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The way charter schools operate is guided by the principles set forth in each state's charter legislation. This section provides information about charter law in Illinois.

In 1996, the Illinois Legislature passed a law allowing the creation of charter schools. Key aspects of the charter law include the following provisions:

General Provisions

• The number of charter schools that can be created is limited to 30 in Chicago, 15 in the suburbs, and 15 downstate.
• A charter may be granted for a period not less than five and not more than ten school years; a charter may be renewed in incremental periods not to exceed five school years.
• Charter school applications denied by the local school board can be appealed to the State Board of Education; if the State Board reverses the local school board’s decision and grants the charter, the State Board will directly oversee the charter.

Teachers

• Charter school teachers either should be certified or possess the following qualifications: (i) a bachelor’s degree; (ii) employment for at least five years in a relevant field; (iii) passing a required basic skills test; (iv) demonstrating continuing evidence of "professional growth."
• Chicago only: Beginning with the 2006-07 school year, at least 50% of teachers in Chicago must be certified for schools that started after April 2003. For schools that started before that date, 75% of teachers must be certified by 2006-07.
• Current district teachers can take a leave of absence of up to five years to teach at a charter school, and their service status and retirement benefits will not be affected.

Funding

• Charters negotiate the amount of funding they receive with their local board of education. This amount is between 75% and 125% of the district’s per capita student tuition. Charter schools are also allowed to apply for any State Board grant that is available for school districts.

You can see the current Illinois Charter School law on the Illinois General Assembly website.