CPS claims half of children from closing schools have enrolled in 'Welcoming Schools' based on questionable numbers
The public battle over the questionable use of numbers by leaders of Chicago Public Schools continued on May 30, 2013 when the CPS "Office of Communications" issued a press release claiming that half the children from kindergarten through seventh grades in the schools being closed had already transferred to their "Welcoming Schools."
The CPS press release is below here:
Nearly 50 Percent Of Students At Sending Schools Enroll Early For SY 13-14 Comprehensive Early Enrollment Campaign Includes Calls, Text Messages, Emails, Letters, and Flyers to Parents in Just One Week, Helping Ensure Children Are Ready to Start Learning on Day One
May 30, 2013
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced today that nearly 50 percent of students attending underutilized schools set to be consolidated into Welcoming Schools have chosen to early enroll for the fall. One week ago, CPS launched an enrollment campaign to encourage parents to sign up their children early for School Year 2013-2014.
Of the 11,800 students currently attending Sending Schools in grades K-7, nearly 5,800 have enrolled in their new school. Of that number, 86 percent have elected to attend their dedicated Welcoming school.
“Early enrollment is key to a successful transition for students at their new Welcoming Schools this fall,” said CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett. “It will also help principals better prepare their budgets and staffing to ensure students have all the resources they need for a strong start on the first day of school.”
This campaign continues today and tomorrow, Friday, May 31, through 7 pm at all Welcoming and Sending schools. Parents can enroll their child in their dedicated Welcoming school or at another school with capacity. While students from Sending Schools are guaranteed a spot at their dedicated Welcoming School, their parents must enroll them in-person. Parents who remain undecided can also register their child throughout the summer leading up to the start of the school year on August 26.
CPS launched an aggressive outreach campaign to parents on May 23rd encouraging them to early enroll their children for the fall. Tens of thousands of text messages, robo calls, phone banking calls, emails, letters, mailers, and other outreach to parents have been conducted since last week.
In addition to registering their child at their own school or a Welcoming School, CPS is hosting enrollment fairs for parents. Remaining enrollment fair locations and times are:
Thursday, May 30, 3:00 to 7:00 PM, Cather Elementary School, 2908 W. Washington
Friday, May 31, 1:00 to 7:00 PM, May School, 512 S. Lavergne
