On December 6, 2021, the 2022 INCS Teacher Leadership Cohort (TLC) was announced. The goal of this nine-month fellowship is to equip teachers with the experiences, knowledge and skills to…
Read more »
INCS News
Catalyst Charter School Searches – and Creates—Scholarships for Students
The average cost to attend a 4-year university in Illinois is right around $10,000 per year—ranking Illinois in the top half of the country for tuition and expenses. Some students…
Read more »
CPS should embrace charter schools to steady district enrollment
Enrollment decline in Chicago Public Schools continues its downward spiral. The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board recently wrote that “doing nothing is not an answer” – And we agree, parents need…
Read more »
CPD Honors North Lawndale College Prep Student
The Chicago Police Department honored North Lawndale College Prep student Derrick Anderson with an honorable mention award for his intervention in an altercation earlier this summer. Police Chief Ernest Cato…
Read more »
Charter Community Unites for Back to School Supply Drive for Local Students
On Saturday, September 18, 2021, Represent Your Community and Centro San Bonifacio, along with community partners Illinois Network of Charter Schools and ASPIRA, provided families with school book bags, supplies,…
Read more »
Student at ASPIRA Charter High School makes National Competition at NFTE
Due to the pandemic, many students and families have felt drained and unmotivated during the last two years. However, at ASPIRA Business & Finance, a student and her teacher overcame…
Read more »
Perspectives Charter Schools: How We Stayed Connected to Students and Families
My name is Stephen Todd and I serve as a managing principal and senior director at Perspectives Charter Schools, a network of open-enrollment public schools that serves approximately 1600 students…
Read more »
“We let teachers be teaching specialists, my goal is not to get in the way.” Acero-Tamayo Principal Matthew Katz Supports Excellent Teaching
“What distinguishes a high performing school is the quality of the teachers and what’s going on in the classroom. The real success happens with students and teachers,” says Principal Matthew…
Read more »
Teacher Appreciation Week: Lydia Garza, INCS Charter Excellence Awards Elementary Teacher of the Year
As part of Teacher Appreciation Week 2021, INCS is honoring the extraordinary work of teachers everywhere, including the charter public school teachers throughout Illinois. Few better illustrate the value of…
Read more »
INCS Thanks Dr. Janice Jackson for Her Service to Chicago’s Students
The Illinois Network of Charter Schools congratulates Dr. Janice Jackson on her tenure leading Chicago Public Schools as its Chief Executive Officer during one of the most challenging times for…
Read more »
Providence Englewood, Champions of Black Excellence
At Providence Englewood Charter School (PECS), we celebrate and recognize black excellence every day. Black excellence means not being afraid of hard work. I see the hard work our children…
Read more »
INCS Congratulates Representative Emanuel Welch on his Election to Speaker of the House for the 102nd General Assembly
Wednesday, January 13, 2021 — The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) congratulates Representative Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) on his election to Speaker of the House by the Illinois Democratic…
Read more »
INCS partners with local Alderman, Community Organizations, and Schools to provide a Christmas drive-through & free COVID tests for families
On Saturday, December 19, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools partnered with the Great Chicago Food Depository, Grace and Peace Church, Gap Community Center, Lowell Elementary, and CORE Response to…
Read more »
2020 Charter Excellence Award Winners Announced by Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS)
Principal and teacher awardees each receive $10,000 in recognition of their extraordinary accomplishments CHICAGO, IL – Today, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) announced the winners of the 2020…
Read more »
INCS, ASPIRA Charter School, and Seed of Abraham Church Team Up with Local Community to Support Families This Thanksgiving
During these challenging times, the community means everything. Two weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday, The Seed of Abraham Church, located on the west side of Humboldt Park, gave away over…
Read more »
Alumni Spotlight: Crystal Stonewall
Crystal is part of the CICS Wrightwood class of 2011. She graduated from Wisconsin Madison in 2019 and currently attending her 2nd year in law school. As a charter alumnus,…
Read more »
INCS Launches $65,000 COVID Relief Fund for Charter Families
Individual grants will be made to 99 families from 43 charter public schools across Illinois CHICAGO, IL – Today, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) announced the distribution of…
Read more »
Illinois Network of Charter Schools Distributes 25,000 Masks to Local Schools
Acquired through FEMA program, masks will go to schools conducting hybrid learning or where staff use buildings at reduced capacity CHICAGO, IL – Today, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools…
Read more »
Charters Lead: School Re-openings 2020
Kara Bickhem May, Director, Art in Motion To develop our remote learning plans, Distinctive Schools engaged in a thoughtful, reflective, and challenging design process over the course of three months….
Read more »
Illinois Network of Charter Schools Applauds the CPS School Reopening Plan
The Illinois Network of Charter Schools supports the initial reopening framework released today by the Chicago Public Schools. The district’s preliminary reopening plan puts the needs of students, families, and…
Read more »