SCHOOLS

Operating Schools

88

A large percentage of Illinois' charter schools are located in the greater Chicago area.

Total Enrollment

33,400

Resource

The National Charter School Directory offers complete listings, including school address, program description, and website.

LAW

Grade

D

Rank

26th out of 40 laws

Resource

CER's 2010 point-by-point profile of Illinois' charter law looks at approval process, operations, funding, and teacher and student provisions.

EQUITY

Funding

Illinois' charter schools receive, on average, $6,879 per pupil, compared to the $9,709 that conventional district public schools receive.

Resource

More information on equity issues at Charter School Funding: Following the Money.

ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Test Scores

In the 2006–07 school year, only 42 percent of Chicago Public Schools met the national performance standard, compared to 64 percent of Chicago's charter schools. The RAND Corporation analyzed Chicago charter schools and found that attending a charter high school had positive effects on students and increased the chances of a student graduating and attending college by as much as 11 percentage points.

Closures

Charter school closures are evidence of accountability in action. As of February 2009, eight Illinois charters have been closed, and the state's charter school movement has offered a model for accountability.

Resource

Accountability Report 2009: Charter Schools: In-depth information about charter achievement and accountability, including state-by-state analyses and closure listings.