Carol Moseley Braun Answers: As Mayor of Chicago, How Will You Fix Education?

Chicago - We asked each mayoral candidate how they would fix education in the City of Chicago if elected. Each candidate was given the same 13 questions. We've posted each candidate's response, in his or her words, in their entirety, un-edited.

Candidate: Carol Moseley Braun
Website: www.carolforchicago.com
Email address: info@carolforchicago.com
Campaign address: 405 East 35th Street | Chicago, IL | 60616
Campaign phone: 773.285.9160

1. What criteria will you use in selecting the next CEO of the Chicago Public Schools?

I support hiring a superintendent for the Chicago Public Schools with a strong and proven track-record in education. Strong managerial skills and the ability to work with community leaders, parents, and teachers will also be extremely important qualities I will consider as mayor.

2. What will you do to keep the students who are in Chicago Public Schools safe?

I believe schools must be places where the community comes together. Parents, local businesses, community organizations, and local law enforcement must all play a role in providing a safe and secure space of learning for Chicago’s youth. As Senator, I was sponsor of the Midnight Basketball program, which brought local youth together with local police officers. I will provide an educational curriculum with more art, drama, and music classes to keep more students in school and engaged in activities to keep the gangs at bay. In addition, vocational training will provide students with the skills to be more competitive in the workforce and less likely to join gangs.

3. What significant activities/steps/policies/transformation will you implement in the Chicago Public Schools to improve teacher quality and preparation for both pre-service and experienced teachers to meet the needs of every student in their classroom? Where do you stand on recently drafted legislation that challenges districts to keep their best teachers in the classroom by using data like actual student growth and other measures, rather than solely basing those decisions on seniority?

As Mayor, I will work with the Chicago Teachers Union to develop criteria by which to evaluate teachers in a fair and balanced manner. I believe these evaluations should be ongoing and be utilized primarily to provide feedback to teachers and faculty, rather than simply rating them. Teachers must not be treated as scapegoats. Professional development training should be provided to help teachers adapt to the changing trends in educational practices and cultural changes in the neighborhoods.

4. How will you evaluate and study the outcomes of your proposed activities/policies/steps/transformation on student achievement and the learning environment? What role will student test scores play?

I believe education must incorporate development in many areas, not simply a number one receives on a test. As Mayor, I will work to ensure the graduation rates increase in the public schools, and the rate of students enrolling in college also goes up. Further, individual student conditions must also be taken into account when considering criteria by which to assess achievement. These aspects, as well as criteria developed with community leaders, Local School Councils, teachers and faculty, and local businesses must also be developed.

5. How will you create an effective partnership between students, parents, teachers, administrators, CPS staff, community organizations, the Chicago Teachers Union and the Board of Education to create an excellent learning environment in our schools for all students? Specifically, what do you think of the proposal to severely restrict the ability of teachers unions to strike? And how would you rewrite rules for teacher tenure?

I believe all parties have the motivation to see a strong and educated group of students as the product of the Chicago Public Schools. Community engagement means a stronger school and stronger neighborhoods. As Mayor, city hall will be a place where ideas converge and collaboration steers the ship. I sponsored the bill that created Local School Councils and I still hold the belief that engagement with parents is a key component to strong schools. I support the rights of workers, especially that of teachers, and believe that measures to limit their rights as a labor union ultimately hurt all parties who have an investment in the public school system.

6. Would your administration support the expansion of quality charter schools in the district and how would you address the concerns some have about transparency and parental oversight? What role do vouchers have in improving the education opportunities for Chicago students?

As Mayor, my focus will be in uplifting neighborhood schools. Though I do not oppose charter schools, I believe that many concerns regarding their transparency and accountability are legitimate. The vast majority of students are educated in neighborhood schools and my Administration’s focus will remain on improving neighborhood schools. I do not support vouchers.

7. How would your administration target chronically low-performing schools beyond increased funding supports? And how would you address the rightful concerns regarding increasing the community's engagement in how to address their neighborhood's lowest performing schools?

Bringing together parents and faculty to develop criteria for engaging under-performing schools will be a first step in addressing the problem. I do not believe the turn-around philosophy is the best way to address this problem, but feel that City Hall needs to reprioritize its assessment of public schools to provide for more attention to neighborhood schools. A true bottom-up approach is the only way to ensure neighborhood residents help to create high-quality neighborhood schools. Moreover, my administration will coordinate social services to meet such needs that transcend teachers’ ability to resolve, such as homelessness, hunger, poverty and traumatic home environments.

8. As mayor, would you support extending the school day and school year? How will you make it a priority for change in the 2012 Chicago Teachers Union contract and in communications with state policymakers? And how would you pay for it?

As Chicago has one of the shortest school days and terms in the nation, until fair funding for our schools is provided from Washington and Springfield, we must first utilize the time students currently spend in the classroom to be effective and beneficial to our students.

9. What innovative ideas are you planning to lead to improve learning experiences for our city's youngest citizens?

As mentioned above, I support expanding the curriculum to include art, drama, music, and physical education classes in our neighborhood schools. Further, providing vocational classes will better prepare students for the workforce. I expect to develop a more collaborative model between CPS and the academic and cultural institutions in the city, and to better integrate the array of social services needed by the children in our schools.

10. If you had a child with special needs, what would your expectations be at the school he or she attends?

Gifted students should be provided an environment for learning that challenge and develop their unique skills. Educators trained to support them will be encouraged and valued in the system.

11. What role will programs for gifted, high-performing students play in schools under your administration? How will the programs be enhanced or cutback?

I believe we must encourage and support our high-performing students, and plan to do just that as mayor. I will work to ensure these programs are kept available and strong for these students.

12. With intensifying external pressures to "achieve", schools can be tempted to focus exclusively on subjects that are explicitly tested on state and national tests, resulting in significant scaling back on arts programming. In addition, the current fiscal climate makes funding arts teachers -- and the materials associated with the arts -- an "extra". Should schools be forced to scale back on this programming, due to their testing focus or budget challenges?

I do not support schools being “forced” to cut back on these programs, but feel they actually must be expanded to increase student achievement.

13. Should the mayor send his or her children to public school? Why?

I believe the choice as to where the child of the mayor will attend school is a private concern that must take into account factors outside the realm of public life. In my case, it would be grandchildren, if I am blessed to have them.