By: Ted Dabrowski
It’s rare to see city leaders in Chicago take an open, unabashed stance on the collapse of literacy in our public schools. To complain about failing schools is deemed as too political, too racist or too anti-public schools. And on the rare occasion someone in leadership does say something, it’s usually to blame student outcomes on a “lack of funding” or “structural racism.”
That lack of leadership is why dismal results persist at Chicago Public Schools year after year, decade after decade. If you think that’s an exaggeration, a 1974 episode of Norman Lear’s Good Times mocked CPS for exactly what the district is still doing 50 years later. Then as now, CPS passes kids along and graduates them, even if they can’t read.
So it’s refreshing to see Willie Wilson, a successful businessman and leader of the black community, call for, in a Chicago Tribune OpEd, a literacy initiative “with the goal of getting 100% of Black students reading at grade level.”
Sound crazy? Or too ambitious? What’s actually crazy is that nobody sets goals anymore. Or demands accountability. Certainly not around literacy. It’s why just 11% of black CPS high schoolers test reading proficient on the SAT.
For some time, I’ve been saying I’d like to see Gov. J.B. Pritzker or Mayor Brandon Johnson or CPS CEO Pedro Martinez push for a massive jump in reading proficiency. For instance, for a doubling in reading proficiency statewide from today’s 16% to over 30% in two years and to 50% in four, and so on.
But I never hear such a thing. Instead, I only hear about graduation rates and how they’re rising – something that’s easily inflated by the system. That’s precisely what’s been happening at CPS: record graduation rates even as literacy falls. Even as spending nears $30,000 per student.
Those in charge would much rather deny, deflect and make excuses for the education system, something we’ve documented on our Education page in great detail.
In contrast, Wilson used Wirepoints data to justify the need for an obsession over literacy:
According to a 2023 Wirepoints analysis, the State Board of Education Illinois Report Card regarding Chicago Public Schools data revealed that only 2 in every 10 Black students can read at grade level, and in many city schools, it’s 0 out of 10. Black leaders and civil rights organizations are aiding in the subjugation of Black children because they fail to demand accountability and lack moral vision.
The Wirepoints analysis noted:
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- On the South Side, just 15% read at grade level. In math, just 8% are at grade level.
- On the West Side, it’s 13% and 7%, respectively.
- On the Southwest Side, it’s 12% and 7%.
This is a disgrace and national embarrassment. Where are the civil rights organizations? Where is the outrage from progressive Chicagoans?
Our kids can’t read.
We need more literacy champions like Wilson, undeterred by the attacks they may face from the system.
Who will join?
Appendix.
Read more from Wirepoints:
- What literacy crisis at Chicago Public Schools? Illinois State Rep. Buckner says he can read ‘very well.’
- Illinois education officials keep trying to hide their failures behind excuse of “higher test standards”
- City Club of Chicago plays host to education officials’ latest excuse for dismal student outcomes: The covid pandemic
- Poor student achievement and near-zero accountability: An indictment of Illinois’ public education system
The bill passed despite their votes in response to certain incidents where local prosecutors are thought to have been too lenient with non-citizens assaulting cops.
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board cited Wirepoints’ analysis of Chicago student proficiency data in their latest piece condemning the Chicago Teachers Union’s outrageous contract demands…all while a vast majority of Chicago’s children graduate unable to read at grade level.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about the details of Gov. Pritzker’s proposed $52 billion budget, why the state is struggling now that federal covid dollars have run out, the controversy surrounding Tier 2 government pensions, why Illinois’ expensive education system fails to teach children to read, the outrageous demands of the Chicago Teachers Union, and more.
Ted joined Jeff Daly to discuss how politicians can never spend enough on education despite there being no accountability for that spending, the growth of education staffing across Illinois, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $1 billion demand for Chicago schools, why Gov. Pritzker is providing $830 million in taxpayer subsidies to struggling EV carmaker Rivian, and more.
I like Willie… he always tries to do good
Willie WIlson is a rare breed. He seems to genuinely care about others, and specifically those who came up poor like he did. When it comes to poverty and educational achievement, statistics tell us that educational level of the parents and income are huge drivers. The family is also important. All that being said, children from uneducated parents are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to educational attainment. Also, where are the fathers? It is frowned upon to tell men that they need to step up and support their children emotionally and financially. Schools would be a lot better… Read more »
Some parents are too lazy or disinterested to be part of a team to help their children do better in school. That’s an almost impossible situation to turn around. There are people like volunteer tutors to help, but their net effect of improvement on the mass student body is very small.
too lazy or disinterested or intimidated by the school bureaucracy.