Choice Is Good
A charter school is a privately run public school. Through unique agreements with the local authorizing agency, charter schools offer choice to families and are free from many of the mandates given to traditional public schools. In exchange for choice and freedom, they are held accountable through measures of student performance.
Choice
- Charter schools enable families to choose the school and educational program that best fit the needs of their children.
- Educators are able to focus on specific curricula and instructional strategies that meet their students' needs.
- Authorizers support schools that are most likely to meet the needs of a specific district or community.
Charter schools' success is measured according to student performance, financial management, and statutory compliance benchmarks established by the authorizer. If a charter school does not meet its contractual obligations, it can be closed by the authorizing agency.
Freedom
While charter schools must adhere to federal laws such as the Individual with Disabilities Education Act and state learning standards, their administrators and teachers are free from much of the bureaucracy that often interferes with improved student outcomes.
The mission and vision of each charter school are unique. Some schools, such as Chicago International, use innovative teaching techniques to deliver a classic curriculum; others focus their work as centers of excellence in technology, cultural arts, foreign language, or specialized topics. The goal for many communities is to create curricular choices within the public domain similar to those routinely offered to families by private schools.
Illinois Charter School Teachers
Charter school teachers must be Illinois State certified or be considered highly qualified according to the following criteria: (a) hold a bachelor's degree; (b) have five or more years of employment in a field related to the subject to be taught; (c) pass a state basic skills test; and (d) demonstrate continued evidence of "professional growth." In Chicago charter schools that opened prior to 2003, 75 percent of the classroom teachers must hold an Illinois State Teaching Certificate. For Chicago charter schools that opened after April 2003, 50 percent of the teachers must hold an Illinois State Teaching Certificate.
For more information regarding charter schools and choice, please visit Why Choice is Good?
