The darkly funny thing about this story is that we're talking about two bureaucratic institutions in Chicago, so they could both be lying through their teeth. I genuinely have no sense of who's telling the truth here.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the hold up here the Chicago Public Schools, not the federal government? I know the money comes from the feds, but it doesn't sound like they are otherwise involved.
Who is “they?” The referenced budget reports were produced by Chicago Public Schools and sent to the Archdiocese. What does any of this have to do with the 3.5 million documents related to Epstein that have been released by the DOJ?
Dude, what are you talking about? This is an article about a financial dispute between CPS and the Archdiocese of Chicago. It's shameful to accuse another commenter of "defending pedophilia" for asking how your comment is relevant. And rage-blocking? Are you here to discuss relevant topics or to rant and accuse?
I can’t imagine records of any communications would be different to produce. If CPS is telling the truth, it would seem providing copies of dated notices (electronic or mailed), meeting transcripts or minutes, and similar documents would be an easy route to debunking the Archdiocese’s allegations.
I’ve never had cause to think about it previously, but I’m now curious whether there’s anything equivalent/similar to a FOIA request for public school districts. Such a mechanism could prove useful in this instance.
Oh you can foia PS for sure. Tons of parents did during and afte Covid to see curriculum etc and schools and districts across many states stonewalled and denied and a few were taken to court.
So legally they have to, but if your district is a jerk, then you have to have the money to legally force them in the courts. Good times.
So it’s he said-she said on who is responsible, but ultimately it’s children who will bear the consequences. So sad. I don’t remember the exact stat, but I heard something like 95% of kids who aren’t at reading level by 3rd grade never catch up. A lack of support for the rest of the school year is huge.
That stat might even be understating it, but seems very close to accurate.
My Mom was a 3rd grade teacher for a long time, and regularly was reminded that our state plans out prison populations based on 3rd grade state level reading scores, and that 99-100% of students who were not at the appropriate reading level in 3rd grade would ever reach the appropriate level per state testing.
It’s been a few years since I’ve had to know, but I thought that in Illinois, the funding/ services for special education follow the child, and were not given in a lump sum?
“The Archdiocese of Chicago did not respond to The Pillar’s request for comment.”
The Catholic schools are now so expensive that they are serving primarily the upper classes while the poor are left in the public schools. It’s time for the Church to give up trying to provide general education in these schools; and use the resources for something else which can be kept open to the poor. Let the state provide for general education while the Church concentrates its resources on Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
I'm aware Catholic schools aren't perfect, but yes. Generally speaking, attending a Catholic school is positively correlated with with identifying as a Catholic and practicing as an adult.
So I skimmed but all I saw were stats on good education, degrees, salaries, civic engagement and lots of secular things that are good but are not “produced weekly mass attending, catholic children raising majority of graduates.”
I don't think I've ever seen a study that stratified the public/private/homeschool groups according to the things we already know affect retention: Mom&Dad going to church every Sunday with the kids, good catechesis, religion in daily home life, parents raise their children with guidance and teaching more than authoritarianism and coercion.
They can be hard to disentangle: Catholic schools will sometimes track church attendance for tuition discounts, and you'd hope the catechesis is at least a little better in Catholic schools. Catholic schools could be driving better parental behavior, or the use of them could result from better parental dedication.
Proportionate share of federal funding for each of the approx. 800 students is likely a very small sum, (far less than the ~$2400in federal funds per student per year that IL receives - that’s a figure I got from Google), especially given their varied needs. If the district ended the contracts for the remainder of the year, with the agencies listed in the article that provide services, it’s possible that they had an annual contract, that they agreed upon with the agencies based on a certain number of students back in August, and students were added as the year went on, and they ran into the red. I don’t know, but I’m guessing based on previous experience, assuming good intent and fairly good record keeping and communication. If any of those were sub-par, well….
In other Chicago news, the White Sox are doing a “Pews at the Ballpark” night in June, complete with white smoke coming out of the famous pinwheels after a home run, and a “Pope Hat” giveaway for every fan. I expected it to be controversial, but apparently not. The hat is hideous as well as tasteless. They seem determined to exploit the Leo connection in the tackiest way possible.
Plus everyone knows that the only acceptable Pope Leo baseball headwear is the Limited Edition 2026 Pillar Black hat.
The darkly funny thing about this story is that we're talking about two bureaucratic institutions in Chicago, so they could both be lying through their teeth. I genuinely have no sense of who's telling the truth here.
Appears to me early retribution at Catholics from the federal office.
Let’s keep fighting for the poor, the oppressed, the sick. Stand with our Pope and with Jesus. We must push back on all forms of evil.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the hold up here the Chicago Public Schools, not the federal government? I know the money comes from the feds, but it doesn't sound like they are otherwise involved.
Curiously, despite your provocative comment, neither the archdiocese nor CPS blamed the feds for “retribution”. They blamed each other.
Came to say this exact thing lol.
Is there any way for us to have access to these supposed communications or budget reports? Would that be subject to FOIA?
We can’t even get the Epstein files released. Why would they release notes on why they want to punish Catholic schools in the Pope’s hometown?
Who is “they?” The referenced budget reports were produced by Chicago Public Schools and sent to the Archdiocese. What does any of this have to do with the 3.5 million documents related to Epstein that have been released by the DOJ?
Wow, only 25% of Epstein files released. Not sure what your point is.
Blocking
Dude, what are you talking about? This is an article about a financial dispute between CPS and the Archdiocese of Chicago. It's shameful to accuse another commenter of "defending pedophilia" for asking how your comment is relevant. And rage-blocking? Are you here to discuss relevant topics or to rant and accuse?
I can’t imagine records of any communications would be different to produce. If CPS is telling the truth, it would seem providing copies of dated notices (electronic or mailed), meeting transcripts or minutes, and similar documents would be an easy route to debunking the Archdiocese’s allegations.
I’ve never had cause to think about it previously, but I’m now curious whether there’s anything equivalent/similar to a FOIA request for public school districts. Such a mechanism could prove useful in this instance.
Oh you can foia PS for sure. Tons of parents did during and afte Covid to see curriculum etc and schools and districts across many states stonewalled and denied and a few were taken to court.
So legally they have to, but if your district is a jerk, then you have to have the money to legally force them in the courts. Good times.
So it’s he said-she said on who is responsible, but ultimately it’s children who will bear the consequences. So sad. I don’t remember the exact stat, but I heard something like 95% of kids who aren’t at reading level by 3rd grade never catch up. A lack of support for the rest of the school year is huge.
That stat might even be understating it, but seems very close to accurate.
My Mom was a 3rd grade teacher for a long time, and regularly was reminded that our state plans out prison populations based on 3rd grade state level reading scores, and that 99-100% of students who were not at the appropriate reading level in 3rd grade would ever reach the appropriate level per state testing.
It’s been a few years since I’ve had to know, but I thought that in Illinois, the funding/ services for special education follow the child, and were not given in a lump sum?
“The Archdiocese of Chicago did not respond to The Pillar’s request for comment.”
The Catholic schools are now so expensive that they are serving primarily the upper classes while the poor are left in the public schools. It’s time for the Church to give up trying to provide general education in these schools; and use the resources for something else which can be kept open to the poor. Let the state provide for general education while the Church concentrates its resources on Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
This would cause a collapse in Catholic identity in America.
Are you postulating thst catholic schools make kids stay catholic? Ie affirm catholic identity?
Bc I hate to be the one to tell you but …..
Signed, 12 yrs of catholic school in 90s and one of the only practicing ones from any of my classes.
I'm aware Catholic schools aren't perfect, but yes. Generally speaking, attending a Catholic school is positively correlated with with identifying as a Catholic and practicing as an adult.
https://www.usccb.org/resources/Catholic-Schools-FACT-Sheet-Handout.pdf
So I skimmed but all I saw were stats on good education, degrees, salaries, civic engagement and lots of secular things that are good but are not “produced weekly mass attending, catholic children raising majority of graduates.”
Which subsection am I missing it in?
Page three, under the first bold line. It's a study from 2001, but I think there have been more recent studies that are in agreement
Here's a more in-depth study from CARA
https://www.usccb.org/resources/CARA-Catholic-Schools-Data-Points-white-graphs-2014.pdf
The correlation is there.
I don't think I've ever seen a study that stratified the public/private/homeschool groups according to the things we already know affect retention: Mom&Dad going to church every Sunday with the kids, good catechesis, religion in daily home life, parents raise their children with guidance and teaching more than authoritarianism and coercion.
They can be hard to disentangle: Catholic schools will sometimes track church attendance for tuition discounts, and you'd hope the catechesis is at least a little better in Catholic schools. Catholic schools could be driving better parental behavior, or the use of them could result from better parental dedication.
Proportionate share of federal funding for each of the approx. 800 students is likely a very small sum, (far less than the ~$2400in federal funds per student per year that IL receives - that’s a figure I got from Google), especially given their varied needs. If the district ended the contracts for the remainder of the year, with the agencies listed in the article that provide services, it’s possible that they had an annual contract, that they agreed upon with the agencies based on a certain number of students back in August, and students were added as the year went on, and they ran into the red. I don’t know, but I’m guessing based on previous experience, assuming good intent and fairly good record keeping and communication. If any of those were sub-par, well….
But, but, but.....Cardinal Blase J. Cupich is in charge. Am sure this will be settled soon.
In other Chicago news, the White Sox are doing a “Pews at the Ballpark” night in June, complete with white smoke coming out of the famous pinwheels after a home run, and a “Pope Hat” giveaway for every fan. I expected it to be controversial, but apparently not. The hat is hideous as well as tasteless. They seem determined to exploit the Leo connection in the tackiest way possible.
Plus everyone knows that the only acceptable Pope Leo baseball headwear is the Limited Edition 2026 Pillar Black hat.