Illinois charter school operators are about to face major legislative restrictions on their expansion of operations.
This is big. But you must make your phone calls and file witness slips.
HB 3754, a bill sponsored in the House by State Representative Linda Chapa LaVia, a Democrat from Aurora, would defang the Charter School Commission of its authority to overturn a decision by an elected local school district board.
The Charter Commission was established by the General Assembly several years ago. It was all done under the radar. Members of the Commission are appointed by the Governor and include mostly active charter school supporters.
The bill, which would take away authorizing power from the Commission and return it to local school boards, passed the House and will now go to the State Senate as SB 2627.
Phone and email contact with local Illinois legislators is still a must.
Also approved in Committee is HB 6005. It is also backed by Reprsentative Chapa La Via.
HB 6005 would impose major restrictions on charter schools
The bill would take away management of any admission requirements from the charter operator and put it in the hands of the local school board.
The bill would require communication with “next in line” parents when a vacancy in the school arises.
It would more closely regulate charter budgets
And it would require the State Board to assess “the impact of charter schools on the school system” and whether “different categories of students are being equitably … served….” according to an update I received from Jim Broadway.
Charter school operators, lobbyists and anti-union groups cried that Chapa La Via’s bill would negatively impact charter autonomy.
But the bill was passed out of Committee by an 8-3 vote along party lines.
If both bills pass both houses, which there is a strong possibility, this may turn out to be the biggest set-back for charter schools in the country.
But you must contact your legislator.
Fred Klonsky 