PolicyReport
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beginnings
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What is a Charter School?
Illinois Charter School Law
by Dr. Elizabeth D. Purvis and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools
The operation of Charter Schools is guided by the principles set forth in each state’s charter legislation. In 1996, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law allowing the creation of charter schools. Key aspects of the charter law include the following provisions:
A charter school is a privately run public school. Through unique agreements with the local authorizing agency, charter schools offer choice to families and are free from many of the mandates given to traditional public schools. In exchange for choice and freedom, they are held accountable through measures of student performance.
Choice • Charter schools enable families to choose the school and educational program that best fit the needs of their children. • Educators are able to focus on specific curricula and instructional strategies that meet their students’ needs. • Authorizers support schools that are most likely to meet the needs of a specific district or community.
Accountability Charter schools’ success is measured according to student performance, financial management, and statutory compliance benchmarks established by the authorizer. If a charter school does not meet its contractual obligations, it can be closed by the authorizing agency.
Freedom While charter schools must adhere to federal laws such as the Individual with Disabilities Education Act and state learning standards, their administrators and teachers are free from much of the bureaucracy that often interferes with improved student outcomes. The mission and vision of each charter school are unique. Some schools, such as Chicago International, use innovative teaching techniques to deliver a classic curriculum; others focus their work as centers of excellence in technology, cultural arts, foreign language, or specialized topics. The goal for many communities is to create curricular choices within the public domain similar to those routinely offered to families by private schools.
General Provisions The number of charter schools that can be created in the state is limited to 30 in Chicago, 15 in the Chicago suburbs, and 15 throughout the remainder of the state. An Illinois charter may be granted for a period not less than five and not more than 10 school years; a charter may be renewed in incremental periods not to exceed five school years. Charter school applications denied by the local school board can be appealed to the Illinois State Board of Education; if the State Board reverses the local school board’s decision and grants the charter, the State Board will oversee the charter directly.
Illinois Charter School Teachers Charter school teachers must be Illinois State certified or meet the following criteria: (a) hold a bachelor’s degree; (b) have five or more years of employment in a field related to the subject to be taught; (c) pass a state basic skills test; and (d) demonstrate continued evidence of “professional growth.” In Chicago charter schools opened prior to 2003, 75 percent of the classroom teachers must hold an Illinois State Teaching Certificate. For Chicago charter schools that opened after April 2003, 50 percent of the teachers must hold an Illinois State Teaching Certificate.
Funding According to Illinois state law, charter schools should receive funding that is between 75 and 125 percent of the local school district’s per capita student tuition. The exact amount of funding is to be negotiated between the charter school and the local authorizing agency. For a detailed profile of the charter school law in Illinois, visit the Illinois State Board of Education Web site at www.isbe.net.
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