Chicago Public Schools is expanding charter school options, even though more than a quarter of existing charters are underutilized and demand for seats is unsettled.
Twenty-nine percent of Chicago’s public charters are underutilized, according to current school utilization data. But the district is proposing to open 11 new charters next year, while adding grade levels to several others. This would add nearly 5,000 seats to the system, in addition to the estimated 3,000 to 5,000 current open seats reported by WBEZ.
The new schools would cost the district $76 million, contributing to a $483 million charter budget. But some parents and teachers don’t want the new schools, arguing that a push for charters and privatization is why CPS wants to close more than 50 traditional schools.
A Chicago Tribune editorial points out demand for charters is higher than supply, with 19,000 students on waiting lists. But actual demand figures are unknown. WBEZ challenged the Tribune’s waiting list figure, reporting that the actual number may be closer to 12,000. Andrew Broy, president of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, gave both news organizations conflicting estimates, first as the source for the Tribune’s initial editorial, then for WBEZ’s follow-up, and later supporting the Tribune’s numbers again.
The actual number is unknown, due to the lack of a single enrollment application system, Broy says. Meanwhile, both news organizations are standing by their claims.
Chi-Town Review also found that a quarter of the district’s 94 charter schools are on probation–holding level 3 performance ratings (the lowest rating a CPS school can receive). Of the 28 schools, only two are closing next year.
Six more charter schools are on a warning list. Only two of these schools are on probation, while another two are underutilized.
What do you think? Should CPS open more charter schools? Share your thoughts in the comments, the forums or on Twitter @ChiTownRVW!
