The Illinois State Board of Education found that the Chicago Public Schools district does not meet the requirements for a state takeover, according to documents published on its website.
The debate over charters schools is heating up in Illinois. Advocates on both sides of the issue are speaking out about a five-year, $42 million federal grant Illinois won in September to support the creation of new public charter schools.
Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery wants the Chicago Board of Education to reject new charter school proposals that are currently under consideration by the cash-strapped school district. Proposals for as many as 13 new alternative and traditional charter schools could go up for a vote at next week's Chicago school board meeting.
Montgomery addressed the issue while speaking with reporters Tuesday after his speech before the City Club of Chicago on the topic of "school choice."
"I think they should be rejected," he said of the pending Chicago charter school applications. "I think they've got to get their house in order first and make sure that ... every other school in the city is getting all the things it needs before they start talking about diverting more resources to charter schools."
The Illinois State Board of Education made a request Wednesday to the state legislature for a $730 million, or a 10.7 percent, increase in school funding.
The following comes from the Illinois Federation of Teachers as parents and teachers from IFT, IEA, & CTU "unite against State Board of Education plan to remove class size protections for students with disabilities."
Despite Gov. Pat Quinn's cautioning on impending cuts to education in the 2014 budget, two education boards are recommending that lawmakers increase appropriations to schools.