INCS Congratulates Six Charter Public Schools Granted Renewal by the Chicago Public Schools

CHICAGO (INCS)—Six member charter public schools of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) were granted renewal terms today by the Chicago Public Schools’ Board of Education. Based on academic, financial and operational performance requirements, renewals were granted to:

• Chicago Math and Science Academy (CMSA), which received a seven-year renewal term. As per CPS’ school quality ranking, CMSA is a Level 1+ school (CPS’ highest ranking) serving students in 6-12th grades. Speaking to the CPS board Michael Kuran, CMSA principal, said the charter school received a “Silver Rating” from U.S. News & World Report as a top U.S. high school.
• Foundations College Preparatory Charter School received a four-year renewal term. It is a Level 2 school, serving students in 6-10th grades and 6-12 by the 2019-2020 school term. Foundations is one of the highest-performing neighborhood schools on Chicago’s Southside.
• Great Lakes Academy Charter School received a five-year renewal term. It is a Level 1 school serving students K-12.
• Horizon Science Academy Southwest Chicago Charter (HSA Southwest) received a four-year renewal term. HSA Southwest is a Level 2 school serving students K-12.
• Namaste Charter Elementary School received a five-year term. A Level 2+ school, Namaste serves students K-8.
• Noble Network of Charter Schools received a five-year term. Noble is Chicago’s largest high school network with 17 campuses and 12,000 students. Speaking to the CPS board Constance Jones, CEO and president of Noble, said the network “has provided and will continue to provide a high-quality choice for thousands of parents in CPS, regardless of who they are, where they live or their economic states, and we will continue to meet and surpass the standards we have set for ourselves and for the district.”

In 2016, INCS successfully lobbied Illinois lawmakers to allow high-performing charter public schools to apply for a 10-year renewal term. Each charter public school has a charter or contract that is signed by its board of trustees and school authorizer. As part of the contract, an accountability plan for each school establishes academic goals. All charter public schools are non-profit, independently-operated public schools overseen by an authorizing agency. They do not charge tuition and do not have admission requirements or entrance exams.

“Chicago charter public schools continue to provide high-quality education to tens of thousands of students in the district,” said Andrew Broy, president of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. “We are proud of all the charter schools that earned renewal terms today and commend Chicago Public Schools’ leadership for working with our member schools in partnership to serve Chicago families.”

Charter public schools are held to strict high-performance academic standards and fiscally responsibility. They provide a high-quality public education option to all students, meeting and often exceeding and state metrics.

About INCS

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools is dedicated to the improvement of public education by establishing high-quality charter public schools that transform lives and communities. As the voice of Illinois charter schools, INCS advocates for legislation on behalf of the charter sector, provides support to strengthen charter schools, and influences education policy for the benefit of all public school students. Learn more at incschools.org.

For information contact:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper | Illinois Network of Charter Schools
mramirezcooper@incschools.org | 312-690-2703