CPS Announces Fully Remote Return to School Through 11/6

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Janice Jackson announced on Wednesday (8/5) that CPS would complete at least the first quarter of the school year (through 11/6) online. This comes a few weeks after CPS announced a possible hybrid learning plan where students would attend school for at least two days a week. However, as COVID-19 cases have begun to rise in Chicago again, Jackson said they were “not comfortable with the state of the pandemic and the national response,” and that they intended to revisit their hybrid model when it felt safe enough to do so.

The announcement also came a short two days after the Chicago Teachers Union made plans to potentially call its House of Delegates together to vote on a possible strike. However, Mayor Lightfoot contended the news of the CTU did not influence the city’s decision to go fully remote stating, “As we have now repeatedly said about every decision we’ve made in the context of this pandemic, we have to be guided by the science, period.”

This decision also came to light after weeks of CPS sending surveys and holding town halls to get the general consensus of the needs of the many families who will be impacted by moving to a remote learning model. For families of essential workers as well as other families who will not be able to stay home with their kids, the City of Chicago is looking into providing free childcare opportunities. Mayor Lightfoot also mentioned that free school meals would be offered around the city just as they were in the spring. CPS will also provide devices as well as free internet access for any family who needs them. 

In addition, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced plans to move forward with reopening Chicago Catholic and parochial schools despite CPS’s announcement to go fully remote for the first quarter, stating that it is in the “best interests of children.” They will offer an e-learning component for students who want to opt-out, and more information for that will be released in the coming weeks.

CPS has not yet released any information regarding making up the NWEA MAP test for students testing into Academic Centers and Selective Enrollment high schools. Moreover, they haven’t released information on SEHS testing, and if the pandemic will affect these procedures in any way. Test Prep Chicago will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as CPS makes it available. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of our website’s homepage to receive email updates about selective enrollment admissions in Chicago.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

CPS To Require Face Coverings and Temperature Checks in Fall, May Hold Classes in Alternative Locations Such as McCormick Place, Park District Fieldhouses

Chicago Public Schools released a statement on their social media on Friday, June 12th that they are launching a series of surveys to provide a well-rounded, comprehensive set of guidelines for the upcoming school year (2020-21). CPS noted, “A school district as large and complex as ours requires thorough guidance that accounts for the wide variety of needs in our schools, and we are working through those scenarios so that in the weeks ahead, we can present you with draft guidelines for reopening school buildings.”

 In addition, they provided the following guidance recommended from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that they already know will be enacted in the fall:

• Everyone will be required to wear face coverings. Schools will be given a limited amount of coverings for students and staff members at the beginning of the year.

• Hand sanitizer will be made available throughout all CPS buildings.

• Strict cleaning and disinfection rules will be in place.

• Students and staff members will receive temperature checks every day.

WGN9 Chicago also reported on Friday, June 12th that according to the chairman of City Council’s Education Committee, the City Council has begun looking into alternative locations to hold classes to give teachers and students the appropriate amount of space in the classroom to adhere to six-foot social distancing guidelines. Possible locations for classes include McCormick Place, Navy Pier, and Park District fieldhouses, among others. However, a spokesperson for McCormick Place said she had not yet heard of these plans.

CPS has not yet released any information regarding making up the NWEA MAP test for students testing into Academic Centers and Selective Enrollment high schools. Moreover, they haven’t released information on SEHS testing, and if the pandemic will affect these procedures in any way. Test Prep Chicago will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as CPS makes it available. Be sure to subscribe to our website on our homepage to receive email updates about selective enrollment admissions in Chicago.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

Illinois Schools Closed Through End of Academic Year

After Illinois’s largest single-day jump in known Coronavirus cases, Governor Pritzker announced on Friday, April 17th that all Illinois schools (public and private) would remain closed through the end of the academic year. This comes after approximately 20 other states –including Michigan and Indiana—issued state-wide closures for their schools through the end of their academic years in order to continue mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

On Monday, April 13th Chicago Public Schools began their remote learning plan for all CPS students which included delivering 100,000 laptops, tablets, etc. to students who need them (for more information, see our blog post from April 1st). Schools will continue with this remote learning plan through the duration of the year, and while students are encouraged and expected to participate, school work through remote learning will not be counted against students in their final grades. 

In a statement released by CPS, Janice K. Jackson (Chief Executive Officer) and LaTanya D. McDade (Chief Education Officer) assured families saying, “We know this is a tough time, but Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will be here to support you every step of the way.” They also offered these tips for quality remote learning through the rest of the year:

• Visit cps.edu/remotelearning for the most up-to-date information on remote learning and to access valuable learning resources.

• If your school is providing remote learning online and your child needs a device, please contact their principal.

• Your involvement is key to ensuring your child puts forth their best effort. Please take advantage of the resources offered by your school, including remote office hours with your child’s teachers.

• Please utilize Parent Portal to monitor your child’s progress.

In addition, they wanted to make sure families knew that Grab-and-Go meals would remain available throughout the rest of the school year. For more information on how/where to receive Grab-and-Go meals, visit cps.edu/mealsites. While some logistics of remote learning through the end of the year remain uncertain including “grading in quarter four, grade advancement, and requirements for graduation,” CPS reassured families that they are working to find the best solutions possible for families and will keep everyone updated as soon as they know more.

Chicago Public Schools has still yet to make an announcement regarding when and if students will make up their spring NWEA MAP test for selective enrollment high schools. However, Test Prep Chicago will continue to monitor the situation and let families know as soon as CPS disseminates that information. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter on our homepage, testprepchicago.com, for all the most current information. 

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

Test Prep Chicago’s Online Tutoring FAQs

In light of COVID-19 concerns, Test Prep Chicago transitioned completely online on March 18th. While the city of Chicago remains on lockdown, we will continue to operate remotely for the safety of our students and staff. Below are frequently asked questions about our online tutoring.

What kind of online tutoring are you currently offering?

We can offer any test prep or subject-matter tutoring you need from 4th to 12th grade. Test Prep tutoring includes tutoring for the NWEA MAP, SEHS, HSPT, ISEE, Academic Center Entrance Exam, SAT, and ACT. In addition, we also offer tutoring for math placement tests like the Algebra Exit Exam.

With what program are you operating your online sessions? Can we use Zoom?

Test Prep Chicago is currently using Vedamo. Unlike Zoom, Vedamo is a platform specifically dedicated to remote tutoring and education, so it has more features available both to our students and tutors. Additionally, it’s provided at no additional cost to families.

What features can you access in Vedamo?

Like other video-chat platforms, Vedamo allows students and tutors to see and speak to one another through a video chat. Unlike other platforms, Vedamo has a digital whiteboard that also allows us to upload our material. During the session, the instructor and the student can write directly on the whiteboard, working through our custom material. 

How does a Test Prep tutoring session work now that it’s online?

The set-up of the session isn’t all that different from an in-person tutoring session once it gets going; the main difference is in the time leading up to tutoring. A day or two before the session, our tutor will send a PDF of what the student and tutor will work through during the session. This way, our students will have a paper copy if they’d prefer to write answers down rather than work through them on the computer, and they have a chance to briefly look over the material first if they’d like.

About 10 minutes before the session begins, the tutor will send a link to their virtual classroom. Once the student clicks the link, he or she is immediately logged into the session. Once the session begins, the tutor and student will work through the material as usual with their digital whiteboard. In addition (depending on which test the student is preparing for), after the session, the tutor will send an email link with online homework for the student to do in between sessions.

How does a Subject-Matter Tutoring session work now that it’s online?

Students will need to send a PDF version of what they’re working on with the tutor so the tutor can upload it to our platform before the session. Then, 10 minutes before the session, the students will receive a link from the tutor to log into the virtual classroom. Once in the virtual classroom, the session will proceed as usual as they work through the material on our digital whiteboard. After the session, the tutor can send supplemental material for homework if the student would like a little extra practice in between sessions. 

Is Online Tutoring as Effective as In-person Tutoring?

Since this is new for Test Prep Chicago, we don’t yet have any data to show one way or another. However, there is no reason to believe it’s less effective given the same kind of one-on-one, personalized nature of the session as well as the fact that we are continuing to utilize our custom material. 

Does Online Tutoring Cost the Same? Can I Get a Discount?

Yes. It’s the same price for online tutoring as it is for in-person. Our company is actually paying more to use the service to put everything online at no extra cost to our customers. Lastly, since we are a small business that has been greatly affected by the pandemic, we cannot offer any discounts at this time.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

Tips for Remote Learning

Since Chicago Schools will be closed through at least April 30th due to COVID-19 concerns, CPS announced a remote learning plan for schools to begin on April 13th (for more information, see our previous blog post). While students will have the opportunity to continue learning, that doesn’t mean it won’t be without a challenge.  

Below are Test Prep Chicago’s tips for optimizing your student’s remote learning.

1.       Create the most ideal learning space possible.

While this may be difficult with the whole family all home at once, finding a quiet space in your home for your student to do his or her work will help your student to maintain focus, and be engaged in their remote learning.

2.       Make sure your student turns off his or her phone or other electronic devices before logging in to learn.

Just like in school, students should turn off any other electronic devices that may distract them from schooling.

3.       Use applications or browser extensions to help maintain focus.

Browser extensions like StayFocused for Chrome is a free extension to your browser which limits accessibility to other websites that may be distracting during work time. In addition, if your student is completing remote work on a phone or tablet, there are also similar apps available.

4.       Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

We’re all collectively becoming a bit more tech-savvy out of necessity, but these skills don’t come easily to everyone. It’s okay to reach out to your student’s school, etc. to ask for help on how to set up the necessary programs to facilitate remote learning for your student.

5.       Don’t be too hard on your student (or yourself).

This is a tough time for everyone. In addition to moving work and school online, many families are also worried about the safety of their loved ones. Don’t be too hard on yourself or your students as you navigate how best remote learning fits into your family.

In addition to schools transitioning online, Test Prep Chicago is now online as well to help supplement your student’s learning with a private tutor. We can also help your students work to prepare for placement tests or get a jump-start on standardized tests in the fall. To set up private tutoring, email us at info@testprepchicago.com.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

Chicago Public Schools to Deliver 100,000 Computers to Students, Illinois Schools Closed Through 4/30

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced remote learning plans on Monday, March 30th, which will begin on April 13th after CPS’s scheduled spring break. As a part of their plans, CPS will deliver approximately 100,000 laptops, Chromebooks, and iPads to students most in need. Schools plan to continue with remote learning through at least April 30th after Governor Pritzker announced yesterday, March 31st, that stay-at-home orders as well as school closures throughout the state (both public and private) were extended through the entire month of April. 

Families of CPS should expect more detailed information from their individual schools by April 6th which will entail what their school’s remote learning plan will look like. CPS also intends to provide non-digital learning materials to help further enrich students’ learning outside of the classroom. All remote learning material is included in the state’s $75 million Board of Education coronavirus budget approved last week.

CPS’s new remote learning plans are more detailed than their previous enrichment packets with which they were provided before schools shut their doors on March 17th. The new plans outline remote office hours for teachers to provide for students as well as daily lessons. According to CPS, the district will release two weeks of activities at a time. Schools are also welcomed to add to these. In addition, though the district and schools certainly expect students to participate in the planned activities and classwork, remote learning cannot be counted against them in their final grades.

Furthermore, even though the NWEA MAP tests are canceled, Test Prep Chicago will continue to run its classes online for further enrichment for students and families who are interested. The classes are being streamed live through an educational platform, Vedamo, which allows students to interact with their instructors in real-time as well as use a digital whiteboard to help further grasp the material.

While CPS still hasn’t released more information about the NWEA MAP and Selective Enrollment testing, Test Prep Chicago will continue to keep families updated as the situation progresses. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter on our homepage, testprepchicago.com, to receive the most current information.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

CPS Extends School Closures Through 4/20, Cancels Standardized Testing

In a public address to the city, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Thursday, 3/19 that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) would extend their closures through 4/20 in light of Covid-19. Lightfoot stated, “We need to give parents and guardians plenty of advance notice about this reality and the ability to plan.” This decision came to light after consulting with the city health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwardy and schools chief Janice Jackson who contend that they expect an “upward trajectory of the virus spread.”

Previously, the state had intended schools to be closed through 3/30 after Governor Pritzker mandated that all schools (both public and private) in the state of Illinois close from 3/17-3/30. It’s still unclear if another state-wide mandate will follow CPS’s lead in extending their closures.

While the safety of students and their families is the city’s top priority, this makes for an extremely unusual school year for the country’s third largest school district. Just last fall, CPS students missed 12 days of schooling during the Chicago Teacher Strike.

Furthermore, after Mayor Lightfoot made her announcement, Janice Jackson made a second announcement on behalf of CPS in an email to families on Thursday evening: all standardized tests, including the NWEA MAP test, would be canceled this spring.

The NWEA MAP test, in addition to serving as a helpful benchmark of progress in student learning, is also used for Selective Enrollment into Chicago’s top public high schools and academic centers. Jackson stated, “We are fully committed to ensuring students can access assessments tied to college entry, selective enrollment admission, and grade promotion, and we will keep families informed regarding any adjustments to the assessment calendar.”

CPS had not announced if they will reschedule the NWEA MAP exam to this fall or if they will even use the NWEA MAP exam in the admission's process for Selective Enrollment High Schools and Academic Centers for current 5th and 7th graders. That said, Test Prep Chicago will keep all families updated on any and all CPS announcements regarding testing.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266