Charter leaders and some principals urge fair funding and faster special‑education appeals process

Charter school advocates, operators and a charter network official addressed the Chicago Board of Education on Aug. 28 urging equitable funding for charter students and changes to special‑education appeal procedures.
Speakers from the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, Noble Schools and Instituto de Progreso Latino said current CPS practices reduce charter funding below the statutory per‑pupil amounts and cited subtractions for pre‑existing pension debt, authorizer fees and other holdbacks. Allison Jack and Laurie Turner asked the board to “do away with the holdbacks and subtractions” so charter students receive the funding the law guarantees, which they described as between 97%–103% of per‑pupil amounts.
Charter operators also said special‑education funding has been combined with general education in a single lump sum and that the higher threshold for approving midyear appeals now makes it harder to hire additional special‑education staff when student needs emerge. Ellen Moyani of Noble Schools urged the board to reconsider the appeals threshold and restore a clearer funding stream for special‑education supports.
The board did not vote on changes to charter funding or the special‑education appeal process during the meeting; speakers said they wanted prompt administrative review and policy changes if warranted.
Why it matters: Charter schools serve thousands of CPS students. Funding disparities can influence staffing, program offerings and special‑education services across both district and charter sectors. District officials said they would work with charter partners on technical and policy issues raised during public comment.