Survey

2018 Candidate Questionnaire

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If you would like to expand on any answers or subjects, we strongly encourage you to use the “Comments Page” at the end of the survey.

Charter Public Schools

Charter public schools are publicly funded, open enrollment, tuition-free schools. Charter public schools are free from many of the rules and regulations imposed by state and local agencies. In exchange for this freedom, which comes in the form of greater flexibility in hiring, curriculum, and teaching methods, charter public schools are held accountable for student performance. In the 2016-2017 academic year, there will be 143 charter schools in Illinois serving 64,000 students.

FUNDING
The landmark funding reform bill, SB1947, narrowed the range that districts can fund charter schools from 75% to 125% of a district’s Per Capita Tuition Charge (PCTC) to 97%-103%, providing greater equity to charter students.

Do you support equal funding for charter public school students that maintains current funding range at 97% - 103% of the district’s PCTC?

Support
Oppose

FACILITIES
The current Illinois charter law does not address access to facilities for Illinois charter public schools. Meanwhile access to facilities is one of the greatest obstacles to charter school formation and it is also one of the greatest causes of inequity between charter and district schools.

Would you support legislation providing state funding and facilities support for charter public schools dedicated for leasing or purchasing buildings?

Support
Oppose

AUTHORIZERS
Illinois law allows for two types of charter school authorizers, local school boards and the Illinois State Charter School Commission (“Commission”).
Charter school authorizers are the entities that decide who can start a new charter school, set expectations for charter schools, and monitor and oversee school academic performance.
In Illinois, charter school applicants must initially apply to their local school board. If the local school board denies their application, they may appeal that decision to the Commission. There is no direct application route to the Commission.
In addition to being a statewide authorizer, the Commission serves as a model agency that disseminates best authorizing practices for local school districts. The Commission was created in 2011 and currently has 10 schools under its jurisdiction. To date, the Commission has denied the vast majority of applications it has received.

Do you support the continuation of the State Charter School Commission so that it may hear appeals and authorize new high-quality charter public schools?

Support
Oppose

In many states, authorizers can also be education agencies, independent boards, universities, mayors and municipalities, and not-for-profits. Illinois law only allows school boards and the Commission to serve as authorizers.

Would you support legislation that allows for Illinois colleges and universities to authorize charter public schools?

Support
Oppose

CHARTER SCHOOL CAP
In Illinois, the number of charter public schools that can operate in the state is currently capped at 120 schools irrespective of performance or parent and community demand. Illinois currently has more than 15,000 students on charter public school waitlists. The law allows a maximum of 75 schools in Chicago and 45 in the rest of the state. Currently there are 50 charters in Chicago and 14 in the rest of the state.

Would you support legislation that increases the cap on charter schools in Illinois?

Support
Oppose

EDUCATION FUNDING
In 2017, the legislature passed Senate Bill 1947, which changed the statewide education funding formula and provides, among other things, additional resources to districts with large concentrations of low income students. Fully funding the new formula would require approximately $350 million to reach adequacy.

Would you support investing an additional $350 million to the new formula so that the public education system is adequately funded?

Support
Oppose

In general, INCS Action does not release the answers of these surveys to the public; however I acknowledge that it reserves the right to do so. I also understand that INCS Action PAC will use my answers to the questions above as one of a number of factors in consideration for endorsement of my candidacy.

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If you have any questions about this survey, please do not hesitate to contact Ariel Johnson at (773) 370-7179.

Comments

Please use this section if you need to expand on answers to any of the questions in the survey.

2018 Primary and General Election Questionnaire

Step 1 of 3

2018 Candidate Questionnaire

Charter Public Schools

FUNDING

FACILITIES

AUTHORIZERS

CHARTER SCHOOL CAP

EDUCATION FUNDING