16 Public Charter Schools Open in Illinois

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools welcomes new schools in the 2010-2011 school year

CHICAGO, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This year, 16 new public charter schools will open throughout Illinois. Several have converted from contract schools to charter schools, some are new schools, and some are established charter schools expanding onto new campuses. Together, the new schools will serve more than 6,000 students, bringing total statewide charter school enrollment to 46,000.

"The last academic year was a successful one for the charter sector," said Andrew Broy, president of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, "and we welcome the new schools and campuses into the charter family.  INCS will be there to support the new schools and work with them to ensure that they succeed in producing quality academic outcomes for students."  

The elementary schools converting from public contract schools to public charter schools in Chicago are Catalyst Circle Rock Campus Charter School, Rowe Elementary Charter School, and Academy for Global Citizenship. High schools converting from public contract schools to public charter schools are Chicago Talent Development Charter High School, EPIC Academy Charter High School, Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy, and two campuses of Urban Prep Academy for Young Men, one each in East Garfield Park and South Shore neighborhoods. Joshua Johnston School of Art and Design is a new school. Public charter schools expanding to new campuses are UNO Charter School, Chicago International Charter School, Noble Street Charter School, and LEARN South Chicago Charter School.  

Charter schools are becoming increasingly common outside Chicago as well.  Peoria welcomed its first charter school this year, Quest Charter Academy, and the first suburban charter school in the Illinois, the Southland College Prep Charter School, opened in the south suburbs.  In addition, Rockford added a third charter school to its portfolio, Chicago International Charter School Patriots.

"While charter schools encounter resistance at times because the model is not completely understood," continued Broy, "most communities have welcomed the new schools and expanding campuses, based mainly on the results that charter schools have produced over the years.  We applaud the work done by the thousands of charter school teachers, school leaders, and board members across our state.  At INCS we will continue to advocate for equitable funding and facilities access for our charter schools while challenging them to meet their students' academic challenges with the sense of the urgency demanded by the stakes -- students' futures."

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) is dedicated to improving the quality of public education by promoting and invigorating the charter school concept. The voice of the state's charter schools, INCS advocates for legislation to strengthen charter schools, educates the public about the value of charter schools, and supports the dissemination of best practices throughout the system.

Contact: Jim Publicover of Illinois Network of Charter Schools, 312-235-0798 x14, [email protected]

SOURCE Illinois Network of Charter Schools