indicator, developed by researchers from CCSR and currently used in Chicago's high schools.
Education Week, 6/24/09
Catalyst Chicago: Black male conundrum
Chicago Public Schools is working to reduce their high African American male suspension rates. However, the problem is complex because, according to sources at CCSR, figures may still reflect an under-reporting of information.
Catalyst, 6/22/09
Interview with the Urban Education Institute's Tim Knowles
Tim Knowles discusses his educational background, why he chose the Urban Education Institute, and the challenges and keys to academic success.
TeachHub.com, 6/17/09
Diplomas Count 2009: Postsecondary work seen as key to success
The Consortium on Chicago School Research's work with the University of Michigan that examined Chicago’s 1997 initiative requiring all students to complete a college-prep curriculum is discussed.
Education Week, 6/10/09
Hints Dropped on Direction for U.S. Education Research
John Easton, the new director of the Education Department's Institute of Education Sciences and former CCSR director, discussed the future of education research in his first major D.C. speech.
Education Week, 6/9/09
The George Lucas Foundation, via Edutopia (6/8/09), is featuring videos of the innovative work of the Digital Youth Network and one of its University of Chicago Charter School participants:
- Digital Media Empower Youth
- Digital Youth Portrait: Jalen
- Kids Create--and Critique--on Social Networks
What nonprofits should to help students graduate
Elaine Allensworth, a co-director of the Consortium on Chicago School Research, comments.
Catalyst, 5/29/09
Lessons Learned From the Chicago Public Schools (And Clues to the Future of Federal Research Efforts)
UEI Director Tim Knowles discusses Duncan, data and dramatic education reform.
Education Week, 5/26/09
Chicago Group Promotes Links Between Districts, Researchers
Eager representatives from 19 districts joined CCSR's convening on emerging consortia.
Education Week, 5/26/09
Coming & Goings: Easton heading to D.C.
CCSR Executive Director John Easton confirmed as IES head.
Catalyst, 5/22/09
What Easton Would Do If He Ruled Education Research
As the Senate committee approved CCSR Executive Director John Easton's nomination as head of the Institute of Education Sciences, he discussed some ideas for the future of education research with reporter Debra Viadero.
Education Week, 5/21/09
Related Past Stories:
Obama Unveils Picks for Key Ed. Dept. Jobs
Consortium on Chicago School Research Director John Easton has been tapped to head the institute of Education Sciences.
Education Week, 4/3/09
Scholar-Practitioner Research Eyed by 19 Districts
The CCSR event for emerging consortia makes an impact: "In a testament to the growing interest in that (CCSR) model, representatives from 19 districts around the country have showed up."
Education Week, 5/20/09
Illinois joins school march towards national standards test
A study by CCSR is cited as evidence that state tests may be painting an unrealistic picture of Illinois student achievement.
Chicago Tribune, 5/19/09
Rough Road to Improving High Schools
CCSR's Jenny Nagaoka is quoted on the importance of research evidence.
Wall Street Journal, 5/15/09
Districts set to up the ante on research
The Consortium on Chicago School Research will host a forum May 19th and 20th for school districts interested in creating similar research institutions in their cities.
Catalyst, 5/14/09
Classroom Cop: Mayoral control of the schools is put to the test in Chicago
UEI Director Tim Knowles comments on the emerging educational landscape and the call from Democrats for more parent choice and competition in schooling.
Newsweek, 5/5/09
Top CPS graduates often land at less rigorous colleges
"A new study from the Consortium on Chicago School Research finds that about one in three students who graduate from selective high schools and programs land at colleges and universities that are far below their qualifications."
Catalyst, 4/24/09
How To Peer into John Easton's Mind
"Easton has dropped some hints about where you can go to get a flavor of his thinking... It's a report called Consortium on Chicago School Research: A New Model for the Role of Research in Supporting Urban School Reform."
Education Week, 4/24/09
Chicago Achievers Seen Prone to College Mismatch
CCSR researcher Jenny Nagaoka discusses the study she co-authored.
Education Week, 4/24/09
Report: Chicago's Top Students Could be Attending Tougher Colleges
Listen to Jenny Nagaoka discuss why too many top Chicago high school students are going to colleges below their qualification level.
Chicago Public Radio, 4/23/09
- Read the CCSR study referenced in the three articles above: From High School to the Future: Making Hard Work Pay Off
Getting into college: Recent grads counsel teens
Story cites the CCSR study that indicated that nine of every 10 high school graduates in Chicago want to continue their education. But only 59 percent ever applied to a four-year institution.
Chicago Tribune, 4/24/09
Delayed Ren 2010 report offers lessons for school startups
Coverage of Renaissance Schools Fund report co-authored by Consortium on Chicago School Research Affiliate Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach
Catalyst, 4/22/09
What's Good in Chicago: Duncan Says...
CCSR co-director Elaine Allensworth comments on tracking 5-year graduation rates as news is released that Education Secretary Arne Duncan is open to letting states report five-year data.
Catalyst, 4/16/09
'Double Dose' of Algebra Boosts Scores in Chicago
CCSR research shows that Chicago students’ test scores increased after they were enrolled in “double-dose” algebra classes.
Education Week, 4/16/09
Chicago in the News: Champion of Charter Schools
Timothy Knowles, Director of the Urban Education Institute, was quoted in the April 3 issue of Chicago Magazine on the growth of charter schools across the country.
The University of Chicago Chronicle, 4/16/09
MacArthur Grant Renewed to Continue Digital Media and Learning
Director of Innovations Nichole Pinkard's digital media project will receive continued funding from the MacArthur Foundation.
MacArthur Foundation, 4/16/09
Rutgers University and the Newark Public Schools Form Research Collaborative to Aid in Boosting Student Achievement: Research Collaborative Follows Example Set by Chicago and Other U.S. Cities
Modeled partly after the Consortium on Chicago School Research, the Newark Public Schools District and Rutgers University in Newark announced the creation of the Newark Schools Research Collaborative (NSRC)
News from Rutgers, 4/8/09
Obama Unveils Picks for Key Ed. Dept. Jobs
Consortium on Chicago School Research Director John Easton has been tapped to head the institute of Education Sciences.
Education Week, 4/3/09
Chicago Matters Visionaries Look at the Olympic Effect
Director of Innovations Nichole Pinkard offers her opinions about the value of hosting the Olympics in Chicago: "As an educator, I believe that the Olympics will create a natural and rich learning scape for all of Chicago’s children..."
Chicago Public Radio Blog, 3/31/09
9th Grade, By the Numbers
Education Week delves into Chicago’s Graduation Pathways strategy to use data to improve outcomes for at-risk youth, which was based on CCSR research.
Education Week, 3/10/09
Rapid changes are just the first step in an overhaul of U-46
CCSR's Tracy Dell'Angela is quoted on the importance of school leadership to a school's success.
Daily Herald, 2/16/09
Teacher says it's unfair that small school penalized for being small
CCSR research showing that performance improves when teachers know each other and all their students is cited as support for why small schools can be beneficial.
Medill Reports Chicago, 2/12/09
Leadership in Chicago: Timothy Knowles
Timothy Knowles spoke to students at the Harris School of Public Policy about his work, the legacy of Arne Duncan and the future of Chicago schools.
The Harris School, 2/12/09
Urban School Improvement Network's Kyle Westwood and CPS students featured in PBS documentary on Lincoln
In Historian Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s documentary "Looking for Lincoln," Kyle Westbrook and the students he taught at Walter Payton High School insightfully discuss the myth versus the three-dimensional man that was Abraham Lincoln. (Westbrook's class appears 12 minutes into the section entitled "Lincoln, Slavery and Racial Equality: Was Lincoln a White Supremacist?")
PBS, 2/11/09
In Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois, schools see an oversupply of teachers
Kavita Kapadia Matsko, director of UEI's Urban Teacher Education Program, discusses the significant need for intelligent, dedicated teachers to go into challenging school districts.
The Chicago Tribune, 2/5/09
Audio: Timothy Knowles discusses UEI and urban education with Kathleen Dunn
(Archived interview)
Wisconsin Public Radio, 2/4/2009
What it Means to Educate Today's Students
Watch Director of Innovation Nichole Pinkard discuss how technology is transforming educational approaches.
The Carnegie Commons, 2/4/2009
University of Chicago Charter School-Woodlawn
Teachers, students and staff members talk to cameras about their unique educational environment.
CPS Right Now!, 1/14/2009
