The Center for City Schools at National-Louis University develops and supports projects to improve urban education. We promote education which respects teachers' and students' own thinking and the prior knowledge they bring to their learning; which recognizes that successful learners must be helped to take initiative and create new knowledge themselves; and which develops classroom and school communities where active sharing and collaboration enrich individual efforts.  The Center houses a number of projects itself, and provides support and co-ordination for urban efforts which other NLU faculty have initiated. We work to improve communication between schools seeking help and the many educators at National-Louis with in-depth knowledge regarding the particular needs of urban teachers and learners.

The Center for City Schools promotes educational improvement through five interlocking approaches:

1. Model Schools. We support the development of demonstration schools in Chicago, Milwaukee and Cleveland where teachers, parents, and others can see how Best Practice instruction works and how it can succeed for all students.
2. Teacher and Parent Leadership. We maintain a corps of highly skilled teacher and parent leaders who foster school improvement through workshops and direct consulting with peers.
3. Networking. We connect schools, including their students, teachers, parents, and principals-within and across the three cities (Chicago, Milwaukee and Cleveland) in which we work.
4. Materials and Publications. We author newspapers, books, articles, websites, and videos based on real classroom innovations, to provide models of effective instruction.
5. Policy Impact. Through our staff's participation in key reform groups, task forces, professional associations and networks, we work for educational policies that truly support kids' growth.

The Center for City Schools is located at 122 South Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Its main phone number is 312-261-3106.  Its facsimile number is 312-261-3350.