Chicago Public Schools to Host Black Student Success Community Roundtable Discussions

The District’s new Black Student Success Working Group is comprised of more than 60 District, school, and community members dedicated to fostering Black student success (All Photos by Chicago Public Schools). 

The mission of Chicago Public Schools is to provide a high-quality public education for every child in every neighborhood that prepares them for success in college, career, and civic life. While CPS has made efforts to address long-standing racial inequities in education, Black students continue to suffer from historic and persistent gaps in educational opportunities and outcomes.

To address the systemic inequities that have stood in the way of Black student achievement, CPS is committed to co-creating a Black Student Success Plan that incorporates the voices of stakeholders.

The District’s new Black Student Success Working Group (BSSWG), made up of more than 60 District, school, and community members, is leading this work and wants to ensure engagement across the city, through roundtable sessions that begin today, March 12. 

“The Black Student Success Working Group collaboratively works with diverse and dedicated members of our schools and larger community who are passionate about improving access and equity to support our Black students today and tomorrow,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “The success of our Black student population hinges on robust community engagement and bodes well for all of us.”

In the near term, the Black Student Success Plan will be incorporated into the District’s new five-year strategic plan, which will be adopted by the Board of Education in Summer 2024. CPS and the Board of Education are also committed to codifying the long-term work of the Black Student Success Working Group beyond the strategic planning process. 

While CPS Black students have always had the capability, talent, and drive to succeed, historic barriers in under-resourced communities, including disparate health, housing, financial, and educational access and services, have continued to impact Black students and their families. 

The Working Group aims to develop recommendations for the District’s support and ongoing work to improve outcomes for Black students. The recommendations will be grounded in the CPS Equity Framework and include recommendations that improve student daily experiences and outcomes, adult learning and support, diversity in the workforce, and school community partnerships. 

The Working Group will center inclusive partnerships to analyze data, engage stakeholders, and submit recommendations to CPS leadership and the Chicago Board of Education that will be considered in the creation of the Black Student Success Plan.

To date, the working group has met five times to analyze data and discuss challenges and opportunities for Black students in CPS. Parallel to these meetings, CPS staff and working group members hosted specialized focus groups with students, families, and staff to better understand the experiences, needs, and successes of CPS students. 

CPS and the Black Student Success Working Group are hosting eight community roundtables to listen to communities about current challenges and recommended solutions and to inform the recommendations for the Black Student Success Plan. 

The BSSWG Community Roundtable schedule: 

While CPS has made efforts to address long-standing racial inequities within our educational system, historic and persistent gaps in opportunity for students remain and require addressing. In particular, data reflects the need to create holistic systems of support to foster greater success for Black students. 

The BSSWG is charged with engaging in a deep equity-focused planning process that will result in a comprehensive set of targeted recommendations aimed at closing opportunity gaps for Black students in the District. 

“Some may say that these types of groups or collaborative efforts have a long history of not gaining much traction. The Black Student Success Working Group plans to reverse the course when it comes to intentional efforts to make sure our Black students excel when it comes to college and career pathways,” said CPS Chief Equity Officer Fatima Cooke. “We can’t do this work alone. We’ll need the input and support of the community.”

While there have been advancements and targeted approaches in areas like, access to algebra, access to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, recent growth among Black students in early literacy and Illinois Assessment of Readiness  (IAR) scores in grades 3-8, and attainment of college credit through dual enrollment, Black students are still disproportionately represented as underperforming in academic data, in discipline infractions, and have the longest commute time of any other student group in CPS. By having the proper supports in place, including community feedback, the Black Student Success Plan aims to reverse historic and generational trends in education.

“The Black Student Success Working Group is very collaborative. I have the space to speak my mind and let the adults know what is working for us and what improves the quality of our schools,” said Jahnae Roberts, a junior at Walter H. Dyett School For the Arts and member of the Black Student Success Working Group. “I feel empowered to articulate what I want for my school and the surrounding community.”

More information about the CPS Black Student Success Working Group and additional Black Student Success engagement is available on the District’s website. 

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