Thousands of Illinois students are trapped in failing schools. Meanwhile, states spending less money per student than Illinois are seeing better results in national test scores. Families deserve more options for high-quality education, not less. In many cases, a charter school is the only local and affordable option for families.
House Bill 4899, filed Feb. 14 by state Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, blocks the opening of any new charter campuses in school districts with the two lowest financial ratings of the Illinois State Board of Education. The Chicago Public Schools system has been on that list for years.
Tying the opening of future charter schools to the financial well-being of already underperforming districts will deny thousands of students an alternative to a failing public school. Across Chicago and other Illinois cities, charter schools present the only way families can access quality education.
The change effectively places a moratorium on charter growth. Despite Illinois spending more than most states on education, Illinois remains decisively in the middle of the pack for test scores, and below the national average in ACT composite scores. Instead of addressing the causes of systemic underperformance in Illinois school districts, this bill unfairly limits choice for the families who need it most by targeting higher-performing schools.
Sign the petition today to tell your lawmaker to protect educational choice for families across Illinois school districts.