Advocacy

Advocacy

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Key messages to share via social media:

• Parents:Talk about your school and how it has made a difference in your child's life. Use examples to illustrate this - e.g. does your student have special learning needs that are met exceptionally well by your school's teachers? Are you willing to drive 2 hours a day to make sure your child has access to the high-quality education that only your school can provide? What are the positive changes you have seen in your child since he/she started at a CICS campus?
  • Example Post: "I love my children’s school in your district - CICS Washington Park. I have seen so many positive changes in my three children that attend the school. My first grader is reading at a 4th grade level and my 7th grader just received an award for best debater in his debate club. My children are safe and engaged and I know when they graduate, they will be ready to attend a selective enrollment high school and on track to enroll in a competitive college.”
• Teachers:Share stories of how your school culture helps make you a better teacher, and how the flexibility of charter schools empowers you to take creative approaches to making a difference in your students' lives. Use examples from the classroom to the athletic field.
  • Example Post: “Working at CICS Prairie in your district is a blessing. As a charter school teacher, I am held accountable for my classroom outcomes. I am empowered to start clubs and pilot curriculum that engages students. I have never had such a challenging and rewarding job before. Growing my students by two grades over the course of just one year is something I pride myself on!”
• Staff:How would extra funding make a difference at your school? Be specific - could you hire a teacher's aide to help improve differentiated instruction? Update your learning resources? Offer a more competitive salary to retain your best and brightest educators?
  • Example Post: “I oversee the upper grade teachers at CICS Irving Park, the highest-performing charter school in Chicago. These are some of the most passionate teachers you will ever meet – and I need to be able to pay them a competitive wage so we can continue to see our outcomes soar. Please make sure our school, and all charter schools in Illinois, receive equal per-pupil funding – because public school dollars should follow public school students.”
• Supporters: Speak about your involvement with CICS or a CICS campus. What do you like about working with our schools? If you are a program provider or vendor, how many jobs have you created in Chicago communities thanks to your partnership with CICS? How is the educational environment at a CICS campus different?

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