Ortíz Lays Out Plan to Protect Charter School Students and their Education Under New Bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Responding to his community’s concerns over mid-year charter school closures and crises, state Rep. Aarón Ortíz, D-Chicago, is fighting for legislation that would institute safeguards and deliver greater stability to safeguard charter school students and teachers.

“With everything the Trump Administration is trying to do to our state’s public education, we need to do all that we can to best protect students and teachers from chaotic, abrupt and mid-year charter school closures,” Ortíz said. “This legislation would ensure that operators properly execute their renewal responsibilities. I have been a lifelong advocate for our children’s future, and this bill is another step we can take to keep Illinois schoolkids on track to succeed.” 

Ortíz  is championing House Bill 5063 which makes several critical improvements to the Charter School Law of Illinois’ School Code, including: 

• Requiring charter school executors to execute renewal agreements within 90 days of receiving an approved renewal; 
• Requiring charter schools, in the case of closure, to maintain sufficient reserve funds to transition students, pay outstanding salaries and fulfill transition responsibilities; 
• Outlining other requirements for operators of charter schools and penalties for failure to maintain proper financial and operational plans; and 
• Allowing the state to intervene and save financially distressed charter schools should the need arise; among other provisions. 

“Many in my community came to me with a simple ask: protect our students and teachers,” Ortíz said. “I am committed to doing just that with this bill. If a school is being funded, wholly or in part, with public, taxpayer dollars, accountability cannot just be a top priority, but a necessity.”