Meet Carlos A. Rivas, Jr., candidate for the Chicago school board’s 3rd 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?^*
The board should focus and invest resources where they are most needed to support increasing student achievement. Early learning has proven to be essential for student success. Ensuring all 3- and 4-year-olds have access to quality early learning options can benefit student achievement in the long term.

Do you support standardized testing more than once a year?
Yes. As a former teacher, I have seen how standardized testing can be a good tool to gauge student growth. Establishing a baseline and measuring from the baseline can provide teachers valuable data to improve student outcomes and increase student achievement.

Do you support requiring all schools to select from a certain curriculum authorized by the board of education?
No. As a former teacher, I believe the board should provide teachers robust options. CPS has invested a tremendous amount of resources into the Skyline Curriculum providing teachers additional tools for their classrooms.

Chicago Public Schools has consistently fallen short when it comes to serving students with disabilities. What would you do to improve special education?
CPS needs to ensure it is meeting its requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is important that resources are made available to support the most vulnerable in the district.

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. All forms of government need to be better stewards of the limited resources available. I would want the board to advocate for additional state funding to limit increasing the levy each year. Chicago homeowners are overburdened by property tax increases that have led to tremendous changes in communities like the 3rd District. In Humboldt Park and Logan Square, higher property taxes have led to gentrification pushing families out of their homes.

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?^*
CPS needs to target more resources to schools who need it. When I am a board member I look forward to reviewing the budget through an equity lens.

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?
Neither. Families deserve the opportunity to choose the best educational environment for their students. For many that may be their neighborhood school, like it was for my family. For others, they may be looking for more specialized schools, schools that have invested in certain programs like fine arts or a STEM focus. The board needs to fight for adequate resources across the district.

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 fully support strengthening neighborhood schools. I believe we can strengthen neighborhood schools without sacrificing the city’s selective enrollment and magnet school programs that so many families seek out for their children.

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?
Yes. I support families having a choice in deciding the best educational environment for their students. As a former teacher and counselor, I met many families who chose our school based on its academics, extracurriculars and community partnerships.

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?^*
Board independence is important to the long-term success of the district. My goal is to increase meaningful community engagement to bring families along in board decisions. It is important that my constituent’s needs are represented at the board.

Police in schools

Do you support having sworn Chicago Police Department officers stationed in schools?
Neither. I support local school councils and principals making this decision for their schools. They are the ones best equipped to make this decision for their individual school community.

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. I support reinstating busing for general education students. This is an equity issue as primarily low-income and minority students are the ones who have lost these transportation services. Choice is being eliminated for primarily low-income students when there are common-sense solutions available to support these families and school communities.

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. School closures are not supportive of improving educational outcomes and destabilize communities.

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?
I fully support transitional bilingual education for students of any ethnicity. As a board member I will advocate for increased resources to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.

Top local issue

Please share one issue that’s a top concern for your community or your larger elected school board voting district.
Increasing student achievement is imperative for the long-term success of the schools in my district. Our school communities deserve the resources they need to improve student outcomes.