AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/education/)
Congressman Danny Davis’ annual back-to-school event starts at 10 a.m. Aug. 21 with a parade, followed by a book bag giveaway at noon at Columbus Park. Free health screenings and COVID testing also will be available,
A new club will open next month at Austin College and Career Academy High School, serving 40 to 50 students after school. There are also clubs at Austin High School, Brunson Math and Science Speciality Elementary School and John Hay Community Academy.
Don’t miss the largest back-to-school community event on the West Side. It takes place from 12 to 5 p.m. Aug. 13 at Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School, 5101 W. Harrison St.
No Austin schools will see a drop in their budgets in 2021-2022, according to preliminary numbers released by Chicago Public Schools earlier this spring.
Next month’s institute will be held virtually and be available to students in 5th through 12th grade. Chicago Debates hopes to add at least 1,000 students in the next five years, with many of them coming from the West and South sides.
A high school junior is creating more space in the chess community for young girls with her nonprofit, The Chess Queens. Girls from kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to participate in free virtual classes.
Lewis School of Excellence and the Revive Center unveiled new murals Friday at two locations on the West Side. The mural series at Lewis is titled “We Believe” and was designed by students. The Revive Center mural, painted by artist John Vergara, depicts Cesar Chavez, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr.
The PepsiCo Foundation is launching a $40 million scholarship program investing in 4,000 Black and Latinx students throughout the country, including 160 here in Chicago. One scholarship program targets students pursuing degrees in five high-demand areas, while the other scholarship provides support to community college graduates making the transition to a four-year institution.
Legislation signed into law last week by Gov. J.B. Pritzker expands already required Black history coursework to include pre-enslavement of Black people, why Black people came to be enslaved and the American Civil Rights renaissance. The new law – a key part of the Illinois Black Caucus’ legislative agenda – also increases the percentage of grant funds prioritized for Black males and incorporates consideration of financial need in awarding grants, among other improvements to higher education.
There are nearly 700 open seats on 267 local school councils across the city; five schools in Austin are still looking for members to serve. See the list AustinTalks has compiled of members currently serving on LSCs in Austin.