Chicago's charters and options

The school board has delayed its charter renewal votes for two months, leaving many charter families and educators wondering about the future of their schools.

More privately-run, public charter schools in Chicago have closed in recent years. In a first, Chicago Public Schools is poised to convert five back to district-run campuses.

The school district will spend up to $25 million on a new version of the program, which was put on hold after a rocky two years last summer.

After months of turmoil for Acero parents and staff, the Chicago Board of Education voted to save most — but not all — of the charter network’s schools slated for closure.

Administrators at Acero Schools’ Soto High School and Idar Elementary said they escorted two students into the building away from the incident. The federal agents did not enter the building, charter officials said. Federal immigration authorities confirmed the action Thursday.

Hundreds of families and teachers have been lobbying the school board to come up with a plan to save the seven Acero campuses.

Acero said it would close 7 schools before the 2025-26 school year due to a $40 million budget shortfall.

The deadline for applying to magnet, selective, charter, and other schools outside a student’s neighborhood is being extended to Dec. 15.

The charter operator said it needs to close seven schools on the Southwest Side because of a budget deficit. Chicago Board of Education members said they will work to find alternatives to campus closures.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said the proposed charter school closures require more aggressive solutions from the district, but he hasn’t “seen that type of leadership” from CPS.

Since April 1, nearly $4 million has flowed into candidates’ campaign funds and more than $2.8 million has been spent by two pro-school choice independent expenditure committees.

The pro-school choice advocacy group contributed enough in several board districts to lift campaign contribution limits for all candidates.

The Chicago Board of Education oversees many different types of schools, including magnets, selective enrollment, and charters.

Chicago Public Schools’ largest charter school network opened its original campus 25 years ago with a focus on sending students to college.

Chicago charter parents and officials say they worry about the district’s upcoming strategic plan

The district is adjusting bell times and creating transportation hubs in order to provide busing to more students.

The leadership change at the city’s largest network of charter high schools comes as Chicago’s Board of Education has increased scrutiny on charters and school choice.

Critics urge the district to push for more funding — and more spending — rather than cuts.

In its budget proposal, Chicago Public Schools is giving charters a slight funding boost overall, although some could still get funding cuts.

Appeals court says board’s vote did not violate state law on school closures. What happens next to Urban Prep’s students is unclear.