Post by title1parent on May 2, 2009 4:32:21 GMT -5
Report pushes parents to advocate
Letter to the Editor
5/2/2009 DH
What will it take to educate all our children? Illinois Kids Count tries to answer this question by looking at how our kids are doing in school, what's working, and what we can do better for children today and tomorrow.
Recently released by Voices for Illinois Children, this year's data book, "Education for the 21st Century," examines the educational well-being of children and addresses the challenges Illinois faces as we prepare students for a global economy.
Our classrooms are more diverse. Increasing numbers of students come to school with limited English proficiency or from low-income families. This means communities, schools and teachers must find new ways to meet a wide variety of needs.
We all know Lake County is not excluded from these statewide trends. For example, nearly 72 percent of students in North Chicago School District 187 are considered low income compared with nearly 5 percent of students in Lake Zurich School District 95.
Meanwhile, financial resources vary widely from district to district. Funding disparities remain a major impediment to the education of all our children. While money alone does not determine the quality of public schools, educational opportunities in our state are too dependent on the property wealth of local school districts.
Preparing all students for the 21st century means providing children with fair opportunities to receive an education that starts early, is comprehensive, high-quality and collaborative, and puts resources where they are needed most. We encourage all Illinois residents to get involved and advocate for what's important for the kids and families of this state.
For a copy of the Illinois Kids Count 2009 report, please voices4kids.org.
Rosemary Burger and Betsy Lazerow Co-Chairs North Suburban Voices Leadership Committee Voices for Illinois Children
Letter to the Editor
5/2/2009 DH
What will it take to educate all our children? Illinois Kids Count tries to answer this question by looking at how our kids are doing in school, what's working, and what we can do better for children today and tomorrow.
Recently released by Voices for Illinois Children, this year's data book, "Education for the 21st Century," examines the educational well-being of children and addresses the challenges Illinois faces as we prepare students for a global economy.
Our classrooms are more diverse. Increasing numbers of students come to school with limited English proficiency or from low-income families. This means communities, schools and teachers must find new ways to meet a wide variety of needs.
We all know Lake County is not excluded from these statewide trends. For example, nearly 72 percent of students in North Chicago School District 187 are considered low income compared with nearly 5 percent of students in Lake Zurich School District 95.
Meanwhile, financial resources vary widely from district to district. Funding disparities remain a major impediment to the education of all our children. While money alone does not determine the quality of public schools, educational opportunities in our state are too dependent on the property wealth of local school districts.
Preparing all students for the 21st century means providing children with fair opportunities to receive an education that starts early, is comprehensive, high-quality and collaborative, and puts resources where they are needed most. We encourage all Illinois residents to get involved and advocate for what's important for the kids and families of this state.
For a copy of the Illinois Kids Count 2009 report, please voices4kids.org.
Rosemary Burger and Betsy Lazerow Co-Chairs North Suburban Voices Leadership Committee Voices for Illinois Children