Renaissance 2010

Renaissance 2010 is a program of the Chicago Public Schools school district of Chicago, Illinois, United States.

In 1997, the Illinois General Assembly approved 60 charter schools for the state. Since then, the city of Chicago has outpaced the rest of state by starting 27 public charter schools, with 47 campuses. The student achievement, increased demand, and strong parent satisfaction in these new schools set the stage for the Renaissance 2010 initiative, announced in June 2004 by the Chicago Public Schools and the City of Chicago. Renaissance 2010 calls for 100 new schools by 2010. This bold plan sets up a competitive, community-based selection process to determine the best school operator for each site.

Under Renaissance 2010, the Chicago Public Schools seek to create 100 high-performing public schools in designated communities of need by 2010. These schools will be held accountable for performance through 5-year contracts while being given autonomy to create innovative learning environments using one of the following governance structures: charter, contract, or performance.

Renaissance 2010 Schools Types

There are three different types of Renaissance schools, a charter school, a contract school, and a performance School.

* Charter – Charter Schools are independent public schools. Free from many state laws, district initiatives, and board policies, charter teachers are employees of the nonprofit governing board or an education management organization hired by the board. Charters are operated pursuant to Illinois Charter Law (ILCS 5/27A).

* Contract – Contract Schools are a newly created public school model established as a part of Renaissance 2010. Contracts will be managed by independent nonprofit organizations in accordance with Performance Agreements. Contract schoolteachers will be employees of the nonprofit. Contract schools are operated pursuant to Illinois School Code.

* Performance – Performance Schools employ CPS staff and are CPS schools that have freedom from and flexibility on many district initiatives and policies.

List of Renaissance 2010 Schools

Chicago will have an estimated 100 Renaissance schools by 2010. Please note that all schools are listed with their respective addresses, and located within Chicago's city limits. The following Contract, Performance, and Charter schools have been opened under Renaissance 2010 as of fall 2006.

1 Contract School
*Austin Business and Entrepreneurship Academy

13 Performance Schools
*Bronzeville Scholastic Institute (at DuSable)
*Infinity Math, Science, and Technology High School
*Lindblom Math and Science Academy High School
*Multicultural Arts High School (at Little Village)
*Pershing West Middle School (at Douglas)
*Rickover Naval Academy High School (at Senn)
*School of Social Justice (at Little Village)
*Sherman School of Excellence (First Turn-Around School)
*Suder Montessori Elementary School
*Tarkington School of Excellence
*Daniel Hale Williams Preparatory School of Medicine (at DuSable)
*UPLIFT Community School (at Arai)
*World Language High School (at Little Village)

25 Charter Schools
*Aspira Charter School (at Haugan)
*Bronzeville Lighthouse Charter School
*Catalyst Charter School - Howland
*Chicago International Charter School - Avalon/South Shore Campus
*Chicago International Charter School - Ralph Ellison Campus
*Chicago International Charter School -Wrightwood Campus
*Chicago Virtual Charter School
*Choir Academy Charter School of Chicago
*DuSable Leadership Academy of Betty Shabazz International Charter School
*Erie Elementary Charter School
*Galapagos Elementary Charter School
*Legacy Charter School
*Noble Street Charter School - Pritzker College Prep Campus
*Noble Street Charter School - Rauner College Prep Campus
*Perspectives Charter School – Calumet Campus
*Providence Englewood Charter School - Bunche Campus
*Barbara A. Sizemore Academy of Betty Shabazz International Charter School
*University of Chicago Charter School - Donoghue Campus
*University of Chicago Charter School – Woodlawn High School Campus
*UNO Charter School - Bartolomé de las Casas Campus
*UNO Charter School - Carlos Fuentes Campus
*UNO Charter School - Rufino Tamayo Campus
*Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men
*Young Women's Leadership Charter School

Criticisms

President of the Chicago Teacher's Union, Marilyn Stewart has openly opposed Renaissance 2010 perceiving it as a machine designed to dismantle public education. She pointed out that charter schools have a history of low-performance on standardized test scores, dismissing them as an alternative to good public education in Chicago. Some have responded to this claim by stating that students at these new schools, often, have attended poorly performing schools in previous years. For this reason, the schools under Renaissance 2010 may register low, though improving, test scores in their initial years. Stewart also pointed out that teachers at charter schools are not subject to the same scrutiny under No Child Left Behind as Chicago public teachers, further supporting her claim that education at the schools in question are a poor substitute. Of course, No Child Left Behind's policies and the methods behind them are often questioned by education officials across the counrty.

ee also

*Chicago Public Schools

External links

* [http://www.ren2010.cps.k12.il.us/ Renaissance 2010's Official Website]

* [http://www.district299.com/ District 299 The Unofficial Chicago Public Schools Blog]