The 74 Million – Naomi Nix
“These days there are a lot of things that could top Chicago Public Schools’ 2016 wish list. Money, for starters, to help with that teensy weensy $1 billion deficit that may lead to scrapping thousands of teachers jobs. Or maybe political leverage to carry into the negotiating room with the Chicago Teachers Union, which is threatening to again strike over its new contract. But last month, the 400,000-student school system put out a press release asking for something altogether different: more charter schools. The school district, which under state law can collect charter school applications each year, is looking for education leaders to open charter schools as early as the 2017-18 school year. What stands out in this year’s request are the specific types of schools the district is courting, including ones specializing in educating traumatized students and English Language Learners. A crop of new charters won’t help ease longstanding criticism in the city that the schools drain resources from the traditional public school system, but CPS CEO Forrest Claypool said they will give kids well-deserved options.”(more)