Chasing the Blues Away: Charter Schools Scale Up in Chicago

In the past eight years, Chicago has created an excellent charter school model with help from across the city. Mayor Richard Daley supported the reform, Chicago Public Schools developed a thoughtful and proactive approval process, business and civic leaders championed the movement and provided technical support, and teachers and community groups accepted the challenge of opening new schools. All deserve credit for the success to date. Renaissance 2010 will dramatically alter the landscape for Chicago's charters during the next five years. Hopefully, all of these actors can pull together again and make the Renaissance 2010 initiative an equally historic success. There are challenges ahead, but there is also more than enough capacity in the "city of big shoulders" to tackle this one. This report examines the history and future of charter schools in the "Land of Lincoln" and how they are being used to spur education reform, reach underserved populations, and reinvigorate urban areas. It also recommends changes at the state level to boost the chances of success for Chicago's Renaissance 2010 plan. [This report is a product of the 21st Century Schools Project.]