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Acero Schools

Parents and Community » Community Resources

Community Resources

Acero Schools are “lighthouses” of resources for parents and community residents.
 
The structure of each school is complemented with neighborhood action and community involvement to support each school’s efforts at community building. Acero Schools draws upon its long-standing network of community relationships with local churches, schools and other community-based organizations, and works to build new relationships. As a result, the organization creates a new and effective base for parents of students to work towards common goals of healthy neighborhoods and strong families.
 
Acero Schools provides various programs that directly benefit community residents at the grassroots level, including English as a Second Language classes for the Spanish speaking community, health education initiatives that offer workshops to parents and local residents on positive lifestyles and preventive measures to keep families healthy and  after-school programming, Working with state and local government agencies as well as foundations, Acero seeks to expand its existing programs and bring similar initiatives to community members in the areas surrounding each campus, and seeks support from local businesses to promote these opportunities for residents and parents.
 
Acero Schools volunteer program builds a sense of community and involves individuals on a network-wide basis, further contributing to a community-based culture not only at individual schools, but also across all Acero schools. It encompasses parent commitment in the classroom and administrative assistance in the main office, as well as at volunteer opportunities at after-school events and activities.
 
Acero Schools provides external links as a convenience to our community and for informational purposes only.  Acero Schools does not endorse or approve any of the content (including products, services or opinions) present on external websites and bears no responsibility for the accuracy or legality of the content of the external site or subsequent links from an external site.
SUPPORT

Internet and Technology

Parent Portal is a secure, online database that allows all Acero Schools caregivers to access scholar grades, attendance and account information from any computer.

Access to PowerSchool Parent Portal will be made available to families at the beginning of each school year. The Parent Portal can be used to monitor scholar progress during each grading period.

Click here to access Parent Portal

How to use Parent PortalComo usar el portal para padres

Click here to review out SOPPA policy
Family Resources

Education

If you receive SNAP (Link Card), SSI, WIC, or TANF, your children are now eligible for
Head Start and Early Head Start. Learn more:
https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/headstart/
 

Richard J. Daley College is working with Oak Street Health clinic to assist in serving our communities with the recruitment of individuals who can fill critical positions for the COVID-19 Testing Sites and Health Clinic locations.

 

Click here for the Protect Chicago Flyer

  • Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) Grants – Chicago residents looking to advance their job prospects may be eligible to earn an industry-recognized certificate for free, helping to propel them towards an in-demand career in under a year. Learn more here.
     
  • Star Scholarship – Students who graduate from a CPS, charter, or Big Shoulders Fund-Supported partner schools and earn at least a 3.0 GPA can complete their certificate or degree at CCC for free, including tuition and books. Learn more here.
       
  • SEED Scholarship – Recent CPS graduates looking to become CPS teachers through the Teach Chicago Tomorrow Pathways Partnership are eligible for an up to $3,000 renewable scholarship from CCC starting this fall. Learn more here.
     
  • PepsiCo Foundation Uplift Scholarship – Students who identify as Black, African American, Hispanic, or Latinx and are pursuing a career in one of five identified fields may be eligible a scholarship award from the PepsiCo Foundation worth up to the total cost of tuition and books for the semester. Learn more here.

Every Thursday from 6 PM - 7 PM, Daley is hosting Tuition Scholarship Application Workshops to support students interested in exploring Advanced Manufacturing. Click here to watch a short video for an overview of programs.

The 2021-22 Chicago Early Learning Application is open! Families can research programs and submit applications at www.chicagoearlylearning.org/ or by calling the Chicago Early Learning hotline at (312) 229-1690.
 
All families with children who will be 3 or 4 years old by September 1, 2021 are encouraged to apply.
 

DACA & Immigration

Families can email CLEF for DACA legal support in English or Spanish at:
 
 
DACA Presentation:

Housing

The Spanish Coalition for Housing offers ongoing support and resources for families. Their offices help families with first-time home loans, mortgage & utility assistance, financial coaching, and more.
 
 

Health & Emotional Support

If you are an Acero caregiver whose scholar is in need of social and emotional support, the following resources are available to you.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line: 741741

Community Concerns

Acero Schools encourages community support in creating a safe and secure educational environment. Acero Schools is committed to clear, honest communication and working with families to address concerns in a timely manner. If you have a complaint or concern about an Acero Schools campus you should reach out using the following process(es):

 

General Concerns, Complaints, or Ideas:

The first step in communicating a concern, complaint, or idea with an Acero Schools campus is to go directly to the student’s classroom teacher or principal. Those that work directly with students and families on a day-to-day basis are best equipped to handle most inquiries efficiently and effectively. 

 

If a parent or guardian or community member is not satisfied with the outcome of an investigation, they may request a review by the Acero Schools Chief Education Officer. To request such a review, they should submit a written request via email to [email protected] within five (5) days of receiving the request, or by mail to 209 W Jackson, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606. For mailed requests, the letter must be postmarked within five (5) days of receiving the outcome of an investigation.

 

Appeals regarding student discipline as a result of an investigation should be submitted in the same manner.

If a parent or guardian or community member does not believe their concern has been appropriately addressed, they should escalate the issue by submitting documentation of steps already taken in the same manner. 

Acero Schools strives to provide and protect a safe learning environment for our students. Students, school staff and parents/guardians who witness student bullying or who have information about actual or threatened bullying should immediately report it to the campus principal. Information can be provided orally or in writing by completing the Bullying Report.

The Bullying Report form can be submitted anonymously. If you wish to remain anonymous, leave the name and email fields blank. No disciplinary action will be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report.

Paper Bullying Report Forms can be emailed to your campus administrator. Click here to download a paper Bullying Report Form. Bullying Report Forms can also be submitted online. Click here to access the online Bullying Report Form.

Oral Reports can be called in to your campus administrator or by scheduling a face-to-face meeting with your campus administrator.

If a parent or guardian or community member is not satisfied with the outcome of an investigation, they may request a review by the Acero Schools Chief Education Officer. To request such a review, they should submit a written request via email to [email protected] within five (5) days of receiving the request, or by mail to 209 W Jackson, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606. For mailed requests, the letter must be postmarked within five (5) days of receiving the outcome of an investigation.

Appeals regarding student discipline as a result of an investigation should be submitted in the same manner.

If a parent or guardian or community member does not believe their concern has been appropriately addressed, they should escalate the issue by submitting documentation of steps already taken in the same manner.

Any allegations of sexual misconduct involving Acero Schools staff and students should be reported immediately to the following:

  • If it's an emergency, call 911.

  • Call the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (CDFS) at 1-800-25-ABUSE (252-2873)

  • Call Acero Schools network office at (312) 637-3900

  • Call the Office of the Inspector General at 1-833-TELL CPS (835-5277)

Any allegations of abuse or neglect of Acero Schools students should be reported immediately to the following:

  • If it's an emergency, call 911.

  • Call the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (CDFS) at 1-800-25-ABUSE (252-2873)

  • Call Acero Schools network office at (312) 637-3900

  • Call the Office of Title IV and Student Protections at (772) 535-4400.

If a parent or guardian or community member wishes to make a situation known to the Acero Schools Board of Directors, they may contact the board via email at [email protected] or by mail to 209 W Jackson, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

Title IX, Harassment, and Discrimination Policy

Anti-Bullying Policy

Partners

Unidos

 

Acero Schools is honored to join the membership of the UnidosUS Affiliate Network in order to amplify its service to students, families and Chicago’s Latino community.

UnidosUs (formerly The National Council of La Raza) is the largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the country. The organization serves the Latino community through research, advocacy, programs and a national network of nearly 300 community-based Affiliate organizations across the country.

Acero Schools intentionally seeks to further uplift its students, graduates, parents and communities by affiliating with UnidosUS, which accepted our application for membership in June. In joining the UnidosUS Affiliate Network, Acero Schools gains access to new opportunities to elevate our impact on the community including funding and grant awards, professional development, and leadership training in addition to peer-to-peer collaboration with the vast Affiliate Network. 

Among the primary focuses of this partnership is parent engagement. Acero Schools intends to participate in the Padres Comprometidos program offering provided by UnidosUS. The program promotes the development of authentic, meaningful relationships with Latino families and to effectively engage parents, school staff, and children - from K-12 - as a community in order for parents to become more effective advocates for their children when they learn how to engage with the school system and gain strategies for navigating their children's stages of development as they progress through their school years.

Check Out These Additional Resources

 
Chicago Connected is Providing Eligible Families with FREE High-Speed Internet Access!
 
Chicago Connected Logo
 
Keep reading for answers to your questions regarding the Chicago Connected program for free wired internet or a free wifi hot spot. For additional information, please visit the Chicago Connected website.

P EBT

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, students who normally received free school meals at school are now eligible for a program to help your family buy groceries. Recently, the State of Illinois was approved to provide new Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer Program (P-EBT) benefits to all eligible Illinois students. This means that for each day that our students did not have access to an in-school lunch, P-EBT will provide benefits per student, per day.
 
Because all Acero Schools participate in the National School Lunch Program and in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), all Acero students will be eligible for this benefit. Please note, you do not need to complete an application to receive these benefits. The Department of Human Services will be mailing cards to all eligible students.
 
Please read below for additional information:
 
What action needs to be taken now?
At this time, it is very important for all families to ensure that the mailing address on file at your school is current. A complete mailing address will be needed to receive the P-EBT issuance in the near future. If you have moved recently, please make sure to provide the updated address to your child’s school.
 
What is P-EBT?
The purpose of P-EBT is to provide food assistance to families with students who would have received free or reduced lunch while attending school but are not receiving these meals in school due to COVID-19 restrictions.
 
Who is eligible for P-EBT benefits?
The following students are eligible for P-EBT benefits for School Year 2020-21.
  • Students must be enrolled in an eligible NSLP participating Illinois school and;
  • Students must be enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school OR must be determined eligible to receive free/reduced lunch for the 2020-21 school year and;
  • Students are P-EBT eligible on school days in which a school meal was not provided to the student to consume at school. If “grab and go meals” are provided to students, this does not exclude them from being eligible for the P‑EBT program.
 
When will I receive the benefits?
The Department of Human Services should begin issuing new P-EBT cards to all known eligible students in March 2021. P-EBT cards will arrive in an unmarked envelope so it’s important to keep an eye out! Additionally, each child will receive their own card. It is important to keep this card safe because future benefits will be loaded onto the same card.
 
 
Should you have additional questions or need to update your mailing address, please reach out to your child’s school.
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Debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, los estudiantes que normalmente recibían comidas escolares gratuitas en la escuela ahora son elegibles para un programa para ayudar a su familia a comprar alimentos. Recientemente, el estado de Illinois fue aprobado para proporcionar nuevos beneficios del Programa de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios para la Pandemia (P-EBT) a todos los estudiantes elegibles de Illinois. Esto significa que por cada día que nuestros estudiantes no hayan tenido acceso a un almuerzo en la escuela, P-EBT brindará beneficios por estudiante, por día.
 
Debido a que todas las Escuelas Acero participan en el Programa Nacional de Almuerzos Escolares (NSLP) y en el programa Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), todos los estudiantes de Acero serán elegibles para este beneficio. Tenga en cuenta que no es necesario que complete una solicitud para recibir estos beneficios. El Departamento de Servicios Humanos enviará tarjetas por correo a todos los estudiantes elegibles.
 
Lea a continuación para obtener información adicional:
 
¿Qué acción se debe tomar ahora?
En este momento, es muy importante que todas las familias se aseguren de que la dirección postal registrada en su escuela esté actualizada. Se necesitará una dirección postal completa para recibir la emisión de P-EBT en un futuro próximo. Si se mudó recientemente, asegúrese de proporcionar la dirección actualizada a la escuela de su hijo.
 
¿Qué es P-EBT?
El propósito de P-EBT es brindar asistencia alimentaria a las familias con estudiantes que habrían recibido almuerzo gratis o a precio reducido mientras asistían a la escuela pero que no reciben estas comidas en la escuela debido a las restricciones de COVID-19.
 
¿Quién es elegible para los beneficios de P-EBT?
Los siguientes estudiantes son elegibles para los beneficios P-EBT para el año escolar 2020-21.
  • Los estudiantes deben estar inscritos en una escuela de Illinois participante del NSLP y;
  • Los estudiantes deben estar inscritos en una escuela de Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) O tener determinación de que son elegibles para recibir almuerzo gratis o precio reducido para el año escolar 2020-21 y;
  • Los estudiantes son elegibles para P-EBT en los días escolares en los que no se les proporcionó una comida escolar para consumir en la escuela. Si a los estudiantes se les proporcionan “comidas para llevar”, esto no los excluye de ser elegibles para el programa P-EBT.
¿Cuándo recibiré los beneficios?
El Departamento de Servicios Humanos debe comenzar a enviando nuevas tarjetas P-EBT a todos los estudiantes elegibles en marzo de 2021. Las tarjetas P-EBT llegarán en un sobre blanco, así que es importante estar atento al correo. Adicionalmente, cada niño recibirá su propia tarjeta. Es importante mantener esta tarjeta segura porque los beneficios futuros se cargarán en la misma tarjeta.
 
 
Si tiene preguntas adicionales o necesita actualizar su dirección postal, comuníquese con la escuela de su hijo.
 

GET INVOLVED

Acero Schools graciously welcomes parent volunteers to our schools. Areas of need will vary by school campus, so please contact your school's main office for more information. Volunteers must follow all visitor policies and may require a background check depending on the number of volunteer hours.