This is the first in a series of inspiring stories about the innovation and success with distance learning from charter public schools in Illinois. With Illinois schools closed until at least the end of April due to COVID-19, the teachers at Distinctive Schools are getting creative around how they deliver distance learning to their…
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INCS News
INCS Online Educator Resume Bank Available
The Illinois Network of Charter Schools Promotes INCS Online Resume Bank to Support Charter Public Schools to find Teachers and other Staff Member In light of the current threat presented by the Coronavirus, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools will be cancelling this year’s Educator Job Fair for the first time in 15 years and…
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This Black History Month, Let’s Reclaim the Black Narrative
It was a story that I knew white admissions counselors would like: the little South Side Black girl who persevered in the face of insurmountable odds. I suppose it made sense at the time. I needed something to distinguish myself at my predominately white school, where everyone was very qualified for college, so I focused…
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Illinois Network of Charter Schools Announces the Winners of the 2019 Charter Excellence Awards
Principal and teacher awardees each receive a well-deserved $10,000 grant CHICAGO, IL – Today, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) announced the winners of its 2019 Charter Excellence Awards. Each year since 2011, exceptional principals, teachers, students, and advocates receive the Charter Excellence Award in recognition of their contributions to the continuing success of Illinois’…
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Entrepreneurship teacher helps high school freshman develop mobile apps to meet community needs
Benjamin Franklin. Steve Jobs. Mark Zuckerberg. Travis Kalanick. Garret Camp. Reed Hastings. These men have changed society through the implementation of their ideas and represent some of the most prominent entrepreneurs. Thanks to the flexibility charter public schools have in developing unique curriculums, students at ASPIRA…
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Galapagos Rockford Charter School Helps Former Students Visit Uganda, Rwanda Before College
Studying abroad is often the hallmark of college students’ careers, but thanks to an Illinois charter public school, some students are receiving that experience earlier. Galapagos Rockford Charter School, an elementary school about two-and-a-half hours west of Chicago, has sent students to Costa Rica for the past three years. This past summer, the charter public…
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Aspiring lawyer “ahead of the curve” in college thanks to early exposure to law-themed curriculum in high school
Freddy Boyd has dreamed of becoming a lawyer since he was seven years old. Thinking of it now, Boyd says even his siblings can attest to his early love of debating. Boyd planned to follow the same path many aspiring lawyers choose: college, law school, and then the bar exam. His dream of studying law…
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INCS Statement on the CTU and CPS Side Letter on Charters
The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) is pleased that students will return to the classroom tomorrow and learning will resume. However, we are extremely disappointed that the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) made a side deal that places a cap on the number of charter public schools in Chicago. One…
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INCS Response to CTU Strike
The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) is disappointed that the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has chosen to strike despite being offered a fair package by Chicago Public Schools (CPS), as concluded by two independent factfinders. While we recognize the contributions and needs of teachers who work hard to create safe and productive learning environments…
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INCS, Charter School Community Celebrate Mexican Independence Day
Floats, mariachi bands, and dancing filled the streets of the Little Village neighborhood on September 8 as part of the Mexican Independence Day Parade to commemorate the country’s independence from Spain. Members of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) and charter school community, including dozens of students, parents, and leaders from ACERO Schools, HSA…
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From Detention to College Graduation, Charter Public School Alum Commits to Paying it Forward
When billionaire investor Robert F. Smith announced that he would pay off $40 million in student loan debt for the entire Morehouse College Class of 2019, Jamel D. Chambers was seated two rows from the stage and yet he missed the announcement. Jolted to attention by the jumping and screaming from his classmates, Chambers stood…
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Pritzker signs commission bill; appeal authority transferred to ISBE
As expected, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker signed SB 1226 into law, which will phase out the Illinois State Charter School Commission over the next year and transition its powers to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). INCS is deeply grateful for the extraordinary work of the Commission. INCS has been fighting to protect…
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Charter public school students grow and sell healthy produce for Chicago’s Southwest Side
Every Friday in July, about 30 students in Chicago’s Southwest side rallied together to sell broccoli, squash, carrots and other fresh vegetables and natural products to area residents. The budding entrepreneurs from the Academy of Global Citizenship’s summer program withstood the summer heat to ensure residents enjoy a healthy treat. “It’s been good because on…
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Charter school dean advocates for mental health care for students and families
Pointing to a picture of a recent graduate, La Norra Dennis’ eyes light up as she smiles. “That’s one of our students,” she explained with evident pride. “He’s doing really well. He was recently promoted at his job.” That student is one of many that bring a smile to Dennis’ face. As a dean on…
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INCS Applauds Governor Pritzker’s Signing of Charter School Bill
The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) applauds Governor J.B. Pritzker’s recent decision to sign HB 3659 into law. This new law requires all board members of Illinois’ charter public schools to complete annual board training and ensures parental voice by requiring that at least one member of a charter public school’s governing board be…
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Charter School Students Innovate for the Future
For more than 20 years, charter public schools in Illinois have led the way in preparing students to meet the demands of an ever-changing society. View this video to learn how charter schools enable students to engage in real-world learning and participate in the innovation impacting the world around us. Whether it is integrating the…
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10 Back-To-School Tips for Parents
Adjust your child’s sleep schedule to match that of the school year two weeks before the first day of school. If you haven’t yet visited the school, visit the campus with your child. Practice the route the student will take to get to and from school each day. Ask your child to set three realistic…
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Charter public school opens performing arts center for Chicago’s Austin community
For nearly 50 years, an auditorium in a closed Chicago high school sat silent and unused. Envisioning its potential, a Chicago charter public school brought the building back to life with a meticulous restoration complete with state-of-the-art technology and features. Catalyst Circle Rock, a charter public school in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, and the Ravinia Festival…
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How Southland College Prep got 100% of its senior class into college
Southland College Prep, a charter public school in the south suburbs of Chicago, recently announced that its entire senior class was accepted to colleges across the nation including Yale, MIT, Cornell, and Northwestern. The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) followed up with the school’s Director of College Admissions to learn more about its winning…
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Sustainable Learning Laboratory on Chicago’s Southwest Side to Receive $31M Allocation from State Capital Plan
Academy for Global Citizenship Demonstrates a Different Vision of Scale with Net Positive Energy Campus and Environmental Education Hub [Chicago, June 28, 2019]— Over the last ten years, a public school on the Southwest side of Chicago has captured the attention of over 10,000 visiting educators coming from as far as Brazil and China, India…
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