New Network Structure to Better Support Needs of Schools

Dear Parents and Families,

In support of our mission to provide every child in Chicago with a high-quality education, we are making changes this summer to our network support model that will expand and better focus academic supports for all schools.

We recognize that the instructional support needs of high schools are different from the needs of elementary grades. Therefore, we are restructuring the network system to better support the unique needs of both elementary and high schools. Under our revised structure, which will be in place for the 2018-19 school year, all elementary schools will remain in their current networks, and all high schools will be placed into four new networks that are better designed to support their needs.

Based on feedback from more than 400 school, network, and central office staff members across the district, including more than 300 principals, it is evident that schools need our networks to be more focused on their specific grade levels. We have also heard that schools would benefit from network teams that are able to spend more time working directly with teachers. In response to this feedback, we will be moving to a 17-network system that will provide each school with greater attention. As a part of our comprehensive high school strategy for student success, we will also be creating a team of high school instructional experts that focus on specific content areas and piloting new strategies to streamline administrative tasks so that educators can spend more time focusing on academic supports and less time navigating administrative requirements.

By eliminating our existing one-size-fits-all support model, schools will benefit in the following ways:

• K-8 schools will receive increased support from their current network staff, who will be able to focus exclusively on their needs.
• High schools will receive support from staff who are experts on high school instruction and operations.
• Due to a reduced chief- to-principal ratio, principals will have increased access to their network chiefs.
• High schools will benefit from subject matter experts who will be able to support instructional initiatives in all core subjects.
• We will also be able to establish systems to share best practices, allowing us to introduce new initiatives and celebrate the great work that is happening throughout the district.

We believe that this organizational change is another important step the district is taking to ensure our students sustain the historic academic gains we’ve made in recent years. We look forward to sharing more information with you as the project unfolds throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Janice K. Jackson, EdD       LaTanya D. McDade
Chief Executive Officer       Chief Education Officer
Chicago Public Schools      Chicago Public Schools