Meet Aaron ‘Jitu’ Brown, candidate for the Chicago school board’s 5th District
Academics
About 31% of Chicago Public Schools elementary students are meeting state standards in reading, and 19% are meeting math standards. How would you approach growing reading and math achievement?*
Education is “inspiration and information that prepare young people to impact the world.” Inspiration is first. I believe this happens through committing to culturally relevant and responsive curriculum. What better way for a child to internalize the magic of chlorophyll than to have a student farm on campus, while learning the story of George Washington Carver. Innovative course offerings that are connected to community development (entrepreneurship, economics), early laboratory experiences, proven programs rooted in cultural relevance (Algebra Project) is a path forward. Reading and math drills are not.
Do you support standardized testing more than once a year?
No. We have an opportunity gap, not an achievement gap. Standardized testing has been weaponized against Black and brown children for the past 25 years. And while institutions that many Chicago decision makers send their children to (like the U of C Lab Schools) minimize testing, CPS has as many as six standardized tests annually with punitive consequences. Instead, we need balanced, evidence-based, culturally relevant assessment (portfolio assessment, oral assessment, project-based assessment), which I learned in my 10 years teaching at St. Leonard’s Adult High School. I say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Do you support requiring all schools to select from a certain curriculum authorized by the board of education?
No. I support CPS schools developing the criteria of an acceptable curriculum (what children must know) but then to trust (and expect) that educator and community expertise will inform local curriculum design.
Chicago Public Schools has consistently fallen short when it comes to serving students with disabilities. What would you do to improve special education?
It is important that we expand and provide services for students with disabilities and their families in a way that is truly accessible to parents. We should be thinking about: How does CPS communicate that information and is that adequately accessible to parents? And how are parents who need that info treated in the process? I’m interested in seeing Know-Your-Rights type workshops that support parents knowing what is available to them and their children in a supportive environment because if the district isn’t parent friendly, then that creates a climate where children don’t get the resources they need.
CPS finances
In recent years, Chicago’s Board of Education has consistently raised the property tax levy to the maximum allowed by state law every year. Should the board continue to raise the levy to the maximum?
No. Raising the property tax levy is not a long-term solution. Funding schools via property taxes places a disproportionate burden on local taxpayers and ensures the inequity we have now. In order to achieve an equitable system, we must build on the good work to transform how resources are allocated (student need vs. population). Equity also requires us to look at where the money comes from — the Illinois tax system still continues to tax low-income and working families at the same rate as millionaires. Instead, a progressive tax structure could generate more revenue for schools.
Do you think CPS needs more funding, or do you think the school district’s budget is bloated? How would you balance the CPS budget?*
Both. I believe that education is dramatically underfunded from both the federal and state government. If elected, I will be an advocate for equitable funding from all sources. As a former “choice” district, CPS has not transformed its infrastructure to move away from privatization and towards equity — which is the goal of creating sustainable community schools. The board should also examine closely the layers upon layers of administrative infrastructure within CPS and look for where greater efficiency can be found.
School choice
Do you support the current board of education’s decision to prioritize neighborhood schools and shift away from the current system of school choice with selective enrollment, magnet and charter schools?
Yes. But I believe the transition should be inclusive of parents, students and communities. Many of Chicago’s students and communities have endured a substandard quality of education, and both desire and deserve well-resourced schools.
Given the board of education’s decision to prioritize neighborhood schools, how would you balance supporting those schools without undermining the city’s selective enrollment schools and other specialized programs?*
I believe that Kenwood Academy, a neighborhood school with a magnet component, is an excellent model for supportive advanced academic programming while not turning away neighborhood students. Peer-to-peer learning is an evidence-based strategy that is lost when top academic performers are segregated from their classmates. In addition, I respect every parent’s desire to have their child in the best academic climate possible and will not support dismantling selective enrollment schools.
The first charter school opened in Chicago in 1997 and these privately run, publicly funded schools grew in number throughout the 2000s. Today, 54,000 Chicago Public Schools students, or about 17%, attend charters and contract schools. Do you support having charter schools in CPS as an option for students?
No. I support the original vision of charters as centers of innovation, where successful models of teaching and learning can be shared with traditional public schools. Unfortunately, that mission has mutated into a “charter industry” where companies push for school privatization in order to increase their portfolios and make a profit. I do not support this. Charters are in the system right now. I’m not in favor of closing charters uniformly because any type of school closing is traumatic for the community it impacts. I do not want to see the expansion of charter schools.
Independence
If elected, how will you maintain your independence from the mayor’s office, the Chicago Teachers Union or other powerful forces shaping the school system?*
I will maintain my independence from powerful interests such as The Commercial Club, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, billionaires like Ken Griffin and any other powerful interests by staying true to our tradition. I come from an independent, Black-led community organization (KOCO) that was at the forefront of framing school privatization as racist policies rooted in gentrification as early as 2004. We have allies, and we disagree when we need to.
Police in schools
Do you support having sworn Chicago Police Department officers stationed in schools?
No.
Busing and facilities
Last year, in an effort to prioritize transportation for students with disabilities as required by state and federal law, CPS canceled busing for general education students who attend selective enrollment and magnet schools and hasn’t found a solution to reinstate that service. Do you support busing for general education students?
Yes.
About one-third of Chicago public school buildings have space for at least double the students they’re currently enrolling. Chicago officials have previously viewed under-enrolled schools as an inefficient use of limited resources — and a decade ago the city closed a record 50 schools. Do you support closing schools for low enrollment?
No.
Bilingual education
CPS has long struggled to comply with state and federal laws requiring bilingual programs at schools that enroll 20 or more students who speak a different language. The recent influx of migrant families has exacerbated the problem. What policies do you support to ensure the district is supporting bilingual students and in compliance with state and federal laws?
In elementary school, I began learning Spanish in the sixth grade, which was an invaluable experience. Just as we should invest in second-language courses for native English speaking students, I believe we have to dedicate our resources to ensure that English language learners have the resources they need to excel. I believe that the Chicago Board of Education has to direct resources to the student needs, so I support the hiring of more English as a Second Language instructors who can provide culturally relevant instruction that builds language capacity while providing inspirational experiences.
Top local issue
Please share one issue that’s a top concern for your community or your larger elected school board voting district.
Voters that I have talked to are frustrated about the state of Austin, Marshall and Douglass high schools, as the enrollment at all of these once proud institutions are low. I believe that the solution is engaging District 5 parents, LSC members, educators and students in building a pre-K through 12th grade vision for our schools, developing the Sustainable Community School Village model, so that families will be inspired to enroll their children in a cohesive system of education. People will support what they help to build.