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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 18, 2003
STATE BOARD APPROVES FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL FOR PRAIRIE CROSSING
CHARTER SCHOOL
The Illinois State Board of Education today approved
a five-year renewal of the charter of the Prairie Crossing
Charter School of Grayslake to begin July 1, 2004, when
the school’s current 5-year charter expires.
“This school has done good work in its four years
of existence and has a clear plan for expanding its scope
in the next five years,” said Robert E. Schiller,
state superintedent of education, in making the recommendation
for renewal to the State Board. Visits to the school by
ISBE staff showed Prairie Crossing is in compliance with
both its original proposal and with the Illinois Charter
School Law and needed to amend its charter renewal proposal
slightly to receive board approval, Schiller said.
Accordingly, the charter renewal approved by the State
Board requires the school to make the following modifications
in its renewal proposal:
- Prairie Crossing must provide by September 30, 2003,
more detailed information on its governance in order
to be in compliance with the Illinois Charter Schools
Law.
- Prairie Crossing must improve its access to the community,
by, among other things, more broadly publishing school
information among low-income and Limited English Proficiency
families.
- Prairie Crossing should establish and publish a Freedom
of Information Act policy.
- Prairie Crossing must comply by October 31, 2003,
with items noted in the special education compliance
report, including arranging for providing the services
usually performed by a director of special education.
Under the Illinois Charter School Law, Prairie Crossing
Charter School will receive General State Aid funds otherwise
due the nearby Fremont School District 79 and Woodland
School District 50 for a maximum enrollment of 360 students.
Any enrollment increase beyond 360 and up to 432 students
would require a financial review and negotiation with
ISBE of the level of state support.
Prairie Crossing has an enrollment of 260 students and
has been in operation for four years. It will operate
for the 2003-04 school year under the final year of its
original 5-year charter. It is the only charter school
in Illinois chartered by the State Board rather than a
local school district.
Superintendent’s
Recommendation
Site Visit Report
Special Education
Report
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