ABOUT SENN ARTS
Since 2012, the Senn Arts program at Senn High School, one of CPS’ most diverse schools, has benefitted CPS students through a unique and intensive arts curriculum. This highly successful magnet program, which draws students from the neighborhood as well as from all corners of the city, is an asset for all Senn students and a resource for the entire city. Not only that, but Senn Arts students are part of a vibrant community at Senn High School, taking part in the school’s special synergy between Arts, IB, and Major Studies. Recent changes to the program threaten this innovative institution, which would be an immense loss, not just for Senn Arts students and families, but for the entire Senn community.
Unfortunately, the current Senn administration has been systematically weakening Senn Arts in a variety of ways. Most recently, in November, Principal Dacres suddenly announced major cuts to the Senn Arts program, reducing the total number of guaranteed arts classes from eight to five. The school administration has described these cuts as out of their control, and required by CPS.
These cuts will significantly impact nearly 20% of the Senn student body — students who chose Senn High School over any other neighborhood, choice, selective enrollment, or private school in the city because of the unique education they get from the combined IB and Senn Arts programs. The cuts undermine the integrity of a thriving curriculum, reduce students’ access to college-level coursework and scholarships, impede the program’s ability to attract prospective students, and lessen opportunities for all Senn students to connect to the arts.
As Chicago Public Schools parents, students, and supporters, we believe that Senn Arts deserves to be fought for and that creative solutions can be found.
Therefore, we call upon the Senn Administration and CPS to:
- Cancel the proposed cuts to the Senn Arts program and work together to find solutions that ensure graduation compliance while restoring the program’s unique and successful model.
- Work with Senn Arts students, parents, teachers, and other Senn High School stakeholders to develop program models and schedules that strengthen Senn for all students, including restoring valuable opportunities for weekend performances and tech rehearsals that have been lost this year.
- Recommit to cultivating a vibrant educational environment through listening to the voices of students, teachers, and parents.
Why save the Senn Arts program
For nearly 15 years, Senn Arts has been a valuable asset to CPS students, Edgewater, Andersonville, and the greater Chicago community .
Senn Arts makes Senn Stronger
A successful Senn Arts program makes Senn stronger. Senn Arts teachers, who are all certified educators, are specially chosen for their combination of teaching and professional experience and bring that knowledge to all the classes they teach. Senn Arts has partnerships that benefit the whole school. Senn Arts performances and exhibitions are a resource for the entire community.
Senn Arts brings students and resources into Senn
Senn Arts was designed to act as a magnet, bringing students into Senn who might otherwise choose selective enrollment, private, or suburban schools. These students are both from the neighborhood and from all corners of Chicago. Students choosing Senn brings more resources and teaching positions to the school.
Senn Arts promotes equity & inclusiveness in the school system
Senn Arts makes arts careers and pathways accessible in a public school setting, offering opportunities that would otherwise only be available to those with the resources to pay for extracurriculars.
Senn Arts families are Senn High School Families
Senn Arts families are Senn High School families. Senn Arts students are Senn students who play sports, are part of clubs, and take all the core subjects. Senn Arts parents are on the LSC and other school committees. Any attempt to make it seem like Senn Arts is a completely self-contained program separate from the rest of the school is false and is being used to try to divide the community.
Senn Arts families are making reasonable requests
Senn Arts families are not asking for something special or new. We chose Senn based on the program that was described to us in official school materials. We are asking for the school to offer us the program we signed up for, which it has been offering without incident since 2012.
Proposed changes weaken the educational experience of Senn Arts students
Senn Arts has historically prepared students for highly competitive scholarships and admission to prestigious local and national institutions such as SAIC, RISD, Pratt, Loyola, DePaul, and others. The proposed changes all result in Senn Arts students receiving fewer advanced courses, including AP and IB courses in their disciplines. In fact, in general, the proposed changes, such as instituting an IB Career Preparation program (CP), seem to move the program towards being more of a career prep program than an advanced and enriched academic program, which is not what Senn Arts families chose.
Lack of stakeholder engagement
The administration has known about the issue with waivers for a long time — and yet still has never invited parents or students into any kind of conversation to ask us open-ended questions about our ideas and priorities or collaborate with us to find solutions.
Poorly communication and stakeholder engagement
The recent survey sent by Principal Dacres is unacceptable. It forces us to choose between options that she has set out, with no opportunity to express other ideas. The information that has been provided about the options does not provide enough context for us to make educated choices.