CTU President Demands CPS Absorb Closing Acero Charter Schools
Letter from Stacy Davis Gates Calls for Closure of Acero Charter Schools to be Reversed
Days after Acero charter schools leaders voted to close seven schools, Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates wrote a letter demanding that Chicago Public Schools absorb them into the district in order to save them.
Background on Closing Acero Charter Schools
The closures — which will begin in June 2025 and impact about 2,000 students, or nearly a third of all Acero students — include Casas, Cisneros, Fuentes, Paz, Santiago, and Tamayo elementary schools and Cruz K-12. The network of schools operates primarily in Latino neighborhoods.
Union President Stanton’s Demands
In the letter delivered to CPS leadership Friday, Gates cited a resolution barring the closure of any district-managed schools through the 2026-27 school year, and said CPS must apply that rationale with charter schools by transitioning the closing schools to being district-run “with seats guaranteed for all current students and jobs guaranteed for all current staff members.”
Hold Charter School Operators Accountable
“The incompetence, unaccountability, and mismanagement of charter school operators should have consequences,” Gates wrote in the letter. “Noncompliant charter organizations should be held accountable. What is needed is to replace the management of these schools, not to leave their students and staff members in the lurch.”
No Repeat of 2013 School Closures
She also noted the “catastrophic consequences” of former Mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s decision to close 50 schools in 2013.
CPS Response
CPS didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Acero CEO Cites Reasons for Closure
At the Wednesday meeting where the closures were announced, Acero CEO Richard Rodriguez cited a 1,400-student enrollment decline over eight years, increases in costs to staff and facility maintenance and the dwindling Chicago population as key factors in the decision.
Plan for Impacted Students and Staff
Acero said remaining schools will enroll the impacted students, and town hall meetings will be held every month starting in October to update community members.
Conclusion
The ongoing debate surrounding the closure of Acero charter schools has sparked a heated discussion among educators, policymakers, and community leaders. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the fate of the affected students and staff hangs in the balance. Will CPS take heed of Davis Gates’ demands and absorb the closing charter schools, or will the doors remain shut, leaving hundreds of students and educators with uncertain futures?
FAQs
* What is the reason for the closure of Acero charter schools?
+ A 1,400-student enrollment decline over eight years, increases in costs to staff and facility maintenance, and the dwindling Chicago population are the key factors cited by Acero CEO Richard Rodriguez.
* What is the plan for the impacted students?
+ Remaining Acero schools will enroll the impacted students, and town hall meetings will be held every month starting in October to update community members.
* What is the response of the Chicago Teachers Union regarding the closure?
+ In a letter to CPS leadership, CTU president Stacy Davis Gates demanded that CPS absorb the closing Acero schools, saying the “incompetence, unaccountability, and mismanagement of charter school operators should have consequences” and that the district should guarantee seats for current students and jobs for current staff members.
