Since the creation of Renaissance 2010, nearly 100 schools have been closed, consolidated, phased-out, or turned-around without input from educators and support staff who work with the students in those schools, nor from parents and community members. The Chicago Board of Education has not provided any evidence that Renaissance 2010 has improved public education for all students in the city. "We need to build up, not tear down, the people and the places our students depend on to learn," CTU President Marilyn Stewart told the Board of Education at its January meeting.

Legislation is being finalized and will come before the Illinois House of Representatives calling for a moratorium on school closings in Chicago. Please ask your elected officials to support any action to stop Renaissance 2010.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As you may be aware, the Chicago Board of Education has released the latest list of schools to be closed, consolidated, phased-out, or turned-around under the Renaissance 2010 initiative. The Board has not provided any evidence that Renaissance 2010 has improved public education for all students in Chicago.

I respectfully urge you to join the Chicago Teachers Union in protesting this action. It is yet another example of the demise of neighborhood schools in the city of Chicago.

Schoolchildren in our city deserve to receive a quality educational opportunity without being uprooted by arbitrary school closings, consolidations, turn-arounds and phase-outs. Please support any action against Renaissance 2010 that may be introduced in the chamber where you serve. Meanwhile, please let members of the Board of Education know your opposition to this demise of public education in Chicago.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
January 28, 2009