Protect Illinois Charter Schools

The Illinois State Public Charter Commission serves as a neutral, objective check on school districts, keeping politics out of the public charter school approval process.

Founded in 2011, the Commission allows for public charter schools to appeal decisions from their local school board to a neutral arbiter.

Without the Illinois Charter Commission, school boards could reject public charter applications for no reason, impose burdensome requirements onto a charter school and make it impossible for the school to operate, or even close local charter schools - forcing families to find a new school for their children.

Special interests want to abolish the Commission because it eliminates an opportunity for public charter school proposals to get a fair shot. Opponents of the commission have claimed that the commission has undermined local control - but that is not true. Only 13.2% of appeals have been granted statewide in Illinois, and local decisions have remained intact following 86.8% of appeals filed.

E-mail your State Senator now, and tell them to uphold the veto of HB5175, maintaining the charter commission!

E-mail your State Senator now to protect the Illinois Charter Commission!

Subject:

Protect Our Schools

Dear Senator,

I am your constituent, and I’m writing to ask you to protect parents’ right to choose the best public schools for their children. Please protect the IL State Charter Commission and vote NO on HB 5175.

The IL State Charter Commission, founded in 2011, creates a process for charter public schools to appeal decisions of their local school board to a neutral, objective arbiter. Without a reasonable, common-sense appeals process, local school boards could vote to close down successful schools against the wishes of parents.

Special interests want to abolish the Commission because it eliminates an opportunity for charter public school proposals to get a fair opportunity. Without the Commission, special interests will increase their influence over matters concerning public schools all across the state.

Special interests have argued that the Commission takes away local authority. That simply isn’t true. In fact, the Commission has upheld local decisions in 86 percent of cases since it was founded.

The Commission is good public policy, and it’s good for parents and kids. I’m asking you to protect parent choice - and keep politics out of education - by upholding the veto of HB 5175.

For more information, visit https://chartersforchange.org/

Sincerely, Your Name

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