By law, Illinois has limited itself to 30 charter schools in Chicago, 15 in the suburbs, and 15 downstate. In the last few years, a few of the larger charter operators such as Chicago International Charter Schools (CICS) have exploited a loophole in the law that allowed multiple campuses to exist under the same charter.

Last week, the Illinois House defeated a bill that would have closed the loophole, making multiple campuses a thing of the past.

The Trib came out firmly against the bill, taking its originator, State Rep Monique Davis (D-Chicago) to task for her opposition to charters.

"Instead of opening charter schools, we need to go in there and see what the hell is going on in our schools," she said.

How about both, Ms. Davis? Without the success of charter schools, most parents stuck in perpetually failing neighborhood schools might not know better alternatives exist for their kids.

According to the editorial, "the real reason this stinker of a bill made it out of a House committee: Charter teachers don't have to be union members, which drives the teachers unions bonkers."

In a move tailor-made for "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" jokes, the Chicago Teachers Union (along with its national AFT affiliate) announced this week its plans to unionize charter school teachers.

I'm sure we have both charter school teachers and union members in the ranks of TEN readers (as well as lots of teachers who can't figure out what all the fuss is about). From your perspective: should we limit the number of charter schools or lift the cap? Should charter school teachers be unionized, or is the current individualized contract system working fine?

Labels: conversations