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
Director Academic Competition
Office of Student Support & Engagement
ajtaylor@cps.edu
c: 630-341-5917
David Heiser
Chess Consultant
Executive Director
Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation
daheiser@cps.edu
c: 773-844-0701
Darrell Ivy
Academic Competition Coordinator for Chess
Office of Student Support & Engagement
divy@cps.edu
c: 773-414-2619
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 - May 14, 2024 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - May 21, 2024 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - May 28, 2024 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Kelly HS Chess Camp | Monday - Jun 10, 2024 - Jun 14, 2024 | 9:00 AM | Kelly HS | |
Lincoln Park HS Chess Camp | Monday - Jun 10, 2024 - Jun 14, 2024 | 9:00 AM | Lincoln Park HS | |
High School Chess Camp | Monday - Jun 24, 2024 - Jul 12, 2024 | 9:00 AM | Whitney Young High School | |
Queens Chess Camp | Monday - Jun 24, 2024 - Jun 28, 2024 | 9:00 AM | Whitney Young High School | |
Middle School Chess Camp | Monday - Jul 01, 2024 - Jul 12, 2024 | 9:00 AM | Whitney Young High School | |
Coaches Meeting AC & C&K | Wednesday - Sep 11, 2024 | 4:30 PM | Online Thru Zoom | |
Parent Seminar | Thursday - Sep 12, 2024 | 5:00 PM | Online Thru Zoom | |
All-Star K-12 Tournament | Saturday - Oct 19, 2024 | 8:30 AM | TBA | |
Knights Quest K-12 Tournament | Saturday - Nov 16, 2024 | 8:30 AM | TBA | |
Cops & Kids December Tournament | Saturday - Dec 07, 2024 | 9:00 AM | TBA | |
High School Championship | Saturday - Jan 25, 2025 | 8:30 AM | TBA | |
Kings & Queens K-8 Tournament | Saturday - Jan 25, 2025 | 8:30 AM | TBA |