Currently almost half a million Chicago school students are out of school right now due to the intransigence of the Chicago Teachers Union. Fully 71 percent of the nation’s third-largest school district’s eighth-grade students can’t attain the most basic level of science proficiency, and nearly 80 percent are not grade-level proficient in reading. The drop out rate is horrendous and a national tragedy. Chicago schools are in desperate need of reform. As a concerned citizen of Chicago, I support Mayor Emanuel in his efforts to reform Chicago schools and provide a better future for our kids.