49.037 - Closing Neighborhood Schools and Opening Charter Schools: The Restructuring of Public Education in Chicago

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This session brings together a set of papers that examines the current restructuring of urban education. In particular, the papers examine the coupling of two school actions that have been prominent in Chicago and other cities: closing neighborhood schools and opening charter schools. The papers address the experiences of students, families, communities, and teachers, and the effect on access for students receiving special education. Chicago provides an important case study to examine this phenomenon. In 2013, Chicago Public Schools closed a record 50 schools affecting approximately 40,000 students, disproportionately African American. From 2009 to 2013 charter schools increased by almost 50% now serving over 55,000 students, almost one-sixth of the district, including over 6,800 students receiving special education.

Sub Unit

• Division G - Social Context of Education / Division G - Section 4: Social Context of Education Policy, Politics, and Praxis

Chair

• Pauline Lipman, University of Illinois at Chicago

Discussant

• Christopher A. Lubienski, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Papers

• The Impact of Chicago School Closures From Parents' Perspectives - Rhoda Rae Gutierrez, University of Illinois at Chicago; Kelly P. Vaughan, Lewis University; Michelle Hoereth, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)

• Chicago School Closings: The Impact on Teaching and Learning Conditions - Carol Caref, Chicago Teachers Union; Sarah Hainds, Chicago Teachers Union; Pavlyn Jankov, Chicago Teachers Union

• Comparison of Enrollment Patterns of Students Receiving Special Education in Urban Neighborhood and Charter Schools - Federico R. Waitoller, University of Illinois at Chicago; Daniel Montagne Maggin, Vanderbilt University; Joshua L. Radinsky, University of Illinois at Chicago