According to the 2020 U.S., the Latinx racial group makes up almost 20% of the US population, the largest minority group in the US. In Chicago Public Schools Latinx students comprise almost 50% of our CPS student body - 53,816 of which are Spanish speaking ELs. It is critical that we include their voices, complex identities and histories, and lived experiences as part of our inclusive curriculum all year long.

In addition, Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to make protected space that uplifts the voices and perspectives of the Latinx community. One of the ways we should do so is by creating protected space to engage in the current and/or controversial topics important to the Latinx community.

Our Latinx students' perspectives are important to informing the local and national discourse that shapes our future. An important topic is "Hispanic Heritage Month" itself, whether the title should be changed, and what it should be changed to. These discussions elevate the rich and nuanced intersections of culture, ethnicity, language, and race - and what is diminished when we try to label them all under one umbrella word or phrase.

with students is critical to building equitable classrooms.

Outlined in this newsletter are highlights from our classroom resources and guidance to not only center Latinx histories and contributions, but resources to engage all students in the topics most important to our Latinx students and families today. We hope you will share what your students are thinking about and discussing through social media by tagging @CPSCivicLife or through email SSCE@cps.edu. Understanding and uplifting the deep-rooted history and current topics of our Latinx family is critical in our work towards equity.

To answer this Essential Question we invite you to explore and engage with our Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month Guidance: 

Here you will find curated materials to include the Latinx perspective and experiences in your classroom. More professional learning resources can be found on this page as well.

In this curated list of events you will find opportunities for both youth and educators to learn, grow, and experience joy. 

Building community and exploring identity are critically important to the new social science. Digital community is included as we grow increasingly influenced and connected virtually. Use this campaign to elevate students and educators' voices on the importance of Latinx history and voices.

#LatinxHispanicHeritageMonth reminds us to prioritize Latinx voices and elevate multiple perspectives. Participate in our StoryCorps Initiative to examine who we are and recognize our own cultural beliefs and values, and those of others.

This full-day session will be a training for HS US History teachers who plan to teach the newly revised Constitution Unit for US History. The newly revised curriculum aligns with culturally responsive, inquiry-based curriculum. In our session, we will also share best practices with colleagues on engaging students in learning about the Constitution.

This curricular unit satisfies PL 195 and will also be included in the Skyline curriculum system. Support for substitutes will be provided. CPDU's will be provided.

Oct 15th from 9 AM-3:30 PM. Learning Hub Course Code: 57428, Class Code: 106644.

The Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Experiential Learning PLC is a new opportunity within CPS available to teachers in every content area, at every grade level. Participants will receive training, guidance, supplementary resources and support for inquiry to action projects. This opportunity is available for individual teachers, and for school teams such as grade level, content teams, or schoolwide projects. Grants are available too!

Please find more information and sign up here.

The Reconstruction era, most commonly viewed as the period from 1865 to 1877, was a monumental struggle for freedom and democracy in the face of violent backlash. In this PD, you will be taken through the Reconstruction Unit to be used in your classroom and will learn to teach about the Reconstruction era using an approach that helps students connect this history to their own lives and the choices they make today.

The Reconstruction Unit will also be included in the Skyline curriculum system. Support for substitutes and CPDU's will be provided.

Register for the PD on October 25th and 26th here.

Sessions will take place on Wednesdays, Sept 29–Oct 20 @ 4:30-7:30 PM. More info here.

As part of this paid, virtual fellowship, two cohorts of educators will explore this question over the course of the 2021-2022 school year in a community with other passionate Fellows, award-winning journalists, and the Pulitzer Center education team. One cohort will be open to educators from Chicago, IL and the other cohort will be open to educators nationwide. Both cohorts will explore the following theme: Journalism and Justice: Elevating Underreported Stories in the Classroom. 

For more information, review the full announcement. If you are interested in becoming a Pulitzer Center Teaching Fellow, please submit your application by September 22nd.