SENATOR IRIS MARTINEZ, THE IEA AND THE END OF THE ILLINOIS CHARTER COMMISSION.
Big Education Ape: SHOCKER: Walton Funds Illinois State Charter Commission, Which Blocks Closure of Failing Charter Schools Funded by Walton | Diane Ravitch's blog - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2016/06/shocker-walton-funds-illinois-state.html
In April of 2018 we tried to meet with our State Senator Iris Martinez over her continued support for the Illinois Charter Commission. Cassie Creswell of Raise Your Hand Action explained why we were there.
Another Illinois unelected body, the Commission was given the power to establish charters in public school districts even if the local school board had already rejected them. The local district would then have to fund the charter at taxpayer expense.
It was a total creation of the charter industry.
I’ve been part of the movement against the Commission and writing about it from day one.
We finally won that fight for more democratic schools.
Bruce Rauner had vetoed a previous bill that limited the power of the Commission and the Democrats did not have the votes to override his veto.
Over the past nine years the Commission has found allies in some strange places.
For example, when the Commission was first established, the Illinois Education CONTINUE READING: Senator Iris Martinez, the IEA and the end of the Illinois Charter Commission. – Fred Klonsky