Chicago Public School students graduating from high school now must have a solid plan in place before getting their diploma.
According to the Washington Post, in order for students to graduate from high school and receive their diploma, they are required to either present a college acceptance letter, secure a place of employment, a trade apprenticeship, a gap year program, or go into the military. Chicago Public Schools is the third-largest school system in the nation and is the first to make a post-graduation plans a requirement for students.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement “We are going to help kids have a plan because they’re going to need it to succeed,” he said. “You cannot have kids think that 12th grade is done.” Emanuel’s plan was approved by the Board of Education in late May and will take effect in the year 2020.
The city of Chicago has been at the forefront in the media for its political corruption and ongoing gun violence epidemic. Over the Fourth of July weekend, the city saw 100 shot and 14 people killed as the city’s gunshot body count continues to climb for 2017. Truth be told, the violence in Chicago is a direct reflection of the city’s poor government and political leadership. Factors such as massive school closings and underdeveloped neighborhoods have caused the city unnecessary turmoil.
Last year, the Chicago Police Department found itself at the center of an investigation by the Department of Justice that confirmed the department’s pattern of consistently violating the civil right’s of Chicago’s residents. For nearly 3 years the state of Illinois saw a historic impasse regarding the state’s budget, yet the city of Chicago managed to always find the funds to pay retribution to the families of those slain at the hands of those hired to protect and serve. With so much corruption at the top of the food chain, local community activists, world leaders, and community organizations have led the charge in ensuring that the city of Chicago continues to thrive economically and that the streets and neighborhoods stay safe for the youth.
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