In Chicago, teachers are working directly with policymakers via the VIVA Project. As the district struggles with the challenges of using a longer school day to improve student learning, teachers participating in the project are able to offer their own ideas.

In this video, members of the VIVA Project Chicago Teachers Writing Collaborative talk about the empowering experience of working together and having their voices heard by the massive Chicago Public Schools system. CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard says The VIVA Project, as a neutral third party, made it possible for him to hear from teachers, the real experts on how to use time in school to better serve students.

The VIVA (Voices, Ideas, Vision, Action) Project brought Chicago teachers into the education policy discussion by providing not only a platform to share their ideas, but also guidance to build on each other’s ideas and create a report of recommendations that was ultimately shared with the Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard.

You can find out more about The Viva Project here.