CPS proposal: media coverage and public documents

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Published: 13 October 2013 13 October 2013

Note: ICA has been advocating a major expansion of the chess program in the Chicago Public Schools for more than three years.  Links to the public documents and media coverage appear in chronological order below.

"WHY NOT CHICAGO? A proposal to set up a program of free chess instruction in Chicago’s Title I schools" (proposal by ICA, June 2011, with detailed implementation plan, comparison with other cities, etc.) http://il-chess.org/non_joom/minutes/CPS_Proposal_2011.pdf

"New letters to Mayor show growing support for improving chess in CPS" (ICA website, March 23, 2012 including letters from Grandmasters and International Masters, coaches, parents, etc.) http://bit.ly/GMeveZ

"Advisory group offers to raise funds for new Chicago program" (ICA website, June 3, 2013) http://il-chess.org/index.php/youthnews/573-group-offers-to-raise-money-for-chicago-chess

"Opportunity Lost: Chess in CPS" (Editorial, ICA website, August 25, 2013) http://il-chess.org/index.php/news/589-opportunity-lost-chess-in-cps

"Chess at CPS could get boost with new program, but city isn't on board" (Ted Cox, DNAinfo Chicago, September 3, 2013) http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130903/downtown/chess-at-cps-could-get-boost-with-new-program-but-city-isnt-on-board-yet  (Also posted at http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2013/09/chess-at-cps-could-get-boost-with-new.html)

"Chess programs losing out in CPS" (Catalyst [CPS blog] September 4, 2013 http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/news/2013/09/04/54721/chess-programs-losing-out-in-cps

"CPS & Chess" (Interview by Niala Boodhoo of Jerry Neugarten, WBEZ Afternoon Shift, September 5, 2013) https://soundcloud.com/afternoonshiftwbez/cps-chess

"Rahm checkmates school chess teams" (Ben Joravsky, Chicago Reader, September 10, 2013)  http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/mayor-emanuel-checkmates-school-chess-programs/Content?oid=10923815.  (Also on "District 299: The Inside Scoop on CPS" (CPS blog): http://www.chicagonow.com/district-299-chicago-public-schools-blog/2013/09/scorching-september/ and http://highlandpark.suntimes.com/people/reader_talking_chess_with_highland_park_s_jerry_n-HPN-09112013:article

"Grandmasters ask to meet with Mayor and CPS" (ICA website, September 20, 2013) http://bit.ly/1bvJAah

"Chess Grandmasters make moves on Rahm, CPS" (Ted Cox, DNAinfo Chicago, September 24, 2013) http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130924/downtown/chess-grandmasters-make-moves-on-rahm-cps

"City sends mixed messages on CPS proposal" (ICA website, September 29, 2013)  http://il-chess.org/index.php/youthnews/600-city-sends-mixes-messages-on-cps-proposal

"Chicago’s chess wars" (blog post by Kate Grossman, Chicago Sun-Times, October 3, 2013) (Answered in Comment by Jerry Neugarten)  http://voices.suntimes.com/early-and-often/backtalk/chicagos-chess-wars/

"CPS Coaches, Struggling, Describe Their Frustration" (ICA website, October 30, 2013), http://il-chess.org/index.php/youthnews/616-cps-coaches-struggling-describe-their-frustration  (also featured and linked in Catalyst Nov. 1, 2013: http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/2013/11/01/64079/in-news-cps-teachers-coaches-work-around-budget-cuts)

"Chess Crusade Moves to Capture CPS Students" (Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune, November 24, 2013,  http://bit.ly/1fDFUVU)  

 "Schmakel leads Whitney Young to Four National Titles" (ICA website, December 16, 2013)  http://il-chess.org/index.php/news/629-schmakel-leads-whitney-young-to-four-national-titles 

"Still a Senior in High School, and a Five-Time Champion" (Dylan Loeb McClain, New York Times, December 28, 2013)  http://nyti.ms/1dgGkic (see section called "Chess in Chicago") 

"Media Outlets Join Discussion of CPS Chess Reform" (ICA website, January 5, 2014) http://bit.ly/1cRLt0v

"Philanthropist Joins Coalition for CPS Chess Reform, Calls for New Nonprofit" (ICA website, February 9, 2014) http://bit.ly/1fPTgef

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From the Wall Street Journal

"Chess, as a Survival Skill," (article by Stephanie Banchero, Sept. 27, 2010), http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703793804575512123207658124

From the New York Times

"Good at Chess? A Hedge Fund May Want to Hire You," (article by Dylan Loeb McClain, Sept. 29, 2011), http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/good-at-chess-a-hedge-fund-may-want-to-hire-you/

City Sends Mixed Messages on CPS Proposal

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Published: 29 September 2013 29 September 2013

In the ongoing debate over expanding chess programs in CPS, the Mayor's office and CPS have issued public statements suggesting they're not on the same page.

On August 30th and September 24th, the Mayor's office said it supports a strong independent program.  The Mayor said he was supportive of ICA and other providers and on two occasions has  "directed" CPS to meet with chess providers and other “engaged stakeholders” to “explore this potential partnership.”

CPS, however, has been sending different messages through three different spokesmen. 

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Top 100 Youth -- September 2013

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Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman

Published: 28 September 2013 28 September 2013

Ten new players have entered (or returned to) the pantheon of top 100 youth in their respective age group nationwide. Say hello (or welcome back) to Sam Fayn (7), Adam Bareket (8), Adam Pastor (9), Edward Zhang (10), Nathan Sobery (11), Andrew Fei (13), Oliver Natarajan (16), David Paykin (18) and Matthew Yang (18), along with Shvetali Thatte (U13 Girls).

Aydin Turgut (1st in age 8), David Peng (2nd in age 10), Adarsh Jayakumar (now 3rd in age 18), Sam Schmakel (5th in age 17), and Jonathan Kogan (9th in age 17) remain the Illinois players in the top ten of their respective age groups in the country.

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Top 100 Youth -- August 2013

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Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman

Published: 12 September 2013 12 September 2013

A half-dozen new names from Illinois have entered the USCF top 100 lists as of August: Ishaar Ganesan (10), Phillip Parker-Turner (14), Eli Goering (16), Joe Fennessey (17), Duncan Shepherd (17), and David Korobov (18).

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