About this blog

The Chi-Town staff keeps you up to the minute on all the news that's fit to blog.

Recent posts

City-desk

CPS launches selective enrollment investigation

Share

Officials at Chicago Public Schools are investigating possible irregularities in the district's selective enrollment, according to a statement released this morning.

The district's eight selective-enrollment high schools serve the most academically advanced students in the district. Students submit thousands of applications for them each year.

CPS chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman directed the Office of the Inspector General to launch the inquiry after his office received information that  policies may have been violated, according to the announcement.

Huberman also hired an auditing firm to review the district's selective-enrollment process and recommend any changes, the statement says.

“We are carefully reviewing the existing selective enrollment policies and guidelines," Huberman said in the statement, "and we will be implementing additional controls in the near future.”

Huberman is also expected to announce a new Data Integrity Unit later this week that will improve CPS’ controls of electronic and paper files.

District spokeswoman Monique Bond did not immediately respond to phone and e-mail requests for comment.

Eligibility to take entrance examinations should be based on students' seventh-grade test scores in reading and math, according to district records.

Tagged: Ron Huberman, Chicago Public Schools, Education

Discuss

LOU GRANT, 08-04-2009

Veronica,

Thank you. I'm hoping Adrian locates documents discussing exactly what you are alluding too and posts or links to them for us to read further details about admissions.

LOU GRANT, 07-23-2009

Okay, so now we know that there was a bribery attempt in district 16: http://www.windycitizen.com/chicago/schools/2009/07/23/woman-refuses-to-pay-bribe-to-cps-official-loses-cps-contracts

And, I guess that up to 5% of enrollment at these high schools are discretionary, that is the principle decides who gets in. The idea was probably to allow the schools to get athletes that wouldn't otherwise be eligible. That came from somewhere on WindyCitizen.

The MSM have picked up on it too, as noted in Catalyst: http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/RUSSO/index.php/entry/2026/CPS_Clout_Scandal_Unfolding_Slowly

There are several threads here. The alleged bribe and also the clout to gain admission.

This story is picking up steam. I hope Geoff let's you run with it.

LOU GRANT, 07-22-2009

Adrian,

Your story is based on a statement issued this morning. What specifically caused the district to begin its investigation? Of course, that's what the district is avoiding commenting on. The timing, so close to the scandal at the UofI is ringing alarm bells.

Let's ask some specific questions here. For example, did anyone use political connections to enable a student to gain admittance to one of these schools. That could be asked as "is the Inspector General investigating the use of political clout on behalf of borderline students' applications?"

Another question would be whether students of CPS employees received favorable treatment. (Rumor has it that this really helps a student).

If you're going to pursue a FOIA, it would be interesting to see data on acceptance versus test scores, comparing the acceptance rates to various scores.

Finally, it would be nice to know the acceptance criteria. It should be a matter of public record.

Nice story. I hope these ideas help.

VERONICA ARREOLA, 07-22-2009

The grades earned by students during grades 3-7 are also used in some sort of mathematical formula. Maybe 4-7, but grades do count and with firm points attached.

MOST viewed

CHICAGO CURRENT headlines

Worried about Sertraline side effects?
Pharmacy

Visit Adverse-effects.org to learn more about the side effects of Sertraline