Chicago Public Schools Academic Chess

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Welcome to the Chicago Public Schools Academic Chess website. This website provides information on the Chicago chess program to players, coaches, parents and schools.

About

Chicago Public Schools Academic Chess provides students from diverse communities across the city with the opportunity to learn, play, and compete in chess at no cost.  Our programs focus on the integration of social, emotional, and academic development to give students a better chance of thriving in school, career, and life.

Our students participate in after school chess clubs and compete in tournaments throughout the year including at the CPS Academic Chess play-offs and Championships, City of Chicago Championship, State and National tournaments.

  • The CPS Chess programing is separated into five categories:
    • Academic Chess
    • Cops & Kids Chess Initiative
    • Summer Programming
    • Chess Queens
    • First Moves

The CPS Academic Chess Program is a partnership between CPS Academic Competition Department and the Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation.

We need your assistance as we continue to build and expand our thriving chess programs. Donations helps advance the work of the Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation with CPS, while your support as a volunteer, coach or mentor helps our chess club and chess team. GET INVOLVED TODAY!

Programs

After-School chess clubs and competitive chess tournaments for K-12 students

Promoting non-violence and increase positive relationships with youth and police

Through summer programing we are able to extend the work we do during the summer

Bridging the gender divide in chess and empowering female high school chess leaders

In the classroom chess program for 2nd and 3rd grade students during the school day

Impact

50,000+ Students Taught

150+ Schools in Chicago

14+ Tournaments Annually

School Year 21-22

Academic Chess Program

  • 88 Schools and 1200 students total
  • 47 elementary schools = 950 students
  • 21 high schools = 250 students
  • Participation in weekly classes between October
    – March & in 3 or more chess competitions
  • 670 players from 59 schools participated in the CPS
    Championships
  • 490 students from 54 schools attended the City
    Championship
  • 244 Students from 24 schools attended the US Chess
    Federation’s High School National Championship

Cops & Kids Chess Initiative

  • 18 Schools
  • 270 5- 12th grade students
  • 25 weekly classes between October – March & in 2 chess competitions & year end event
  • 100 students from 25 schools, and 30 police officers participated in the annual tournament at CPD headquarters
  • 140 students from 16 schools, and 32 police officers participated in the year end event
  • 3-week summer camp for 20 High School students
  • 2-week summer camp for 35 5-8th graders

Tournaments

  • All Stars K-12
  • Junior Prep Bowl K-8
  • Cops & Kids 5-12
  • High School Championship 9-12
  • Kings & Queens K-8
  • K-8 Playoffs
  • K-8 Championship
  • Cops & Kids Culmination
  • Greater Chicago Championship
  • IHSA State Championship
  • High School Nationals
  • All-Girls Nationals
  • North American Youth Championship

African-American standouts reap benefits of chess

Our Curriculum

Teaching Chess, Step by Step – Teacher’s Manual and Student Exercise Book

Few materials exist to help the classroom teacher who has never played chess or knows only some chess. This manual was designed to address this deficiency. It is written in a manner that allows the teacher to see how to present the material in his or her classroom. This manual will lead a group of beginning students from the rudiments of chess rules to the ability of playing a full game in a competent manner. These books are the fruit of the combined experience of writers and an editor from the fields of education and chess.

Authors

Igor Khmelnitsky is an International Master and author of the best-selling books Chess Exam and Training Guide and Chess Exam and Training Guide: Tactics.

Michael Khodarkovsky is an experienced chess instructor and executive director of the Kasparov Chess Foundation.

Michael Zadorozny is an experienced chess instructor and author of the best-selling book Learning to Checkmate.

The Chess GPS Series

The “Chess GPS” is a series of books designed for more effective focusing the player’s energy and creative skills in the right direction.

Volume 1 – Improvement

This book helps players find their chess individuality, as well as present them with other tools to help improve their game. One of the main tasks of this book is to increase efficiency with which players can utilize their knowledge, experience, imagination, and creativity. The associative array of well-chosen examples, allows the player to better understand numerous chess strategic problems, and comprehend the responsibility that comes with choosing a chess move.

Authors

Sam Palatnik is a Ukrainian-American chess Grandmaster and author of numerous best-selling chess books including the Chess Strategy for the Tournament Player series.

Michael Khodarkovsky is an experienced chess instructor and executive director of the Kasparov Chess Foundation.

Volume 2 – Your Move – Your Choice

This book delves into the set of requirements declared when choosing a chess move. A common coaching mistake is recommending that students concentrate on finding the “best,” “strongest” move during the game. Instead, this book encourages readers to choose the more important move in their opinion among other useful moves. In the end, the player can try to improve the situation on the board, as he sees it at the moment, based on his experience, knowledge, intuition, and inspiration; this will be the important move that he has the right to make and will be able to justify in the future, while shouldering the responsibility of choosing “his own” move.

Authors

Sam Palatnik is a Ukrainian-American chess Grandmaster and author of numerous best-selling chess books including the Chess Strategy for the Tournament Player series.

Michael Khodarkovsky is an experienced chess instructor and executive director of the Kasparov Chess Foundation.

Why Chess

We believe in the power of chess to change lives. To date, we have taught more than 50,000 of Chicago’s most underserved children, inspiring them to greater achievement. Each day, we are proud to help kids grow, one move at a time. Our impact is demonstrated by classroom teachers and student responses to our annual surveys:

  • 94% Chess had a meaningful positive impact on students.
  • 91% Chess developed students’ analytical and logical skills.
  • 89% Chess improved students’ math skills.
  • 94% Chess helped my students concentrate better.
  • 91% Girls and boys are equally interested in chess in my class.
  • 97% Off students want to participate in chess next year.
  • 93% Chess enhanced my students’ cooperation skills.

Our Team

Arlecia Taylor
Chess Coordinator
Office of Teaching and Learning
Department of Academic Competitions
ajtaylor@cps.edu
c: 630-341-5917

David Heiser
Chess Consultant
President/Executive Director
Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation
daheiser@cps.edu
c: 773-844-0701

Chess Project Assistant
Office of Teaching and Learning
Department of Academic Competitions


CONTACT US

Thanks for your interest in the CPS Chess programs.

  • If you’re interested in participating in one of our programs, please contact Jourdain Gant.
  • If you’re interested in participating in our tournaments, please contact David Heiser.
  • If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact David Heiser or Arlecia Taylor.
  • For assistance with ASPEN, please contact Jourdain Gant
  • If you’re interested in donating, please click here.
  • For all other inquiries, please contact David Heiser.

Events

Event Date Time Location
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Mar 19, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Elementary K-8 Championship Elementary K-8 Championship Saturday - Mar 23, 2024 9:00 AM Beasley
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Mar 26, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Spring K-12 Online Tournament Spring K-12 Online Tournament Monday - Apr 01, 2024 10:00 AM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Apr 02, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
High School National Championship Trip High School National Championship Trip Thursday - Apr 04, 2024 - Apr 08, 2024 12:00 AM
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Apr 09, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
All-Girls National Championships All-Girls National Championships Friday - Apr 12, 2024 - Apr 14, 2024 2:00 PM McCormick Place West Building
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Apr 16, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Apr 23, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Apr 30, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Cops & Kids Culminating Event Cops & Kids Culminating Event Wednesday - May 01, 2024 9:00 AM Stanton Park
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - May 07, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - May 14, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - May 21, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - May 28, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
High School Chess Camp High School Chess Camp Monday - Jun 24, 2024 - Jul 12, 2024 9:00 AM Whitney Young High School
Queens Chess Camp Queens Chess Camp Monday - Jun 24, 2024 - Jun 28, 2024 9:00 AM Whitney Young High School
Middle School Chess Camp Middle School Chess Camp Monday - Jul 01, 2024 - Jul 12, 2024 9:00 AM Whitney Young High School