We recently joined a group of local community members visiting three Chicago charter schools and taking home tips. The group voted on what kind of charter they want in Rockford. Topping the list - a college prep school, followed by programs focusing around technology and business. Local residents have high hopes for choosing charters.

The classrooms of the Chicago International Charter School, or CICS, are filled with students excited to learn.

"I love this school because there's an excelerated class. That's why I've chosen this school and my parents think it's very educational," says CICS 4th Grader Pablo Santiago.

CICS is one of the charter operators vying to open a school in Rockford as soon as 2009. Admnistrators plan to apply within the month.
They say they're a good fit for our district's demographics. Around 80 percent of CICS kids are low income, 93 percent are minorities.

"We have 12 years of experience in educating successfully a diverse group of learners," says CICS Executive Director Beth Purvis.

Another charter that could work in rockford is Chicago's Youth Connection Leadership Academy, or YCLA. Students seek out YCLA after dropping out of the regular Chicago Public Schools.
40 percent of YCLA high schoolers enter reading below a 6th grade level. After a year or two, they average a 10th grade level.
YCLA links job training with academics and teachers give kids extra attention to keep them on track.

"That's what can happen once we bring charter schools to Rockford, it will show students who've given up on their education that they can do better because someone really cares," says Rockford Pastor Kenneth Board.

Danny Campton was kicked out of the Rockford public schools, because he says he was too focused on acting cool, and could have used the individualized attention and extra push many charter schools provide.

"I think I would have gotten a high school diploma easily," says Campton.

Supporters hope a Rockford charter would boost achievement within the school, but also that the charter's tactics would spread to improve the rest of the district's schools; elevating our future workforce and attracting new residents to Rockford.

The Rockford school board has to approve any local charters. So far the district has received one application. They're reviewing it and will send it to a school board committee within two weeks, then on to the full board. Members say they're interested in a charter that provides programming the district does not.

Click the links in this article to view the rest of our charter schools special series, including how the charter system works and why charters help kids succeed.