Kankakee Considers a Charter School

The local school board will hear the proposal tonight.

by Collin Hitt

It appears that a new charter school has been proposed in Kankakee, during an already lively time for the district:

A proposal for a charter school aimed at giving Kankakee School
District 111 parents an alternative to Kankakee High School will be
unveiled Tuesday.

The same day that the teachers are set to strike — Tuesday — the
Kankakee School District 111 Board of Education will hold a public
hearing on the proposed AFC (Agents for Change) Academy Charter School, organized by several area residents over the past year.

Whereas I haven’t seen the proposal itself, the Daily Journal carried many of the details about the proposed school:

* Open to all Kankakee School District 111 students free of charge, like any other public school.

* Up to 100 students per grade level.

* Year-round school.

* Longer school days. (9 hours)

* Rigorous college-prep focus.

* Saturday school for students needing extra help.

* Specialized curriculum to include a social justice component, the
"Freedom Writers" experience and global partnerships with foreign
schools.

* Standardized testing and accountability through Illinois State Board of Education like any other public school.