Creating Better Schools

For Chicago to remain a world class city, we must improve our schools. We cannot expect to produce citizens prepared for the 21st century with a 19th century education system. That is why Molly supports fundamental school reform.

More Time in the Classroom

Chicago has the shortest school day and school year in the country. Students in Chicago spend an hour a day less time in the classroom than their counterparts in Boston. And over a 13-year educational career, students in Chicago spend the equivalent of four years less time in the classroom than their counterpart in Houston. This puts our children and our city at a massive disadvantage. Teachers can have a huge impact on children. But for that impact to take hold, students must be in front of the teacher longer.

And in too many of our schools, the day ends at 2:45 p.m. or 3 p.m. That is simply unacceptable. Aside from the obvious educational impact, this early school dismissal allows ample time for gang recruitment. In today’s economic climate, all adult family members will be working if they are luck enough to have employment. That means no one is home to take care of our children when they get out of school. The short school day opens the door to gang recruitment.

It is imperative for our children’s future and our city that we keep children in school longer. Molly supports a longer school day and school year. Molly with work with local community groups, churches, and social service agencies to expand access to after school programs in our community. Many of our schools have valuable programs for students. However, the programs are run by outside contractors and often cost $300 a month. This is simply too much for many families struggling to make ends meet. Molly will work with local groups to provide greater access to these programs for the students who need it most.

More Funding for Education

A recent audit by the Chicago Public Schools Inspector General found that leaders at CPS spent $800,000 on questionable expenses, such as alcohol and limousines. That money could have paid for about 16 teachers, but instead, it went to expenses that do nothing to help our children learn. With that type of spending taking place, it is obvious that the CPS Central Office does not need all the money it has.

Molly will support efforts to direct more money to our children’s classrooms. Right now, 3.5 percent of the CPS budget is spent on the Central Office. Cutting that to 3 percent would free $25 million for our classrooms where it belongs.

She’ll support efforts to reduce that to 3 percent, redirecting $25 million into classrooms.