Consortium on Chicago School Research

Consortium on Chicago School Research
Name	Consortium on Chicago School Research
Formation	1990s
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Parent organization	University of Chicago

Consortium on Chicago School Research

The Consortium on Chicago School Research is a Chicago-based research center affiliated with the University of Chicago that studied Chicago Public Schools reform, student outcomes, and school accountability. It produced longitudinal analyses, evaluation reports, and policy recommendations that influenced leaders such as Richard M. Daley, Arne Duncan, and organizations like Chicago Public Schools and the U.S. Department of Education. The Consortium partnered with foundations, think tanks, and academic centers to link empirical studies to implementation in districts, charter networks, and state agencies.

History

The Consortium was founded amid collaborations between the University of Chicago sociology faculty, the Harris School of Public Policy, and school district leaders during the mayoralty of Richard M. Daley. Early work engaged with initiatives led by Paul Vallas and evaluated reforms related to the Chicago School Reform Act and district restructuring under superintendent leadership such as Arne Duncan and Ruth Love. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the Consortium interacted with national efforts including the No Child Left Behind Act debates and contributed to discussions alongside institutions like the Brookings Institution, the Annenberg Institute for School Reform, and the RAND Corporation. Its reports informed decisions by philanthropic organizations including the MacArthur Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Spencer Foundation and were cited by municipal actors including the Chicago Board of Education and civic groups like the Chicago Urban League.

Mission and Research Focus

The Consortium’s mission centered on rigorous quantitative and qualitative studies connecting student achievement to policy interventions in district contexts such as Chicago Public Schools, with comparisons to other systems like New York City Department of Education and Los Angeles Unified School District. Research themes included accountability systems under laws like the No Child Left Behind Act, school choice dynamics involving Charter schools, teacher workforce issues linked to organizations such as the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, as well as community engagement exemplified by partnerships with groups like the Chicago Teachers Union and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Methodological collaborations included teams from the University of Michigan, Columbia University Teachers College, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the Northwestern University faculty.

Major Studies and Findings

Major longitudinal studies tracked cohorts across Chicago Public Schools and correlated attendance, mobility, and course-taking with outcomes cited by policymakers in reports from the U.S. Department of Education and think tanks like the Economic Policy Institute. Findings showed links between school stability and graduation rates that were discussed alongside research from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Education Trust. The Consortium produced influential work on the efficacy of small schools initiatives related to models promoted by organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Small Schools Workshop, and analyses of selective enrollment and magnet programs similar to those evaluated by the Johns Hopkins University and the Urban Institute. Studies on turnaround strategies referenced comparative cases from districts including Baltimore City Public Schools and Philadelphia School District and were debated in forums held with the Council of the Great City Schools and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The Consortium collaborated with municipal entities like the Chicago Public Schools central office, philanthropic partners including the MacArthur Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and policy organizations such as the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute. Academic partnerships involved the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and national research centers like the American Institutes for Research and the RAND Corporation. It advised federal and state actors including the U.S. Department of Education, the Illinois State Board of Education, and nonprofit intermediaries such as Teach For America and the Coalition for Community Schools.

Organizational Structure and Funding

Governance structures typically included senior scholars from the University of Chicago and directors who liaised with district officials from the Chicago Board of Education. Funding streams came from private foundations including the Gates Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and the Spencer Foundation, as well as contracts with municipal entities like the City of Chicago and grants from federal programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Research teams often included collaborators from institutions such as the Harris School of Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government, Teachers College, Columbia University, and independent evaluators from the American Institutes for Research.

Impact on Policy and Practice

The Consortium’s reports shaped policy debates on accountability, school closure and opening decisions, and strategies for improving graduation rates in Chicago, influencing officials such as Mayor Richard M. Daley, superintendent Arne Duncan, and subsequent district leaders. Its evidence informed reforms that intersected with federal initiatives like the No Child Left Behind Act and local efforts by entities such as the Chicago Public Schools central office and civic groups including the Chicago Urban League. The Consortium’s legacy persisted through citations in publications by the Brookings Institution, policy briefs from the Urban Institute, and adoption of practices by charter operators associated with networks like KIPP and Uncommon Schools.

Category:Research institutes in Chicago