South Side charter school asking state board to reconsider decision

CHICAGO — Parents, teachers and faculty are crying out to the Illinois State Board of Education to reconsider the board’s decision to revoke Bronzeville Academy Charter School’s charter at the end of this school year.

On Wednesday, the Illinois State Board of Education made the decision not to renew the charter, in part because according to the board, the school didn’t meet deadlines concerning a new school building for students to go to next year.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

The Bronzeville Academy Charter School is an elementary school with about 320 elementary school students in the 4900 block of South Cottage Grove.

After a flood in the school on April 29, school leaders connected with Rainbow PUSH, which opened its doors allowing the school to operate out of Rainbow Push.

Bronzeville Academy’s Assistant Principal Vincent Payne said back in February, the school got a formal renewal from the state with conditions.

Part of those terms, he says, included assuming and buying a new building for the school, but financing fell through.

Since the school has moved into Rainbow PUSH, leaders believe this is a great fit and hope the state board will reconsider the decision.

“The failure to meet deadlines and uncertainty around identifying a location for Bronzeville Academy Charter School for the upcoming school year, especially so close to summer, had created an emergency situation for the education of Bronzeville students,” a statement from the state board of education read.

“Rainbow PUSH is a coalition is a place that has viability for long-term,” Payne said. “It was a school before. We want to be here. Rainbow PUSH Coalition wants us to be here and our kids want to be here.”

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.