Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that doubles the number of charter schools allowed and permits for-profit or not-for-profit organizations to run schools.

Highlights:

-Increases the total number of permitted charter schools from 60 to 120. Increases the number of charter schools allowed in Chicago from 30 to 70 and in the rest of the state from 15 to 45 (Sec. 27). -Allows 5 charter schools devoted exclusively to high school dropouts in Chicago in addition to those previously mentioned (Sec. 27). -Requires the State Board of Education to set up a task force to study the need for an independent charter school authorizer and provides for the task force’s member composition (Sec. 27). -Permits up to 30 contract schools, in which an outside for-profit or not-for-profit organization can run a school (Sec 34). -Permits up to 5 contract turnaround schools, in which a contract school takes over and fixes a failing charter school (Sec. 34). -Takes effect immediately upon becoming law (Sec. 99).

Full Bill Text