Democratic National Convention to tout education policy near Chicago school where no kids read at grade level

Education will be a major platform piece during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Too bad the party will meet near a Chicago school where spending $27K per student yields none who can read at grade level.

When the Democratic National Convention nominates Vice President Kamala Harris in Chicago, they’ll tout education policies near a school where zero students can read at grade level.

A major point of the party platform is “every child deserves a quality, affordable education, regardless of their parents’ ZIP code or income.”

A few miles from where Harris will accept her party’s presidential nomination is Collins Career Academy. Not a single student there can read at grade level.

It’s not an issue of whether Chicago or Illinois follows the Democrats’ admonition to spend more on public schools. Collins spends $27,000 per student. Chicago Public Schools averages $18,287 per student. Illinois is 8th in the nation in terms of per-pupil education spending at $21,830.

Besides, education research is mixed on the effectiveness of throwing money at poor academic performance. Some find how new education investments are spent matters more than how much is spent, with merely spending more money in the same old way failing to advance students.

That is the dynamic Harris is likely to see if she looks carefully at Chicago education. Citywide, increased spending per student keeps rising while proficiency keeps dropping.

Since 2012, CPS’ budget is up 97% but student proficiency is down 63% in reading and 78% in math. If more money were the solution, there should be at least baby steps in the right direction rather than stumbles in the wrong one.

Democrats certainly have a lively discussion ahead about education in their host city. Chicago might serve as a national example of what not to do.