Program Highlights & Locations
Chicago Commons is a leading provider of high-quality, comprehensive early childhood education using the Reggio Emilia approach for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. Chicago Commons operates four accredited year-round early education preschools in Back of the Yards, Humboldt Park, and Pilsen.
At Chicago Commons, parent and family engagement plays a key role in the success of our children. Parents are considered co-educators with the teacher to help ensure their child stays on track to learn. Parents or guardians can volunteer in the classroom, participate in monthly parent meetings, and join in family workshops on financial topics, nutritional eating, exercise classes and more. Learn more about how our multi-generational learning program, Family Hub, supports the parents/guardians of the children at all four of Commons early education centers.
Highlights
Our Approach: Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia is an educational philosophy that views the early years as crucial to the development of children as individuals. Chicago Commons was among the first in the nation to systematically implement the principles of the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy with children from under-resourced communities.
Based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and parent engagement, the Reggio approach empowers children to author their learning process. In Reggio, the parent, teacher and surrounding environment are all considered co-teachers of a child’s education. Children learn through touching, moving, listening, seeing and hearing. Art is an essential component and the learning environment features natural materials and plant life.
Our classrooms are notable for their creative environments and documentation panels line the hallways with children’s work. Educators from around the country have visited our schools to observe our Reggio Emilia-inspired practices.
Tuition and Aid
- Need-based tuition based on income eligibility
- Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) accepted
- Early Head Start & Head Start eligible
- Competitive monthly preschool tuition rates for ages 3-5 years – $689 per month
Our Early Childhood Centers
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Nia Family Center
744 N. Monticello Ave., Chicago, 60624
Garfield Park
Open from 7am to 6pm
Ages 6 weeks to 5 years
Site Director: Kristin Pettice
Assistant Site Directors: Ebony Westbrooks and Dichelle Casey
Petticek@chicagocommons.org
For more information call: 773-722-0115 -
Paulo Freire Center
1653 W. 43rd Street, Chicago, IL 60609
Back of the Yards (New City)
Open from 7am to 6pm
Ages 6 weeks to 5 years
Site Director: Joanna Burke
Assistant Site Directors: Stacey Williams and Gloria Fernandez
burkej@chicagocommons.org
For more information call: 773-826-6260 -
Taylor Center for New Experiences
1633 N. Hamlin Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
Humboldt Park
Open from 7am to 6pm
Ages 2 to 5 years
Site Director: Ann Bunch
buncha@chicagocommons.org
For more information call: 773-227-8551 -
Guadalupano Family Center
1814 S. Paulina Ave., Chicago, 60608
Pilsen (Lower West Side)
Open from 7am to 6pm
Ages 2 to 5 years
After-school program (5-12 years)
Interim Site Director: Karina Slaughter
Slaughterk@chicagocommons.org
Assistant Site Director: Lorena Constante
constantel@ChicagoCommons.org
For more information call: 312-666-3883
In addition to the four schools that we operate, Chicago Commons partners with 10 other community-based early childhood providers in communities across Chicago. Commons provides professional development training, supportive staff, and evaluation to our Community Partner Programs. For enrollment information, contact the individual sites.
Program Results
Chicago Commons uses Teaching Strategies GOLD and CLASS assessment tools to evaluate its academic impact and classroom quality. Through GOLD, we know that between 85% to 99% of our children are meeting or exceeding widely-held expectations across the various educational domains. By using CLASS, we also know that Chicago Commons’ centers consistently outperform the local and national averages for teaching quality.
CLASS measures the quality of interactions in a classroom between teachers and students. Research shows that when instructional support scores move above a 3.25, there is significant impact on student achievement that lasts through 3rd grade. Below are Chicago Commons’ results compared with the national average.
CLASS Scores 2018 (based on a 7-point scale)
| Domain | Chicago Commons | City of Chicago Average |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional Support | 5.95 | 5.88 |
| Classroom Organization | 5.38 | 5.25 |
| Instructional Support | 4.17 | 2.97 |
