Chicago Public Education Fund

THE FUND IMPROVES PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY INVESTING IN THE TALENTED EDUCATORS WHO LEAD THEM.

PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORTS THE FUND'S WORK INCLUDES INVESTMENTS IN SUPPORTING PRINCIPALS AND ASPIRING PRINCIPALS THROUGH PROGRAMMING, ACTIONABLE DATA, AND PUBLIC REPORTING. FUND PROGRAMS SERVE LEADERS IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY, REPRESENTING A DIVERSITY OF SCHOOL TYPES INCLUDING ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL, CHARTER, AND DISTRICT. EACH YEAR, WE LEVERAGE REAL-TIME DATA ON SCHOOL NEEDS AND OUTCOMES TO IMPLEMENT THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS FOR OUR PARTICIPATING EDUCATORS. THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR WAS ONE OF CONSTANT CHANGE. IN AND OUT OF SCHOOLS, THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND ECONOMIC PRESSURES OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS REMAINED A REALITY. IN THIS CONTEXT, CHICAGO'S PRINCIPALS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ENSURING THAT STUDENT NEEDS WERE PRIORITIZED AS MOST OF THEM CONTINUED TO NAVIGATE REMOTE LEARNING. THE FUND DOUBLED DOWN ON OUR SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL LEADERS DURING THIS TIME. IN TOTAL, 346 LEADERS IN 258 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY COMPLETED FUND PROGRAMMING THIS YEAR. OUR NETWORK INCLUDES EDUCATORS LEADING IN EVERY TYPE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL - CHARTER AND DISTRICT, ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL - AND WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH 11 PARTNERS WHO PROVIDED EDUCATOR-CENTERED PROGRAMMING, COACHING, AND SUPPORT. THIS INCLUDED 57 ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS IN APS RISING, A SUITE OF TARGETED DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE CHICAGO PRINCIPAL PARTNERSHIP (THE PARTNERSHIP), DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS (APS) INTERESTED IN FUTURE PRINCIPAL ROLES. BY JULY 2021, FIVE APS IN THE PROGRAM HAD SECURED PRINCIPAL CONTRACTS. OVER 94 PRINCIPALS AND 14 ASPIRING PRINCIPALS PARTICIPATED IN 20 PRINCIPAL-LED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES (PLCS) ACROSS 16 TOPICS. EACH PLC IS FACILITATED BY A HIGH-PERFORMING PRINCIPAL WITH KNOWN EXPERTISE IN A SPECIFIC TOPIC AREA. THE FUND ALSO SUPPORTED 63 PRINCIPAL-LED TEAMS THROUGH THE SUMMER DESIGN PROGRAM (SDP), A UNIQUE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY THAT OFFERS SCHOOL TEAMS THE SPACE, TIME, AND EXPERTISE TO PURSUE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THEIR MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES. ALTHOUGH SDP IS TYPICALLY A ONE-YEAR OPPORTUNITY, FUND PARTNERS PROVIDED A SECOND YEAR OF SUPPORT, CONTINUING FROM THE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR, IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE INCREASED BURDEN ON PRINCIPALS DUE TO COVID-19.IN ADDITION, THE FUND'S WORK INCLUDED EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE RETENTION OF CHICAGO'S TOP-PERFORMING PRINCIPALS THROUGH THE CHICAGO PRINCIPALS FELLOWSHIP (THE FELLOWSHIP), THE CAHN FELLOWS PROGRAM, AND THE EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL PROGRAM. THE FELLOWSHIP, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FUND, CROWN FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, IS AN EXECUTIVE-LEVEL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INTENDED TO GROW THE SKILLS OF TOP PRINCIPALS AND FURTHER EXPAND THEIR LEADERSHIP CAPACITY. FIFTEEN HIGH-PERFORMING PRINCIPALS COMPLETED THE SEVENTH COHORT OF THE FELLOWSHIP IN 2021, COMMITTING TO LEAD IN CHICAGO. THE CAHN FELLOWS PROGRAM IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT RECOGNIZES TOP PRINCIPALS AND DEVELOPS THEIR CAPACITY AS LEADERS. IN 2021, EIGHT PRINCIPALS PARTICIPATED IN THE CAHN FELLOWSHIP. LASTLY, THE EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL PROGRAM SERVED 15 PRINCIPALS IN 2021. THIS PROGRAM IS A MULTI-YEAR MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR CHICAGO'S TOP LEADERS (EXECUTIVE PRINCIPALS) AND RISING STARS (PARTNER PRINCIPALS). ADDITIONALLY, EXECUTIVE PRINCIPALS LED THREE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY SESSIONS AROUND ASSESSMENTS, GRADING FOR EQUITY, AND COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS AROUND RACE. 2020-21 WAS THE THIRD YEAR OF THE EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL PILOT AND FOCUSED ON CODIFYING LEARNINGS AND BEST PRACTICES, WHICH LED TO THE CREATION OF THE PRINCIPAL TO PRINCIPAL COACHING GUIDE. THE FUND ALSO ADDRESSED SCHOOLS' STRATEGIC PLANNING NEEDS SURROUNDING VIRTUAL AND UNFINISHED LEARNING BY SUPPORTING CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS' (CPS') REOPENING WORKING GROUPS, SHARING REMOTE AND HYBRID LEARNING RESOURCES WITH EDUCATORS, AND PROVIDING SCHOOL LEADERS ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERED BY RELAY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION.ACROSS ALL OUR PROGRAM INVESTMENTS, WE DOUBLED DOWN ON OUR ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT TO EQUITY. THIS INCLUDED PRIORITIZING SUPPORTS FOR THE SCHOOLS THAT NEED IT THE MOST THROUGH THE SOUTH SIDE EDUCATION ALLIANCE, WHICH SERVES EIGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH - THE GROUP SHARES DATA, DEFINES COMMON OUTCOMES, AND TESTS SOLUTIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED OF AS A TWO-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM, SSEA WAS EXTENDED INTO A THIRD YEAR DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE INCREASED BURDEN ON PRINCIPALS.

SYSTEMS, DATA AND POLICIES2021 SAW A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS THEY WELCOMED NEW SENIOR LEADERSHIP AT THE START OF THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR. WE WORKED TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AT CPS AROUND SOME OF THESE CHANGING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING HELPING TO OFFRAMP THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, SUPPORT INTERIM LEADERSHIP, ONBOARD THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, AND PROVIDE ONGOING ASSISTANCE TO NEW CABINET LEADERS. OUR PRIORITY REMAINED KEEPING A KEEN FOCUS ON SCHOOL LEADER NEEDS IN THESE CONVERSATIONS, ADVANCING OUR GOAL OF IMPROVING SCHOOL LEADER QUALITY ACROSS CHICAGO'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.ON THE POLICY FRONT, WE SUPPORTED THE CPS SCHOOL FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY WORKING GROUP, WHICH INCLUDES THE WORK OF ROLLING OUT A NEW SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY RATING SYSTEM IN THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR. THESE WORKING GROUPS SOUGHT TO GENERATE INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM A BROADER GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS IN ORDER TO CRAFT NEW RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION. IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THESE GROUPS, WE PUBLISHED A SERIES OF MEMOS AND ANALYSES FOR MEMBERS TO REVIEW, BASED ON THE FEEDBACK RECEIVED. WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ACTIONABLE DATA TO CPS AND OTHER PARTNERS. THE FUND ALWAYS SEEKS TO ENGAGE PERSPECTIVES FROM DIVERSE EDUCATORS TO INFORM ITS PROGRAM AND POLICY EFFORTS AND TO DEVELOP A THEORY ON WHAT HIGH-PERFORMING PRINCIPALS NEED TO LEAD SUCCESSFULLY. IN 2021, WE ADMINISTERED OUR ANNUAL PRINCIPAL ENGAGEMENT SURVEY, WHICH SAW A 60% RESPONSE RATE AND CONFIRMED ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT CHICAGO'S PRINCIPALS WERE FEELING THE WEIGHT OF THEIR ROLES AS THEY CONTINUED TO GRAPPLE WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO ENGAGE LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL (LSC) MEMBERS THROUGH OUR FOCUS GROUP THAT ADDRESSED NEEDS LIKE HIRING PRINCIPALS AND NAVIGATING SCHOOL BUDGETS.

EDUCATOR ENGAGEMENTTHE FUND ALSO CONNECTED EDUCATORS TO NATIONAL RESOURCES AND PROMISING PRACTICES OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN PROGRAMS. THE HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION (HGSE) AND HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL (HBS) COLLABORATE TO OFFER LEADING CHANGE, WHICH IS A FOUR-WEEK ONLINE COURSE IN ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP WITHIN THEIR CERTIFICATE IN SCHOOL MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THE FUND SPONSORED A COHORT OF PRINCIPALS FROM ACROSS THE CITY TO PARTICIPATE, HELPING EQUIP THEM WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO DRIVE SCHOOL CHANGE AND ESTABLISH PRIORITIES WITH DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS TO IMPROVE PRACTICE. WE ALSO ADDRESSED SCHOOLS' STRATEGIC PLANNING NEEDS SURROUNDING VIRTUAL AND UNFINISHED LEARNING BY SUPPORTING CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS' (CPS') REOPENING WORKING GROUPS, SHARING REMOTE AND HYBRID LEARNING RESOURCES WITH EDUCATORS, AND PROVIDING SCHOOL LEADERS ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERED BY RELAY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION.AT THE START OF THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR, EDUCATION FUNDERS AND FOUNDATIONS IN CHICAGO CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE A COVID-19 COMEBACK FUND TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS AS THEY STARTED A NEW SCHOOL YEAR IN REMOTE LEARNING. THE FUND PLAYED A ROLE BY FACILITATING THE DISBURSEMENT OF FLEXIBLE FUNDING UP TO $10,000 TO OVER 200 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NEIGHBORHOODS MOST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH SCHOOL LEADERS AS THEY NAVIGATED REMOTE LEARNING WITH THEIR TEAMS, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. WE GLEANED PROMISING TRENDS AND INTERVIEWED PRINCIPALS TO DOCUMENT LEARNINGS IN CASE STUDIES. FINALLY, THE FUND CELEBRATED EDUCATORS CITYWIDE THROUGH OUR FIFTH ANNUAL PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION CAMPAIGN. GIVEN THE IMPROVED HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THE FALL OF 2021, WE WERE ABLE TO REVERT BACK TO IN-PERSON EVENTS. THE 2021 CAMPAIGN INCLUDED FOUR SCHOOL VISITS, THREE CASUAL EVENTS FOR PRINCIPALS TO RECONNECT WITH PEERS, AND ONE EVENT AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY THAT FEATURED STORIES OF RESILIENCE FROM SCHOOL LEADERS. WE ALSO DESIGNED AND EXECUTED A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN AND MAILED WELLNESS GIFTS TO ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN CHICAGO.