The Eligibility Cliff

Got a call today from a mother whose 1^st grader attended one of our pre-schools.

She really wants her daughter to attend our after-school program at her old pre-school site. But she makes $120 too much per month to qualify for the program (per State of Illinois and federal rules).

She has been unsuccessful at finding workable alternatives, she can afford from her modest paycheck (under $30,000 per year). She called the Executive Director’s office out of sheer frustration after two years of struggling to find an alternative.

This is all because she fell off the “eligibility cliff”. There is a moment that families crosses an invisible income line and suddenly become ineligible.. there is no phase out. It is one of the worst perverse incentives, I’ve ever seen. “You earn too much”.

Kudos to our staff who help families navigate this complicated web of funding and eligibility rules, but the whole system is built without a foundation.

There are ways to make it more rational, but it is going to take much more leadership from organizations like Chicago Commons if it is ever going to happen.

City Budget Notes

It is City Budget time. And this year the City government really must make some hard choices. Both expense cuts and revenues increases are required. It is a double whammy. Mayor Emanuel included both, so that is a good start.

Now come the moral choices… what will we sacrifice? One topic for non-profits is free water. Non-profits like Chicago Commons have been getting free water for years. In good times, our city could afford this nice benefit. However, times are tough and we may need to pay our own way now. Does Commons like it? Of course not. Are we going to advocate against it? No. Sacrifices must be made.

Are we against anything in the Mayor’s budget? Yes. Two budget cuts are really bad ideas:

1. Cutting library hours. The library is a singularly important place in our neighborhoods. One of the few safe places where true learning can happen. It allows residents to pursue whatever it is they are after. We need more library hours, not less! The new West Humboldt library is seeing over 800 people per day and growing.

2. Cutting free tax services. There is a tiny amount of money in budget for free tax preparation services. It is cut by over half. However, for low-income families this is an absolute godsend. Most low-income working families with kids get a big tax refund thanks to Earned Income Tax Credit. Cutting this benefit means many families will not even do their taxes or could be gouged by a private preparer. This city-funded service injects way more money into the pockets of low-income families than it costs us.

A United Approach

At the recent CPS Board Meeting, a CPS official said “ it could [be] that our parents are voting with their feet,” by way of explaining why enrollment is declining at some under-performing schools. At Commons we have also seen more of our pre-school graduates going to schools outside the neighborhood, BUT the majority of our students still go to their local school.

Someone recently pointed out to me that the schools with declining enrollment are also in neighborhoods where foreclosure rates are off the charts. So it is important not to get caught up in the rhetoric. There are several reasons for declining enrollment in underperforming schools, and it is not only parents voting with their feet.

The bottom line: We do need to strengthen school management and that takes the right people and resources. And we, the community neighbors, must lend a hand to the school managers and teachers by engaging parents to be supportive of the school and students. It must be a unified effort.

One School At A Time

Remember the Morgan Stanley slogan… “one client at a time”?

Looks like CPS is adopting the "one school at a time" approach toward a longer school day.

I always found the Morgan Stanley ad campaign annoying, but the CPS strategy could hold a lot of promise.

So far teachers at four schools have voted to extend their school day unilaterally, not waiting for the teacher union – CPS negotiation to play out. In return CPS will provide each school and teachers with added funding.

Two of the schools are magnet or selective public schools. And two are majority low-income students, where arguably the extended day may be needed the most.

Will more schools take up the vote?

One thing we know for sure, extended school day by itself will not turn around a school. But -- most important -- an engaged group of teachers and parents definitely is a foundation for a better school. If the “one school at a time” approach encourages teachers and parents to organize and take local action, that’s good enough for us. Waiting for the high level political battles to play out is a recipe for the status quo and we don’t want that.

Turn up the heat!

Margaret Mead would be proud:

A first in education reform today... a small, vocal Local School Council on the South Side voted to turn its own school into a charter.

PREDICTION: No charter school operator will take up this call to action. If one does, they deserve big time praise.

WHY am I so negative? As the FoxNews story shows below, there is actually little parent involvement at this school despite the small, vocal Council. It is quite hard to inherit a neighborhood school with poor history of parent involvement. Charter school operators prefer to start a brand new school, attracting only engaged parents who take the time to apply for their child.

But that should not discourage this small, vocal group in Pullman. Even if they don't become a charter, they have laid down the gauntlet. Something must change! If they persist, it is sure to have a positive effect on the neighborhood and improve options for students. We at Commons are really interested to see how this plays out.

And it encourages us to redouble our effort in our own neighborhoods -- to support parents and community residents to take up the fight for better education, to support all educators who are pushing for excellence.

Community Demands Change for Wendell Smith Elementary: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Labeling Of Schools

The schools in our target neighborhoods continue to struggle to achieve high rates of student success. There is progress, but a long way to go.

This summer we are applying for new federal funding to support several of our school partners. We have learned the confusing taxonomy used to categorize schools. A lot of this taxonomy began with the “No Child Left Behind Act” under Bush and has continued with “Race to the Top” under Obama.

For example, some funding is directed to “Persistently Low Achieving” schools (definition is bedtime reading). Turns out three schools in West Humboldt Park are “Persistently Low Achieving”, but others are not. Yet these other schools seem to have similar challenges. In fact, Orr High School is not on the list due to a technicality, but everyone knows it has been an under-performing high school.

We are thinking hard about the value of school labeling. Ultimately, it feels like a label on the staff, teachers and students at these schools. Accountability is absolutely needed, but sometimes the current accountability regime feels shallow. It seems like schools are being managed like a production line, complete with an all-knowing “Inspector 12”.

I recently came across a You Tube video from a recent rally in Washington.. it is an impassioned speech by a School Superintendant who has dedicated his life to improving education for students of greatest need. I can’t say that he has all the answers, but it is clear that his work is his “calling”. These are the types of people we need in the schools.. passionate folks willing to make it their life work. When I see someone like this indicting today’s accountability system, I think it should make us think twice.

A Better CPS!

Chicago Public Schools has become known nationwide as one of the more innovative big city school districts. This is mostly due to CPS' aggressive expansion of new charter schools, selective enrollment schools and school "turnarounds". Most of CPS' attention, naturally, has been focused on improving quality of teachers and school management. A final leg of the stool remains -- creating long-lasting, close partnerships with parents and the community. If this can be done well -- CPS would truly cement the experiments of the past few years.

Let's hope that CPS CEO, Jean Claude Brizard, gets this. He is creating a new position to oversee CPS strategy with parents and neighborhoods. Hopefully CPS will build upon the "Community Action Councils" formed last year... we have found that to be a very productive forum. Really glad to see the Sun Times weigh in on this today!

Power of Parents

More on Mayor Emanuel's Transition Plan:

Initiative #34 focuses on engaging parents to help improve education.

We could not agree more.

And it is particularly good to see that the Transition Team chose to highlight ideas focused on building long-term relationships, such as requiring parent-teacher agreements. This is something that has long been a practice at Chicago Commons.

And it is equally notable what is absent. During the Mayoral campaign, it was reported that Emanuel was considering a "parent trigger” approach that would allow parents to vote to shut-down and re-open schools. A parent trigger approach could cast a political shadow over the parent-school relationship. Glad to see this idea was left out of the transition plan.

Choosing Words

Rahm Emanuel’s transition plan is impressive in its scope and contains some bold plans. It includes a call for expansion of quality and full-day early childhood program. See Page 46.

Well, we like it overall. But the choice of words is not so inspiring – like “funding streams that are unified”. Spoken like a true policy wonk.

The plan distinguishes between “school-based” and “community-based” settings, not choosing one over the other, but suggesting that things should be less fragmented. Sounds good, unless it leads to consolidation of early childhood education under the public schools bureaucracy.

Words I would have liked to see in the plan: creativity and collaboration. Look forward to getting involved in this.

Whacking Human Services

Over the past two years, funding from Illinois Dept. of Human Services has been reduced by 21%. There is no other major state agency cut this deeply. Thousands of vulnerable children and adults have or soon will lose support services.

Education, Health Care and Prisons have been cut, but not even close to the same degree. And state leaders have left other options untouched such as pension restructuring and new revenue sources.

The budget is a moral document and we are all complicit in the choices.

Governor Quinn has posted a survey for all citizens... Click here and rank your priorities.. keep in mind that Human Services prevents spending on other areas especially Corrections and Health Care.

Comptroller, one tough job

Judy Baar Topinka, State Comptroller, recently took the time to meet with Chicago Commons' Senior Care leadership team: Beulah Cohen, Dr. Shanthy Edward and Robin Walker.

Comptroller Topinka has one tough job right now, as she is responsible for day to day paying of bills for State of Illinois. She expressed strong support for community organizations that provide preventive services. It is welcome to see a leader in state government who understands how sustaining strong community organizations contributes to a stronger economy and society in the long run.

OF SERVICE

The Human Resources Director at Commons says she strives to be both “human” and “a resource”.

Similarly… Commons, as a human services organization, must be both “human” and “of service” to people. This is more than just PROVIDING services. This means we need to go out of our way sometimes.

For example, several Commons staff and board member recently toured Shriners Hospitals, simply because we did not know much about them. We came to learn that Shriners provides absolutely top-notch free health care for children with physical disabilities. We are now referring disabled children from our pre-schools to Shriners. It is a simple thing that is OF SERVICE to families. We might be the only way some parents would ever learn of Shriners – a jewel right here in our own city.

Speak Up!

A group of parents from Chicago Commons pre-schools just traveled to Springfield. This is the only way communities get the resources they need... residents must speak up.

At the capitol they talked to Representative Edward Acevedo (pictured). He voiced strong support for early learning investments.

State investments in early learning are critical to a neighborhood's prosperity. Let me count the ways:

1. Allows parents of limited means to go to work. The full cost of quality early learning programs would consume over 50% of many parents paychecks, essentially discouraging them from working at all.
2. Encourages children to become life-long learners. The key to our future as a city, state and country is that everyone become an effective life long learner.
3. Builds a sense of community among parents, children, volunteers and staff. Each pre-school really is a learning community. This sense of community is powerful and helps overcome the neagtive social behaviors present in our neighborhoods.

Social Networking

Before there was social networking there was.... well, social networking. Building strong relationships has always been the key to improving neighborhoods.

Thanks to all who helped organize the West Humboldt "BEEP Expo" at Orr High School this past weekend. Over 300 people attended! Every neighborhood entrepreneur who paid for a booth made a profit by selling their product. Parents who attended made connections that will help their family.

Sen. Delgado Lends Us His Voice

Senator William Delgado had to postpone his visit to Commons' Taylor Center last week due to an emergency budget meeting in Springfield.

And we are sure glad he did. Instead, Sen. Delgado attended state budget meetings to speak up about the unfairness of the Governor's budget proposals. Human services is being cut much more drastically than other parts of the budget. And yet the services we provide actually save the state money in the long run through reduced crime, delayed nursing home use and better educated, higher earning tax payers.

Thank you to Sen. Delgado for lending his voice, communicating the effectiveness of our work.

Governor Quiunn's Proposed 2012 Human Services Budget Cuts

Governor Quinn's Proposed 2012 Budget Cuts In Human Services Programs Will Directly Negatively Affect Chicago Commons and Our Clients

Governor Quinn recently released a proposed 2012 budget (for fiscal year starting July 1, 2001). It contains large cuts in health and human services programs. Along with Dan Valliere, I too, am concerned that this decrease in revenues for Commons' services will result in:

. A significant reduction in Senior Care service volume (fewer clients will be eligible). Many of Commons' Home Care Aides (and those of other agencies) would lose their jobs.

. Large cuts to our youth program requiring staff layoffs in that program and reduction in number of youth served.

. Child Care cuts are possible, but the budget is very unclear as to how they would happen. It's hard to project the impact on Commons at this stage. But it is very concerning.

The Governor's budget contains no mention of reductions to State employee pension/ health benefits.

The Governor's budget is opaque; it is not clear if all state agencies are receiving cuts or not.

So, it is Commons' conclusion that this budget is not fairly balanced. Cuts are absolutely necessary, and Commons will absorb its share. But they must be spread across all of state government. The Governor's proposal leaves other potential cuts off the table, magnifying the impact on human service agencies.

Commons' board, staff, clients, donors and the communities we serve, must work together to minimize the impact of these cuts upon our clients. We must be proactive, working together toward this end.

I welcome your perspective about Quinn's budget, its impact on human services in general, but most specifically on Commons and the clients we serve. Please share your ideas on how we can best assure continued quality service to those most vulnerable while recognizing the need to balance the State budget.

Please post your responses on this blog.

Sue G'sell
Director of Development
Chicago Commons

Idle Threats

The past few years of state and city budget woes has witnessed leaders issuing threats of massive cuts as a way to exert pressure and ultimately mitigate the cuts:

Witness Ron Huberman at the CTA in 2007, using threats to seek emergency funds from Springfield.

Or Pat Quinn in 2010, using school funding threats to seek an income tax hike.

Here in 2011, Quinn is threatening brutal cuts to health and human services, while seeking to borrow $8 Billion, some of which would surely be used to mitigate these funding cuts.

But all of this maneuvering masks and distracts from the central task -- the need to make sacrifices across the board, in all areas of government. This can only happen if the people demand it and we develop a shared sense of sacrifice - that everyone is giving something up for the greater good and long-term stability. It is not easy, but to have any chance, we need leaders who can appeal to a wide public and speak in plain English, rather than leaders who try to exploit threats and paper over problems with temporary fixes.

Governor's Borrowing Proposal

Governor Quinn is proposing to borrow $8.75 billion to pay unpaid bills and help balance budget for FY12.

Chicago Commons does not take a position on this.

However, for those so inclined, here is a summary of the PRO and CON positions:

1. PRO -- State of Illinois has already borrowed money from all of the providers and contractors like Chicago Commons. So Quinn’s proposal can be described as just “refinancing” existing debt in a more responsible, less expensive manner.

2. CON -- Some of this borrowing will allow the State to avoid some budget cuts in FY12, effectively "kicking the can down the road". The borrowing just allows the State to dig its long-term hole deeper, delaying cuts and avoiding decisions.

Ultimately, the answer is somewhere in the middle.

For example the State may have to borrow something to pay some of its unpaid bills, but it must not borrow in order to defer hard decisions.

Sun Times Editorial did a good job, I think, of communicating this balanced message.

What do we really value?

The current government budget debates in Illinois and nationally are rising to a fever pitch and the flurry of complex proposals and counter-proposals can be overwhelming. Before you burry your head in your hands, read NYT columnist David Brooks.

Here’s a key excerpt from his Jan. 3^rd column:

"The size of government doesn’t tell you what you need to know; the social and moral content of government action does. The budgeteers and the technicians may not like it, but it’s the values inculcated by policies that matter most.

The best way to measure government is not by volume, but by what you might call the Achievement Test. Does a given policy arouse energy, foster skills, spur social mobility and help people transform their lives?"

He really nails it.

At Commons, we view our work in the same way. We should invest most heavily in the things that are truly transformative, the things that “spur social mobility”.

I am convinced that Commons' early childhood education work is transformative. We don’t have the long-term scientific study yet, but there are just so many families who have used our pre-schools who become motivated to choose their child’s elementary school, who are seeking out summer enrichment and whose children are now in college – beyond the norm for our neighborhoods. This is why we have invested so heavily in this work – more than almost anything else.

In terms of state budget advocacy --- transformation should be our primary message. Expand the transformative things like early education… investments in our future. Moderate the things that simply consume in the present.