Simply put, our current education system in Illinois is failing our children and their families. Our student dropout rate is higher than acceptable, while we rank lower than what is acceptable among other states in standardized testing. We won’t be able to change by using the same old stale thinking that has put us in the place we are now.  In short, a better tomorrow for Illinois means getting our education system in order today.

• Increase the number of Charter Schools: Charter schools give parents, teachers, principals and other school leaders the flexibility to create an environment that focuses on student achievement. If parents and teachers want a longer school year and longer school days, then Springfield's bureaucratic dragnet should not stand in their way. The vast majority of charter schools outperform their neighborhood school counterparts, which presents a lesson to be learned. Today, approximately 14,000 children in Chicago are waiting to be placed in charter schools. Clearly, we need to expand the number of charter schools available to children around the state.
  
  
• Increase Parental Choice: Illinois has a responsibility to see that all its children have the skills they need to build a good future. We know that all children can learn, but some schools have not demonstrated they can teach. When children are trapped in chronically failing schools, their parents should have every option available.
  
  
• Increase Accountability: Schools need to be accountable to parents and the communities they serve. The Chicago Tribune reported recently that only 6 out of 100 Chicago public high schools students graduate college by age 25. If schools are failing, the state must have greater authority to close schools. Principals and school boards need greater control over the school - they need greater flexibility to fire bad teachers and set compensation according to the teacher's actual performance in the classroom.

2007-2008 Charter School Performance Report. Chicago Public Schools, Office of New Schools.