Whither charter schools in Illinois?
This was the news last week:
Advocates for charter schools today celebrated legislation that would allow for 120 charter schools in Illinois, including 40 new ones in Chicago.
The legislation, passed by the state General Assembly over the weekend, doubles the existing state cap on charter schools and also includes new reporting requirements meant to raise accountability and transparency on their performance.
Legislation would loosen cap on new charter schools |
Chicago News, Events and Culture | Chi-Town Daily News
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But does it address the fundamental problem of charter schools in Illinois?
In other states, yes, charters are very popular in the suburbs. But here in Illinois, local districts are given almost all power of life and death over charters, and the suburban districts have no interest at all in giving up their monopolies. Here's the Chicago Tribune (May 19, 2005): “Suburban [school board] officials have rejected all but one of 19 proposals. Only south suburban Crete-Monee School District agreed to grant a license. That charter, given to Governors State University, was later pulled.”
The result is a wild imbalance: In Illinois, charter schools are pretty much confined to the largest city, unlike in other states:
Does Elgin need charter schools? Can it be done? Would U-46 go along?
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