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Education Is Not A One-Size-Fits-All Proposition |
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Kids come in all shapes, sizes, colors and with all kinds of interests, hopes and dreams. Learning opportunities should reflect this diversity. So, like most everything else in life, having options in public education is the best way to meet such varied needs. Charter public schools are an innovative enhancement to public education whose autonomy and flexibility allow learning models customized for our kids in Rockford. Smaller class sizes, higher student achievement and community accountability are all hallmarks of charter public schools. These facts tell the story: - 88% of Chicago K-8 charter public schools outscored neighboring traditional schools on standardized tests.
- 77% of Chicago's charter public high school students graduate compared to 66% at traditional public schools.
- 32% more charter public school students attend 'selective' or 'very selective' colleges than the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) average.
- 5 of the top ranked 10 schools in the CPS Scorecards for Enrollment in College are charter public schools.
- Research shows high quality charter schools increase property values, reduce crime and raise quality of life.
These outcomes are the reason for strong charter public school demand. There are 13,000 students on the waiting list in Chicago alone. And importantly, the results are achieved among a diverse student body. 84% of the state's charter public school students come from low-income families, and 94% are African-American or Hispanic. The stakes are high for Rockford since education plays a key role in both quality of life and our economic vitality. Consider this: the average salary of an Illinois high school dropout is $21,400, while the average high school graduate earns $30,571. As Barack Obama declared, "In this country, it is education that allows our children to hope for something else." Perhaps your child would benefit from the innovations offered by charter public schools. Maybe you just see the contributions they would make in our community. Either way, we need your involvement to bring them to Rockford. Please raise your hand for charter public schools today. Because when it comes to education, great minds do not all learn alike.
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