Mayor Daley has politicized his Renaissance 2010 program and charter schools as his saving grace for the Chicago Public School system, but looking at recent reports, it’s only fledgling operation. On state performance reports that are measured by the Prairie State Achievement test scores, charter schools are only barely surpassing traditional schools. In addition, charter schools have been running with budget deficits and have the highest teacher turnover, according to a recent analysis by Catalyst Chicago. more ›

CBS 2's Mike Flannery recently received a little one-on-one time with Mayor Daley when he interviewed the mayor while riding along in his town car. The crux of the interview was about the future of Northerly Island and if a casino would be built there, to which Daley replied, "It's strictly a park, always will be; because it belongs to the people." He also reiterated comments from his verbal spat with Han Solo last week, saying that he's "very proud" of his decision to bulldoze Meigs Field to create Northerly Island and that it was all part of the Burnham Plan. When asked if he felt it was one of his major accomplishments, Daley responded, "No. No, I think the schools are." more ›

Renaissance 2010, Mayor Daley's controversial school reform plan which includes shutting down low-performing schools, has failed to meet the mark, according to the Tribune's analysis of 2009 state test scores. more ›

At their meeting yesterday, their first since the death of board president Michael Scott, the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education moved forward with business, approving five new charter schools that will open across the next two school years. CPS had originally proposed six but withdrew one: the Chicago International Charter School. more ›

The Caucus of Rank and File Educators (C.O.R.E.) -- the reform caucus of the Chicago Teachers Union -- and teachers from Holmes Elementary School on the south side are planning to picket the McDonald's at 1554 E. 55th Street as well as the Walgreens across the street this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. to, as they say in a press release, "inform the public of their anger toward big-business for meddling with public education." more ›

Since the Jan. 9 announcement that Chicago Public Schools may close six schools in its district, outspoken critics of Renaissance 2010 - Mayor Daley’s plan to close 70 troubled schools and open 100 new ones by 2010 - have been taking names and voicing their concerns to whomever will listen. On Saturday, parents and teachers added two more enemies to their list: McDonald’s and Walgreens. According to WGN radio, hundreds gathered outside a North Side McDonald’s and Walgreens for a Valentine’s Day protest against the corporations’ support of the plan. more ›