The School Project is an independent cross-platform media project committed to the idea that a healthy public education system is essential to a vital American democracy. It began when a group of Chicago documentary filmmakers came together in response to the announcement that up to 200 Chicago public schools could be closed.

During the 2014–2015 school year, The School Project produced six ten-minute documentaries and eighteen one- to three-minute webisodes that contextualized and humanized issues such as the effects of school closings in Chicago, standardized testing, charter schools, discipline policies, innovative teaching practices, and the history of Chicago school reform.

Each segment was launched with a free, public premiere followed by a panel discussion in order to promote an informed conversation about the past, present, and future of public education in Chicago. Every episode was also broadcast on the local PBS public affairs program, Chicago Tonight, and published on The School Project’s YouTube channel, as well as on their website.

Media partners included Catalyst Chicago, the Chicago SunTimes, WTTW/Channel 11, CAN-TV, Chicago History Museum, Chicago Media Workshop, Ebony, and StoryCorps. The School Project won the 2016 Hometown Media Award for Best Documentary by Independent Producers.

Watch the rest of the series on YouTube.

Public engagement

A series of panel discussions and conversations with the public were lively and encouraged spirited debate on the issues raised in the documentary series.

ADDITIONAL CREDITS:

Producer, Director, Editor on “Testing Season”

Co-Producer/Director (with Bob Hercules), Editor on “Chicago Public Schools: Closed”

Series Producer with Free Spirit Media, Kartemquin Films, Kindling Group, Media Process Group, Siskel/Jacobs Productions, and Rachel Dickson.