Background
The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) houses 13 Cisco Networking Academy Programs in 78 high schools, and two more Academies will be coming on-board in 2002. CPS's students are ethnically diverse; 49% are African-American, 34% are white, 15% are Latino, 2% are Asian/Pacific Islander and .3% are Native American. When CPS first instituted the Cisco Networking Academy Program three years ago, they found that the curriculum was too challenging for their students, many of whom had no computer background.

In the past year, CPS has worked with a Technology Advisory Board of industry partners and the Cisco Learning Institute to make some institutional changes to CPS's technology programs that have resulted in significant strides towards bridging the digital divide in its schools. These changes include instituting a "Freshmen Technology" course at the 9th grade level, in which 85% of CPS's 72,000 students participated during 2001-02. The course curriculum was developed around industry standards and it concentrates on the end user: word processing, spread sheets, internet access and e-mail are all core components of this year-long course, which meets five times a week for a 45 minute period. Along with the Freshmen Technology requirement, CPS added an A+ course as a prerequisite for enrollment in the Cisco Networking Academy Program in 2001.

The Numbers
281 female and 416 male students are enrolled in A+ and the Cisco Networking Academy Program's Semesters one through three. That's a breakdown of 40% female, 60% male for both the Academy Program and the required A+ prerequisite. While final numbers on retention are not in yet -- since the technology curriculum was revamped -- CPS has been monitoring the Academies closely and the Director of Technology states that unlike before, this year's students are definitely being retained.

How did the Chicago Public Schools Networking Academy program successfully recruit and retain high school girls into Information Technology (IT) classes in this urban community?

Recruitment
CPS uses several methods to recruit students:

• The 9th grade Freshmen Technology course includes a "Careers in Technology" module, during which Cisco Networking Academy Instructors make presentations on the Academy. Since 40% of the Academy Instructors are female, they serve as role models to the girls and send the message that Networking is a "women's thing."
• Every May the Education to Careers Office of CPS hosts EXPO Live for middle school students - five days of career exploration that features the career programs available through CPS. There are six technology booths that are staffed by students -- the Cisco Networking Academy Program is one of them. Academy students set up the Local Area Network for the technology booths, as well as an intranet and video conferencing for demonstration purposes. Since 40% of the Academy students are female, middle school students observe female high school students laying cable, pulling cable and demonstrating the technology.
• Once a year, CPS high schools hold a "Career Night for Parents" and guardians at the local high schools, so that the community can see what kinds of skills their child can obtain before graduation, in addition to a high school diploma. CPS understands that parental support is often instrumental in career and course decision making. 18% of parents turn out for Career Night -- an accomplishment in a school of 78,000 students.
• Students enrolled in the Cisco Networking Academy Program and other technology education programs offered in local two-year colleges, are eligible to earn up to 20 to 30 hours of college credit for free, through dual enrollment based on articulation agreements and attendance at local 2-year and 4-year colleges through the College EXCEL Program. CPS also pays the student's fees for all related certification exams.

Prerequisites
Students are required to complete Freshmen Technology and an A+ course prior to enrollment in the Cisco Networking Academy Program. See the Background section above for more information about these requirements.

Success in the Classroom

"The success of our Cisco Networking Academy Program can be measured by the diversity of our instructors who are role models for our students and can best meet their needs." -Jose Velázquez, Director of Technology, Chicago Public Schools

Hands-on learning is crucial to the success of the Academy's students. Each of the Academies becomes the local tech team for their school; maintaining computer networks and equipment under the supervision of their instructors. This model provides the students with contextual learning while providing CPS with additional technical support.

CPS's instructors also use a Project Management model in the classroom -- emphasizing collaboration and team work among the students to meet class project goals.

Contact
Jose Velázquez
Director of Technology
Chicago Public Schools
125 S. Clark Street, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
Jvelazquez@csc.cps.k12.il.us
773-553-2474

School Web site
http://www.cps.k12.il.us