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An Illinois state appeals courtroom dominated Thursday that the Chicago Board of Training was inside its rights when it tried to revoke the constitution for embattled City Prep Constitution College’s two highschool campuses — elevating questions on what’s subsequent for City Prep’s college students.
The courtroom in Illinois’ First Judicial District reversed a ruling by the Prepare dinner County Circuit Courtroom and stated {that a} state regulation stopping college closures in Chicago till Jan. 15, 2025, doesn’t apply to constitution faculties. City Prep had argued that Chicago Public Colleges violated that regulation when it moved to revoke City Prep’s charters in October 2022.
The courtroom’s determination is the most recent twist in an almost two-year battle between Chicago Public Colleges and City Prep, which has fought to remain open amid allegations of economic mismanagement, violation of special-education rights, and sexual misconduct.
The appeals courtroom’s determination comes as constitution faculties face larger scrutiny below the brand new board of schooling appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former trainer and union chief. In January, the board renewed contracts for 49 charters, most by three or 4 years. State regulation permits extensions as much as 10 years.
City Prep has operated in Chicago for greater than 20 years and at the moment runs two excessive faculties — one in Englewood and the opposite in Bronzeville — serving solely Black boys. State officers closed one other one in every of its campuses in 2022 because of enrollment declines.
After the circuit courtroom’s determination, the board agreed to resume City Prep’s constitution in December 2023 till this month, whereas it pursued an attraction.
In its determination posted on-line Thursday, the appeals courtroom sided with the district, and stated the closure moratorium is included in a piece of state regulation, Article 34, that applies solely to district-run faculties. A distinct part, Article 27A, applies to constitution faculties, the order stated.
“The circuit courtroom erred when it concluded that the moratorium quickly stripped the varsity board of its statutory authority to vote in opposition to a constitution college’s renewal,” the order stated.
The courtroom famous that when the Legislature has wished any additions to Article 34 to use to constitution faculties, similar to legal guidelines round COVID-19, lawmakers have expressly referenced constitution faculties and likewise added that language to 27A.
In a press release, Chicago Public Colleges stated the ruling “has no rapid affect” on City Prep college students. The district, which had initially deliberate to take over the faculties, didn’t supply additional particulars about what occurs to City Prep college students when college begins once more within the fall.
“District officers and the Chicago Board of Training will evaluate this ruling and decide a path ahead that finest helps our college students,” stated CPS spokesperson Mary Ann Fergus. “The district will take all crucial steps to make sure clear communication and engagement with impacted households previous to bringing ahead any attainable suggestions concerning this constitution to the Board of Training.”
City Prep didn’t reply to an e mail or telephone name searching for remark. Rulings by the state’s appellate courts could be appealed to the Illinois Supreme Courtroom.
The Chicago Board of Training voted in October 2022 to not renew City Prep’s constitution’s contracts, citing a number of monetary and authorized allegations, in addition to accusations that City Prep founder Tim King had groomed and sexually touched a scholar, then employed that scholar as a part of a quid-pro-quo scheme. King has denied these allegations. Different college leaders beforehand stated that they had complied with many of the district’s necessities; district leaders stated the other.
City Prep appealed CPS’s determination to the State Board of Training, the place a listening to officer sided with CPS. The college then sued in Prepare dinner County Circuit Courtroom, arguing that their constitution couldn’t be revoked due to the state moratorium on college closures. The circuit courtroom sided with City Prep final summer season.
Reema Amin is a reporter overlaying Chicago Public Colleges. Contact Reema at ramin@chalkbeat.org.
