Chicago Public Schools' Academic Probation Process: Insights Into a Process for Improving Failing Schools

Abstract

This study describes the Academic Probation Program in Chicago, Illinois, a support program started for the 109 lowest performing schools in the district. The schools are given the opportunity to choose from a selection of external partners, and are assigned a probation manager to guide improvement efforts paid for by the district and to assist the school in turning around student performance. Recognizing that principals often are overwhelmed by administrative issues, the district assigns a school operations manager or business manager intern to deal with fiscal and administrative issues so that the principal can focus on instructional issues. This study was undertaken to chronicle the emergence of the program, and to provide descriptions of its implementation and operation, during its first two years, 1995--96, and 1996.