Charter School News

Reinsdorf-funded charter school opens near United Center Sun-Times

Longtime dream of Bulls chairman Reinsdorf comes true as charter school facility opens near United Center

If you missed the clips last week, a Young Women’s Leadership Charter School student, Kassandra Davis, was profiled in 8 Teen Dreams by Chicago Magazine.

A friendly neighbor Chicago Flame Online
De la Cruz officially closed shop in June. As it would happen, in July, one month later, the United Neighborhoods Organization (UNO) announced its flagship school, Octavia Paz, a CPS Charter school, needed a new, temporarily permanent home. After receiving nearly 100 million dollars in federal stimulus money, UNO had then decided it was time to make much-needed repairs to the Octavio Paz facilities.

Emerge Peoria: An open letter to Sharon Crews
I was just looking at your comments today about the Math and Science Academy and I just cringed because I believe the charter school has promise. You clearly care about the community, the schools and the children.

More yoga classes are geared toward specific groups Daily Herald
In Chicago, there's even a yogic elementary school, the Namaste Charter School, which takes a holistic approach to education. "Yoga isn't about being on the ...

County sets up H1N1 flu preparations The State Journal-Register
Three-year-old Piper Chase follows the instructions for washing her hands on Friday, September 11, 2009 in her pre-k classroom at Ball Charter School. ...

Illinois Mayors Meeting: Highways to Higher Achievement

The first-annual Highways to Higher Achievement: Illinois Mayors for Educational Excellence luncheon was held to urge mayors, municipal and civic leaders to reengage in education to improve the health of their communities and determine how charters can be a part of that improvement. We had over 40 guests in attendance including the Mayor of Rock Falls, David Blanton, Oak Park Village President, David Pope, Chris Ward, Illinois State Board of Education, Kevin McGrier, Broadview Trustee. We would also like to thank our INCS Board Members, Beth Purvis and Ron Giles for attending as well. We were welcomed by Tom Thanas, Joliet City Manager, who discussed how the revitalization of downtown Joliet was driven by innovation and partnerships, the same intentions and relationships that engendered charter public schools.

From INCS Board Chair David Weinberg and NACSA President Greg Richmond we heard the words leadership and opportunity. During the keynote address, Mayor Larry Morrissey of Rockford showed how taking the opportunity to lead can bring about real change in your community especially if you re-engage with education.

We hope the result of this meeting will be the re-engagement of mayors, municipal and civic leaders in the education process in their communities. Mayor Larry Morrissey has lent himself to this cause and shared the guidance and encouragement necessary to mobilize communities. INCS is available to support communities with resources and information needed to identify if charter public schools are one of the options leaders might want to use for improving educational options in their communities.

Check out the slideshow of the event!

INCS is on Facebook

We have finally joined 2009 and created a Facebook page for our organization. Click on the above link to become a fan of INCS.

Perks: learn the inside scoop on charter schools in Illinois, be up to date on events and connect with other charter school advocates. Plus, see adorable pictures of charter school students.

Save the Date for INCS’ Charter Family Picnic

INCS is pleased to announce our fourth annual Charter Family Picnic on September 12, 2009 at Garfield Park.This is an exciting opportunity to connect with more than 1,200 charter public school advocates, parents, students, and teachers from all over Chicago who are coming to enjoy a day of food, games, music, and other fun activities at Garfield Park!

There are three ways that your organization can help us this year! You can select the level of participation that best meets your needs, and be secure in the knowledge that your commitment will be used to help INCS continue our important work!

Buy an ad in our Program Book

Donate an item or service for the Raffle

Help spread the word

For more information on sponsoring the Charter Family Picnic, please feel free to contact Aimee Mandolini at amandolini@incschools.org.

A note from INCS' Interim Executive Director

There have been big changes at INCS, what with the recent tide of positive charter school legislation and Elizabeth Evans’ departure after almost five years as Executive Director. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from being a part of the charter school movement, it’s that change means opportunity. As Interim Executive Director, I want to assure you that INCS will continue to support and fight for what matters – creating positive change for as many children in Illinois as possible. As Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education said recently on NPR, “I’m a big fan of good charter schools. For charters to be successful we need three things in place. First, you need to have a very high bar. You should only be taking the best of the best in allowing them to open new schools. That is a really sacred opportunity and obligation to educate our children and this cannot be 'let a thousand flowers bloom,' it should be the best of the best.”

Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible. Now we have our chance to live up to the promise, as soon as Governor Quinn signs SB 612. Your support during this transition is appreciated and we look forward to the great strides ahead of us this summer and beyond.

Sincerely,
Sylvia Ewing, Interim Executive Director