Building Community Through Education

The Institute of Positive Education welcomes you to our website! We have been in the Greater Grand Crossing/Chatham Community for more than 50 years. Our services include preschool programming, which serves children 2 1/2 to 5 years of age, Out-of-school time programming for school-age children K - 8th grade, the Bethune Teacher Training Institute, and other community support programming for all families.

We are building a lifelong love for learning in our children.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

After-School Registration is Open

We are excited to announce that applications for the IPE Unity Afterschool program are now open for the 2023 - 2024 school year. Afterschool programming will begin on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 for both campuses Betty Shabazz Academy and Barbara A. Sizemore Academy.

Learn More & register today

After School Calendars:
Click to Enlarge

News & Updates

BASA After-school: Socktober Sock Drive

Please check out our first civic engagement project of the year! Mama Bre will be hosting a sock drive with our after-school program...

After-school: Open House

Last week on Thursday, September 14th, BASA after-school staff welcomed new and returning parents/students to after-school. We are so...

Bethune Freedom Schools Sponsors Voting Civic Engagement Program

There will be more civic engagement activities to come!!

Soulful Chicago Holiday Book Fair

Our Philosophy

There are a lot of issues that our community faces, not the least of which is public education. The Institute of Positive Education uses the principles found in African-centered education to bring residents together to identify issues and provide educational solutions. African-centered education is a holistic approach to meet students' intellectual, social, emotional needs. We also emphasize healthy physical development. IPE uses curriculum and strategies to support positive identity development to help students understand their roles as citizens of the world and their power and influence on the world.