From The Chicago Tribune: As a federal investigation swirls around admissions practices at Chicago's selective-enrollment high schools, it has spotlighted a troubling problem in the city's education system: There are so few good high schools that high-achieving teenagers must fight over scarce slots. And they are battling odds they don't understand and that school officials are reluctant to fully explain.
RELATED...from The Chicago Sun-Times: Joyce Kenner Principal of Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago says she has been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury investigating admissions to Chicago's elite college prep high schools but insists she "did nothing wrong'' and has no clue why she is being summoned.
Earlier...from The Chicago Tribune: The relative of a top aide to Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott got into prestigious Whitney Young High School through back channels before withdrawing after questions arose. The case is now part of an internal probe. District officials found out earlier this year about the incident involving Gregory Minniefield, a senior manager for the board. His relative was accepted into Young for the coming school year outside the regular application process, and officials "flagged" the admission. Shortly after, the relative was withdrawn from the ultracompetitive school.
Earlier...from The Chicago Tribune: Federal authorities have launched an investigation into the admissions practices at Chicago's selective-enrollment schools. Federal officials recently served a grand jury subpoena on Chicago Public Schools seeking information about the admissions process. Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott has confirmed that the district recently received a federal subpoena, but declined to elaborate because of the investigation.
JULY 2009...from The Chicago Tribune: Chicago Public Schools officials have begun an investigation into how students are admitted into the district's 52 selective-enrollment schools. In a brief news release, officials said information "recently came to the attention" of schools chief Ron Huberman that existing policies may not have been followed. Entry into magnet schools is supposed to be through randomized lottery. Admittance to selective-enrollment high schools and gifted elementary centers is supposedly based on merit. But whispers have long swirled that some students get spots in these top-flight schools not by chance or merit, but by whom their parents know or how much money they make.
