Educational Partnerships

We are a Talent Development High School structured around Diplomas Now!, a school model specifically designed to meet the needs of urban schools. This pioneering model stems from collaborative partnerships between Chicago Talent, Talent Development High Schools (a Johns Hopkins University program), Communities In Schools, and City Year, an Americorps program.

Talent Development High Schools – Johns Hopkins University

Talent Development High Schools is a comprehensive reform model for large high schools that face serious problems with student attendance, discipline, achievement scores, and dropout rates. The model takes a multi-pronged approach to school reform: Schools implement curricular and instructional innovations designed to transition all students into advanced high school work in English and mathematics; schools institute parent and community involvement activities to encourage college awareness; and schools utilize professional development systems to support the implementation of the recommended reforms.

While numerous high schools around the country have partnered with TDHS, Chicago Talent is one of only two high schools in the country created specifically as a Talent Development High School, with Johns Hopkins as its implementation partner from the very beginning. In its first few years of operation, Baltimore Talent Development High School (the TDHS prototype) has reported outstanding success, significantly outperforming matched Baltimore control schools—schools serving similar populations—in attendance, course passing, earned on-time grade promotion, state assessments, and graduation rate.

Click here to visit the Talent Development website for more information.

Communities In Schools of Chicago

As a national organization with affiliated offices around the country, Communities In Schools champions the connection of needed community resources with schools. By bringing caring adults into the schools to address children's unmet needs, CIS provides an invaluable link between educators and the community. The result: Teachers are free to teach, and students have the opportunity to focus on learning.

As the nation’s leading community-based organization helping kids stay in school and prepare for life, Communities In Schools works to provide The CIS Five Basics that every child needs and deserves:

1. A one-on-one relationship with a caring adult;
2. A safe place to learn and grow;
3. A healthy start and a healthy future;
4. A marketable skill to use upon graduation; and
5. A chance to give back to peers and community.

The on-site Communities In Schools of Chicago coordinator regularly conducts assessments of students identified as being in need of intensive supports. CISC then either provides these supports directly, or brings in and monitors support service provides, acting as a liaison between the school and social service programs in the greater community. School-wide supports provided for all students include health screenings, career fairs, diversity training, and behavioral reflections.

At Chicago Talent, we recognize that students’ holistic health ultimately impacts their academic performance, and our partnership with Communities In Schools of Chicago is one way we strive to meet our students’ myriad needs, and realize our mission of preparing all students for college, career, and for life.

Click here to visit the Communities In Schools website for more information.

City Year

City Year, an Americorps service program initiated in 1988, was founded on the belief that young people can change the world, by giving a year to service. City Year corps members serve in schools, in classrooms, and in neighborhoods, running after-school activities, and leading youth leadership programs. During their year of service, corps members develop civic leadership skills they can use throughout a lifetime of community service.

A breakthrough study from Johns Hopkins University has established that students who are most at risk of dropping out of school can be identified as early as middle school through key indicators – poor attendance, unsatisfactory behavior and course failure in math and English. Working as “near-peers” in schools like Chicago Talent, City Year corps members are uniquely able to help keep students on-track for graduation by working to improve attendance, behavior, and course performance.

This school-based service is at the heart of City Year’s Whole School, Whole Child approach to helping students and schools succeed.  By giving corps members the skills and opportunities to serve in schools and neighborhoods across the country, City Year seeks to:

• Help students and schools succeed
• Build stronger communities
• Break down social barriers
• Develop young leaders
• Foster active citizenship

2009-2010 Corps Members 2010-2011 Corps Members

At Chicago Talent, a team of City Year corps members plays an active role, providing daily academic support in math and literacy, running after-school programming, and leading service activities to develop leadership, character, and teamwork. Corp members also support faculty, making phone calls to the homes of absent students, assisting in the classroom, and organizing school events.

Click here to visit the City Year website for more information.