Continuing Ed: Parents and the Future of Illinois Public Schools

What should we expect from public education? How can schools best serve the diverse needs of their students? How do schools reflect their neighborhoods and communities?

Continuing Ed. was a yearlong, statewide series of free public programs that put parents and schools back at the center of conversations addressing these difficult questions. Working with parent organizations and local schools, Continuing Ed. forefronted the experiences of families as they navigate their local public school system – providing an honest discussion of the problems that Illinois families still face while also celebrating the inspirational work that communities and educators are managing to do in tough times.    

About Continuing Ed.

Now available – What About Us? A Compendium on Equity in Public Education!

This compendium gathers the voices and resources that we saw during our yearlong, statewide program on the future of public education in Illinois. It’s meant as a resource to help parents and community members learn more about statewide public education and advocate more effectively for their communities. Take a look and please share widely!
In events that last from April 2016 to May 2017, Continuing Ed. connected parents from neighborhoods across the city and cities across the state. In Chicago, we worked with Senn High School on the Northside, Kelly High School on the Southwest side, and Kenwood Academy and U Chicago Charter School on the Southside. The series also involved parents in the communities of Elgin and Decatur, as well as Alexander, Union, and Jackson counties.

Through public talks, small-group discussions, and conversation-facilitation training, Continuing Ed. helped local communities better advocate for their schools by connecting parents and guardians across the city and across the state and convening a conversation between parents and policymakers.

Instead of pushing for specific policy reforms, Continuing Ed. highlighted and supported parental engagement in public education reform. By bringing people together across geographic and ideological lines, Illinois Humanities promoted inclusive dialogue as the foundation for any meaningful democratic reform and places parents at the center of any such effort.

Continuing Ed. Documentary produced by Free Spirit Media PRO and Illinois Humanities:

Program Schedule