Comparing Charters to Neighboring Traditional Public

Schools (TPS) outside of Chicago

• In Reading 80% of charter students had academic growth no different or worse than tps

• In math, 63% had academic growth no different or worse than tps

• Possible benefits for Latinos and low income

-Charter School Performance in Illinois CREDO, 2013

Recent CREDO Report for Illinois

Charter Neighboring Traditional Public School

8 points Jacksonville Washington

Beardstown Beardstown Jr/Sr Hi

Cambridge Lakes Pingree Grove/ K-12 Gilberts Elementary

Galapagos Rockford /Galapagos Lewis Lemon

Jackson Rockford /Distinctive John Nelson

LEARN North Chicago/LEARN Forrestal

Legacy Rockford Julia Lathrop

Prairie Crossing Woodland District

Quest Peoria/Concept Sterling Mid

Robertson Decatur William Harris

SIU East St. LouisTomorrow’s Builders East St. Louis

East St. Louis HS

Southland Rich South

Springfield Ball M. Withrow

Youth Build McClean County Bloomington HS

% Meet or Exceed State Standards

0102030405060708090

Charter

Neighbor

% Low Income

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Charter

Neighbor

% Mobility

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Charter

Neighbor

% IEP

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Charter

Neighbor

Each of these factors could help account for test differences

• % Low income

– Southland/Rich S., QUEST/Sterling

Prairie Crossing/Woodland, Springfield Ball/Withrow

• % Mobility

– YBMC/Blmngtn, LEARN/Forrestal, Galapagos/Lemon

– QUEST/Sterling, Springfield Ball/Withrow

• % Special education

– SIU/E.St.Louis Southland/Rich S. QUEST/Sterling

Springfield Ball/Withrow Robertson/Harris

Charters operated by EMOs outside of Chicago

• Concept

– Import teachers from Turkey

– Trips to Turkey for politicians

• Jackson & YBMC – Low performing

• K-12 (part of Cambridge Lakes)

– Profit-motive

– Home schooling for elementary

Other Issues Outside of Chicago

• When ISBE or the Commission overrides the local district (e.g. Districts 50, 187, 227)

–No voice of local tax payers

–No local control over

• Tuition increases

• Growth of the school

• Boundaries

Conclusion

• At a time when the state is seriously underfunding public education, there does not appear to be a convincing reason to give preferential treatment to charters