A Second Chance

Last year, a bill aimed at giving families in the worst performing Chicago schools a better opportunity failed in the Illinois House. This year, its back.

by Mark Cavers

Last year, the Reverend Senator James Meeks, introduced legislation that would have brought hope to students in Chicago’s worst performing and most over-crowded schools, schools that routinely fail to deliver a great education. The bill eventually stalled in the house under intense pressure from teacher unions and other backers of the status quo.

Last week, under the shepherding of State Senators Murphy (R) and Meeks (D), a bill identical to the one introduced last year, was passed out of the Senate Education Committee. During committee debate on the bill, Sen. Meeks shared a conversation he had with Ron Huberman, past CEO for the Chicago Public Schools. Meeks asked him why he didn’t oppose the voucher bill, and Huberman responded “we do not have a plan for those schools.” Vouchers are a plan for the students in those schools, they provide a lifeline out and a path into a better school.

Because the bill didn’t pass last year 30,000 students will have to spend another year in a failing school. Thousands of students will not get a second chance at the third grade, or at getting the great education that was denied to them. In the coming weeks, state legislators will have a second chance, unlike Chicago’s students, to vote on this historic piece of legislation.