CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The first day of classes at Chicago Public Schools means many working parents will have to find childcare to help with remote learning.
Katherine Buitron is going to try to help her three children, between the ages of 10 and 13, with school while working full time. She told CBS 2 she applied for one of the district's child care services, also known as “supervision sites,” for kids younger than 14, but was rejected. CPS told her that her son doesn’t qualify.
“My youngest has autism. So that’s our biggest fear right now. The fact that he’s not going to get the support that he needs,” Buitron said. “They are expecting the impossible from parents, the teachers and the students."
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CPS emailed parents last week announcing the opening of six schools across the city for supervision sites. At each school, a staff member will supervise classrooms of no more than 15 kids as they e-learn, while wearing masks and staying socially distanced.
Each school has a capacity of 40 students, which translates to about 240 kids total starting Tuesday. The district said they’re prioritizing families who live in “high-need communities or transitional housing.”
Buitron said they should expand the service.
“I understand why you cannot bring the students into a classroom or into a school. I just think CPS should have planned this better starting in June instead of waiting until late August to start releasing all these crazy schedules for everyone,” Buitron said. “CPS should really try and expand and do it responsibly."
According to CBS 2, CPS plans to add more supervision sites Sept. 21, but they have not said how many.
Buitron said she doubts she will reapply for a supervision site.