Chicago Public Schools Launches Summer Programs for 90,000 Students, Offering Enrichment, Career Training, and Job Opportunities

Strategic Insights -

This summer, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is launching a series of programs for over 90,000 students, providing a wealth of opportunities for enrichment, career training, and job readiness. The programs, which include internship and training opportunities, career and technical camps, and safety initiatives, aim to keep students engaged, safe, and connected with their peers and mentors.

Key Takeaways:

  • As of today, the City's One Summer Chicago program has received over 25,300 applications from CPS students at 602 schools.
  • The District expects to spend up to $50 million to support summer programming for approximately 90,000 students.
  • Summer intern and training programs are available through the City, community organizations, and CPS partners, such as JLL and the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 399.
  • IUOE will offer a paid trainee position with JLL to 19 Class of 2022 graduates, with 10 of them coming from Chicago Vocational Career Academy and three from Peace and Education High School.
  • The partnership is designed to promote diversity and provide selected graduates with access to a career path in engineering, earning an associate degree and the option to pursue a bachelor's degree at a reduced cost.
  • The District has new offerings of Career and Technical Camps at schools across the city, hosted by the CPS Office of Career and Technical Education (CTE) to expose students to various career paths.
  • The CTE Summer Camps 2022 will take place at 23 District-wide high schools between July 5 and Aug. 11, aiming to expose sixth to ninth-grade CPS students to CTE program offerings and skills sets.
  • Students will make corporate site visits, participate in interactive projects, and develop employability skills.
  • The District will continue the successful Safe Passage program into the summer to support students attending programming at various Chicago Parks.
  • Up to 550 job opportunities will be offered to CPS students who are participants in the Choose to Change Program, which combines skill-based job training with social and emotional learning skills.

Statistics:

  • Over 25,300 applications have been received for One Summer Chicago from CPS students at 602 schools.
  • $50 million will be spent by the District to support summer programming for approximately 90,000 students.
  • 19 Class of 2022 graduates from Chicago Vocational Career Academy and Peace and Education High School will receive a paid trainee position with JLL.
  • Up to 550 job opportunities will be offered to CPS students through the Choose to Change Program.

Sources:

  • [Mayor's Office Press Release, Chicago Public Schools Launches Summer Programs for 90,000 Students, Offering Enrichment, Career Training, and Job Opportunities, Chicago, IL]
  • [Chicago Public Schools, One Summer Chicago, Chicago, IL]
  • [International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 399, IUOE Trainee Program, Chicago, IL]
  • [CPS Office of Career and Technical Education, CTE Summer Camps 2022, Chicago, IL]
  • [Chicago Public Schools, Safe Passage, Chicago, IL]
  • [Choose to Change Program, Chicago, IL]
  • [Illinois Governor's Office, Back to Our Future Pilot Program, Springfield, IL]
  • [Chicago Public Schools, Office of Career and Technical Education, Career and Technical Camps, Chicago, IL]