Senn High School Rolls Back Part Of Proposed Changes To Its Art Program
Current Freshmen and Sophomores Spared from Proposed Changes, But Parents and Students Still Hope for Reconsideration
Nicholas Senn High School, a neighborhood high school with a fine and performing arts magnet program, has announced that it will roll back part of its proposed changes to its art program curriculum. The decision comes after a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) audit found that some students in the program were not meeting graduation requirements.
Background
The school’s arts program is known for its intensive arts-based curriculum, which attracts students from outside the neighborhood. Currently, students take two daily, back-to-back art classes in their chosen discipline every year. However, the CPS audit found that some students were not meeting graduation requirements due to the arts classes crowding out time for other required classes.
New Plan
Under the original plan, incoming Senn arts program students would take five arts classes throughout their time at high school, rather than the previous eight arts classes. However, the district has now amended its plan to grandfather all current students into the existing curriculum, instead of only affecting juniors and seniors.
Reaction from Students and Parents
Students, including Senn senior Leo Spiegel, who credits the intensive arts program for setting him up for success after high school, are relieved that the changes will no longer affect them. Spiegel and his classmates attended CPS board meetings and emailed CPS leadership to advocate for the preservation of the arts program in its current form. A petition was also created, asking the district to revisit its decision.
Stronger Senn, a coalition of parents pushing back against the proposed changes, still has concerns about the “long-term vitality” of the arts program if the district follows through on these changes.
CPS Statement
CPS has stated that it is “committed to providing high-quality and rigorous learning experiences” for students and is “committed to collaboration with staff, students, and families at Nicholas Senn High School to establish course offerings that lift up the school’s strong arts education programming in alignment with other CPS high schools while ensuring a well-rounded education that meets local and state graduation requirements.”
Conclusion
The decision to roll back part of the proposed changes is a step in the right direction, but parents and students still hope that the district will reconsider its decision and find a solution that meets the needs of all students. The arts program is an integral part of Senn High School’s identity, and its preservation is crucial for the school’s future success.
FAQs
Q: What is the new plan for the arts program at Senn High School?
A: The new plan grandfathered all current students into the existing curriculum, rather than only affecting juniors and seniors.
Q: How did students and parents react to the original plan?
A: Students and parents were relieved that the changes would no longer affect them, but still have concerns about the long-term vitality of the arts program.
Q: What is the current state of the arts program at Senn High School?
A: The arts program is known for its intensive arts-based curriculum, attracting students from outside the neighborhood, but some students were not meeting graduation requirements due to the arts classes crowding out time for other required classes.
