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Academic Program Request for Proposal (RFP) 

At Chicago Public Schools (CPS), our vision for success is for every student in every neighborhood to be engaged in a rigorous, well-rounded instructional program that prepares them for success in college, career, and life.

The district has focused on strengthening neighborhood schools with high-quality academic programming since 2011. In last year’s inaugural Academic Program Focus Request for Proposals (RFP), Chicago Public Schools announced the largest-ever academic program expansion in history: investing $32 million in new high-quality programming for nearly 17,000 students at 32 schools across the district.

The 2019-2020 application for change in programmatic focus continues to put the voice of our school communities front and center. Through this process, schools are able to submit proposals requesting the addition of specific academic programs in their schools. In this second year of this process, the district seeks to maintain integrity in district decision making, provide even greater transparency and clarity into how academic programs are added to schools, and improve equity of access to high-quality academic programming across the district.

The district will give careful consideration to applications that address a programmatic need; have the appropriate entry criteria and plan for implementation; and demonstrate clear support from the school administration, local school council, and parents. Schools that apply but are not chosen will be given clear, objective rationale, as well as areas of improvement so they can focus on strengthening structures to ensure successful program implementation.

To identify opportunities for additional investment and develop a transparent and equitable investment process, the district worked with Kids First Chicago to publish the Annual Regional Analysis (ARA), a fact-based report to empower communities with objective school-level and regional education data. Before beginning the Letter of Intent, please review the Annual Regional Analysis.

The SY 2019-2020 Request for Proposals

CPS is seeking proposals from elementary and high school leaders requesting the addition of specific academic programs in their schools. The information, forms, and support tools needed to complete this application can be found in the three tabs on this site:

  • Timeline - This tab provides a timeline of the RFP process.
  • Program Overviews - This tab provides an overview of each program to which you can apply.
  • Community Events - This tab provides a list of outreach events and links to register.

Letter of Intent

The Letter of Intent Applicaton and accompanying documents should be emailed to programsfocus@cps.edu no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 3, 2019.

Network Chiefs can fill out the attached form and send it back to programsfocus@cps.edu.

 

Timeline

Activity Proposed Date Information and Updates
Release Letter of Intent (Phase 1) of RFP November 14, 2019
Letter of Intent Due December 3, 2019  
Release Full Application (Phase 2) to Selected Schools December 20, 2019  
RFP Application Window Closes February 7, 2019  
Evaluation / Site Visit Period February 7 - March 27, 2019  
Announce Program Focus Awards April 2020  

CPS reserves the right to request additional information and documentation from applicants, as deemed necessary for review, and to amend this timeline as needed.

Program Overviews

Key information about each programmatic area is available in the linked PDFs below. Please review the summary for the program you are applying for. If you have any questions, please email programsfocus@cps.edu.

Downloadable Program Overviews

Community Events

Community Outreach Events

These events are open to any and all school/community stakeholders. There will be a presentation about the background, application process, and contours of the programs offered through the process, and the event will provide an opportunity for Q&A and breakout sessions by program area for a more detailed explanation of the programs available.

Event Date Location
North Side Information Session
Register 		Monday, November 18, 2019
5pm - 7pm 		Sullivan High School
6631 N. Bosworth Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626
Pilsen / Little Village Information Session
Register 		Tuesday, November 19, 2019
5pm - 7pm 		Benito Juarez Community Academy
1450 W Cermak Rd.
Chicago, IL 60608
West Side Information Session
Register 		Wednesday, November 20, 2019
5pm - 7pm 		Westinghouse College Prep High School
3223 W. Franklin Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60624
South Side Information Session
Register 		Thursday, November 21, 2019
5pm - 7pm 		South Shore International College Preparatory High School
1955 E 75th St.
Chicago, IL 60649
Southwest Side Information Session
Register 		Monday, November 25, 2019
5pm - 7pm 		Gage Park High School
5630 S. Rockwell St.
Chicago, IL 60629

 

Principal Workshops

These events are open to principals / lead applicants to discuss ARA and other data analysis and provide general application support and Q&A about the application and evaluation process. Principals / lead applicants can register for the events here.

Event Date Location
Principal Workshop 1
 Thursday, November 21, 2019
1pm-3pm 		CPS Office - Beverly
11424 S. Western
Chicago, IL 60643
Principal Workshop 2
 Monday, November 25, 2019
2pm - 4pm 		CPS Office - Bridgeport
501 W. 35th Street
Chicago, IL 60609
Principal Workshop 3
 Tuesday, November 26, 2019
2pm - 4pm 		CPS Office - Garfield Park
2651 W Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL 60612

 

 

Timeline

Activity Proposed Date Information and Updates
RFP Released October 1, 2018  
Principal Info Session October 9, 2018

CPS is hosting an informational session to afford principals the opportunity to learn more about programmatic offerings and ask questions. This session is optional and for informational purposes only. You are welcome to bring a member of your school community/team. Please fill out the Programmatic Focus RSVP Form if you are interested in attending this session, and CPS will follow up with the location prior to the date.
School Letter of Intent Due October 26, 2018 Due by email to programsfocus@cps.edu by 5 p.m.
Selected Schools Invited into RFP Process December 3, 2018 Please find the full application here.
RFP Application Window Closes January 11, 2019  
School Site Visits by Appropriate Departments January-February 2019  
Notification of Applicant Status March 2019  
CPS Board Meeting May 2019 42 W. Madison, Chicago, IL

CPS reserves the right to request additional information and documentation from applicants, as deemed necessary for review, and to amend this timeline as needed.

Letter of Intent

CPS has created a rubric to help schools develop high quality applications. However, please note that CPS may consider factors in addition to the rubric and incomplete applications will not be considered.

In evaluating Letters of Intent, we look for schools that have strong or increasing enrollment to support program implementation with fidelity.

Letters and accompanying documents should be emailed to programsfocus@cps.edu no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 26, 2018.


Network Chiefs can fill out the attached form and send it back to programsfocus@cps.edu.


Program Overview

Key information about each programmatic area is available in the linked PDFs. Please review the one-pager for the program you are applying for. If you have questions, please email programsfocus@cps.edu.

Download the Program Overview

Community Meetings

The Annual Regional Analysis (ARA) supports the district's mission to provide every student with a high-quality education in every neighborhood by giving stakeholders a common set of information regarding school quality, enrollment patterns, school options, and program offerings by region.

ARA workshops will be led by senior CPS leaders and provide members of the community with an opportunity to learn about and discuss the schools in their region. Each meeting will begin with a short presentation by CPS leadership on the ARA and conclude with facilitated table discussions to brainstorm ways to invest in and strengthen schools throughout Chicago.

Meeting dates are subject to change, and we will continue to update this page:

West Side

October 17th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Collins High School
Registration Link

Greater Lincoln Park

October 18th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Lincoln Park High School
Registration Link

Greater Calumet

October 22nd, 6:00-8:00 PM
Corliss High School
Registration Link

South Side

November 7th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Lindblom HS, 6130 S Wolcott Ave.
Registration Link

Greater Stony Island

November 8th, 6:00-8:00 PM
CVCA HS, 2100 E 87th St.
Registration Link

Far Southwest Side

November 13th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Morgan Park HS, 1744 W Pryor Ave,
Registration Link

Far Northwest Side

November 14th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Steinmetz HS, 3030 N Mobile Ave.
Registration Link

Greater Milwaukee

November 15th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Wells HS, 936 N Ashland Ave.
Registration Link

Greater Stockyards

November 19th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Kelly HS, 4136 S California Ave.
Registration Link

Pilsen/Little Village

November 26th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Juarez HS, 1450 W Cermak Rd.
Registration Link

Greater Midway

December 6th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Curie HS, 4959 S Archer Ave.
Registration Link

North Lakefront

December 11th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Sullivan HS, 6631 N Bosworth Ave.
Registration Link

Near West Side

December 12th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Phoenix HS, 145 S Campbell Ave.
Registration Link

Bronzeville/South Lakefront

December 13th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Dyett HS, 555 E 51st St.
Registration Link

Northwest Side

December 18th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Roosevelt HS, 3436 W Wilson Ave.
Registration Link

Central Area

December 19th, 6:00-8:00 PM
Graham HS, 2347 S Wabash Ave.
Registration Link

 

Page Last Modified on Wednesday, November 13, 2019

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Chicago Public Schools
42 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL 60602
773-553-1000

Chicago Public Schools is the third largest school district in the United States with more than 600 schools and serves 361,000 children. Our vision is that every student in every neighborhood will be engaged in a rigorous, well-rounded instructional program and will graduate prepared for success in college, career and life.

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