Call to action:
Dear Woodland Families,
A public hearing for the renewal of Prairie Crossing Charter School was held by the Illinois State Charter School Commission (ISCSC) on Wednesday, October 17, 2018. The ISCSC is requesting public comments related to the charter renewal. An email forum will be open to accept public comments until October 24, 2018.
In 1999, the Illinois State Board of Education authorized the establishment of Prairie Crossing Charter School. Since its existence, over $44.6 million has been redirected from Woodland students to support PCCS. Under current law in Illinois, nine appointed members of the Charter School Commission have the right to charter a school in our community. They are not required to be parents or taxpayers in our community. The members of the PCCS Board of Education are not elected officials, but rather parent-elected members. As the Illinois law requires, the local school districts (Woodland and Fremont) are 100% accountable for financially supporting the charter school.
KEY FACTS:
• 55% OF THE STATE FUNDING WOODLAND RECEIVES IS DIVERTED TO PCCS 385 WOODLAND STUDENTS CURRENTLY ATTEND PCCS (CURRENT WOODLAND ENROLLMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 5700)
• PCCS DOES NOT PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, OFFER A BREAKFAST OR LUNCH PROGRAM, NOR SERVE AT-RISK STUDENTS
• LOW INCOME STUDENTS ACCOUNT FOR 4% OF PCCS ENROLLMENT (WOODLAND IS 35.4%)
• LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY STUDENTS ACCOUNT FOR 7% OF PCCS ENROLLMENT (WOODLAND IS 17%)
• $4.77 MILLION IN GENERAL STATE AID WILL BE DIVERTED TO PCCS FROM WOODLAND IN FISCAL YEAR 2019
• WOODLAND'S SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE ISSUANCE OF $22 MILLION IN BONDS TO INCREASE THE WORKING CASH FUND IN NOVEMBER 2017
• 55% OF THE STATE FUNDING WOODLAND RECEIVES IS DIVERTED TO PCCS 385 WOODLAND STUDENTS CURRENTLY ATTEND PCCS (CURRENT WOODLAND ENROLLMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 5700)
• PCCS DOES NOT PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, OFFER A BREAKFAST OR LUNCH PROGRAM, NOR SERVE AT-RISK STUDENTS
• LOW INCOME STUDENTS ACCOUNT FOR 4% OF PCCS ENROLLMENT (WOODLAND IS 35.4%)
• LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY STUDENTS ACCOUNT FOR 7% OF PCCS ENROLLMENT (WOODLAND IS 17%)
• $4.77 MILLION IN GENERAL STATE AID WILL BE DIVERTED TO PCCS FROM WOODLAND IN FISCAL YEAR 2019
• WOODLAND'S SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE ISSUANCE OF $22 MILLION IN BONDS TO INCREASE THE WORKING CASH FUND IN NOVEMBER 2017
The Woodland CCSD#50 PTA is opposed to the charter renewal of PCCS based on the funding requirements and the lack of services to the students in our community. The PTA believes local control of the education of our students should be restored back to the elected school boards and their communities. We are asking you to email the Illinois State Charter School Commission with your comments. If you would prefer, below is a draft letter you can edit and send.
EMAILS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO STATE.CHARTER.COMMISSION@ILLINOIS.GOV
PLEASE INDICATE IN THE SUBJECT LINE: PRAIRIE CROSSING CHARTER SCHOOL RENEWAL
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, YOU MAY CALL THE ISCSC AT 312-814-1258
Dear Illinois State Charter School Commission,
I am writing to you a as a parent and taxpayer of Woodland Community Consolidated District 50 in order to express my concern regarding the renewal of Prairie Crossing Charter School's charter.
I respectfully ask you to vote NO on the charter renewal for Prairie Crossing.
According to public records, PCCS continues to fail to meet student population diversity requirements. PCCS does not provide transportation services, nor offer a breakfast or lunch program. Failure to offer these vital services drastically reduces the number of low income and at-risk families that could be served by PCCS. Diverting funds from Woodland creates a negative financial impact on our students and families and is not an equitable solution. The PCCS Board of Education are parent-elected members, not duly elected officials.
I believe the taxpayers of Woodland District 50 have a basic right, through their democratically elected officials, to participate in the determination of local education policies that affect our students and schools.
Equitable funding for students regardless of where they choose to attend school is important; however, diverting millions of tax payer dollars to a private school that does not serve our diverse community is not a reasonable or fair solution.
Sincerely,
(Insert Name Here)
I am writing to you a as a parent and taxpayer of Woodland Community Consolidated District 50 in order to express my concern regarding the renewal of Prairie Crossing Charter School's charter.
I respectfully ask you to vote NO on the charter renewal for Prairie Crossing.
According to public records, PCCS continues to fail to meet student population diversity requirements. PCCS does not provide transportation services, nor offer a breakfast or lunch program. Failure to offer these vital services drastically reduces the number of low income and at-risk families that could be served by PCCS. Diverting funds from Woodland creates a negative financial impact on our students and families and is not an equitable solution. The PCCS Board of Education are parent-elected members, not duly elected officials.
I believe the taxpayers of Woodland District 50 have a basic right, through their democratically elected officials, to participate in the determination of local education policies that affect our students and schools.
Equitable funding for students regardless of where they choose to attend school is important; however, diverting millions of tax payer dollars to a private school that does not serve our diverse community is not a reasonable or fair solution.
Sincerely,
(Insert Name Here)
