Committee on Education and Child Development
October 14,2015 City Council Meeting
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago is an appointee of the Mayor of the City of Chicago;
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago and its residents have a vested interest in the continued success of educational programming at City Colleges of Chicago;
WHEREAS, the Child Development Department of the City Colleges of Chicago is nationally recognized and accredited, which serves students, families, children and early childhood centers in six distinct Chicago communities;
WHEREAS, Child Development students attend the Community College that best suits the location serving themselves, their families and their work obligations;
WHEREAS, the Mayor of Chicago and appointed City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor, Cheryl Hyman, have decided to close all of the Child Development programs at five of the City Colleges and consolidate the program to one location at Truman College, which is located on the far north side of the City of Chicago;
WHEREAS, this decision will result in the loss of access to Chicago citizens from the south and west sides to high quality, nationally recognized education in Child Development that is currently available to them within their communities as of Fall 2016;
WHEREAS, this administrative action disproportionately affects traditionally under-served communities particularly on the west and south side neighborhoods of Chicago;
WHEREAS, this action has wide ranging consequences for current college students, potential students and to young children and their families;
WHEREAS, the decision regarding consolidation was made without input from the impacted communities including many community-based organizations who provide services to young children and their families;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of City Council call for hearings before the Committee of Education and Child Development to determine the impact and consequences of the consolidation of the Child Development Department of City Colleges of Chicago upon its students, staff, and all persons and communities affected by the decision;