Illinois Network of Charter Schools

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Charter schools are public schools, and they're open to any student who applies. In exchange for strict accountability to maintain high standards, charter schools are given freedom from many of the regulations that apply to other public schools; which allows for greater flexibility and innovation in the classroom. See the advantages of charter schools by clicking on the following topics. The Value of Charter Schools Charter schools bring benefits to the entire public school system in a number of important ways. Read more . Creating a Better Fit: Tailoring Education to Students' Needs Charter schools aren ’t mired in bureaucratic rules —which means they can create more room for teachers, school leaders, and parents to create and support a focus on learning. They can structure school for students, and their innovations can then be shared with other public schools, making them beacons of change. Giving Students More Learning Time and More Focused Classes Charter schools can offer longer school days and a longer academic year in order to get the most out of the educational calendar. Charter schools also set their own class size and teacher ratios, so teachers can give more one-on-one attention to each student. Encouraging Community Involvement Charter schools help to build greater involvement between schools and the communities they serve. Eighty percent of charter schools in Illinois have parents, community members, teachers, and civic leaders on their boards of directors. Charter schools also work to help local families find the school that best meets their needs. Staying Accountable and Delivering Results In exchange for their increased autonomy, charter schools are held directly accountable to their local school board and to the State of Illinois for maintaining high academic standards. Charter schools have risen to this challenge and are delivering strong results. One example: in 2004, 100% of Illinois' charter schools earned average ISAT and PSAE scores higher than those of the district schools their students otherwise would have attended. Charter school students also have a high rate of advancement to college: 83% of charter high school graduates are enrolled in post-secondary education. For more information, see our results . Get Involved To find out how you can help support charter schools, please visit our Get Involved section.

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