Illinois raises cap?

SPRINGFIELD —

State legislators approved an act that will boost the number of charter schools available for the state — it’s just awaiting Gov. Pat Quinn’s approval.

Senate Bill 612, the Charter School Reform Act of 2009, will allow 120 charter schools with limited geographic constraints.

The new bill eliminates boundaries — now there are two areas: Chicago and everywhere else. Under the current law Rockford is considered “downstate” Illinois.

That means 15 charter schools can be licensed outside Chicago, on top of the previous five licenses left for downstate Illinois. In Chicago, 40 new schools can be added, and five new schools in Chicago can be allocated for dropout recovery. Before this approved act, only five charter licenses were available for downstate.

The change in charter school law would make Illinois the first state to meet President Barack Obama’s call to raise caps on charter schools.

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