CHICAGO, April 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Charter public school advocates are gearing up for a daylong event which will span two cities on April 17, 2012. The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS)'s Annual Lobby Day has been dubbed Have Your Say Day and kicks off with a rally at Soldier Field where more than 1,000 charter public school students and supporters are expected. Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean Claude Brizard, INCS President Andrew Broy, charter school leaders, and others will address the gathering. After the rally, two dozen buses will depart for Springfield for another rally and meetings with legislators.

According to INCS president Andrew Broy, "Lobby Day is a day for parents and students to meet with their elected officials and express their demand for high quality charter school options."  "It's important for elected officials to know that constituents want fair treatment for their schools and better options in Chicago and across the state," Broy added.

In Springfield, participants will meet with their elected officials to share their support for legislation and policies that allow charter public schools to thrive and serve students. Representatives from schools across Illinois will be on hand to talk about their unique attributes and call for fair treatment for charter school students. A complete list of all participants is noted below.  Parents, civic leaders and other advocates will discuss why they support high-quality charter schools in their neighborhoods. Supporters will also actively oppose bills that restrict the voice of parents and the needs of communities. INCS Senior Advocacy manager Anton Seals said "We all benefit when the voices of students and families are heard and when they drive policy."

INCS, charter school families, students, and teachers support all students having the benefit of a full school day and maintain that public dollars should follow public school students, regardless of what public school they attend. In 2011, INCS's annual Lobby Day led to the passage of the Charter School Quality Act, which created Illinois' first statewide charter authorizer.  In addition to the INCS event, a school-led social media movement has demonstrated support for the cause, under the banner "Public Means Public."  Charter public schools are open-enrollment schools that serve neighborhood children and these advocates say that anything less than equitable funding unjustly punishes those same neighborhood children. There are nearly 50,000 students enrolled in charter public schools today in Illinois, with roughly 15,000 on waitlists for charter schools in Chicago alone. 

Schools in Attendance

ACE Tech Charter High School
Amandla Charter School
Bronzeville Lighthouse Charter School
Catalyst Schools
Chicago International Charter School (CICS)
Chicago Math and Science Academy
Chicago Virtual Charter School
EPIC Academy High School
Erie Elementary Charter School
Instituto Health Science Career Academy
LEARN Charter School Network
Noble Network of Charter Schools
Perspectives Charter Schools
UNO Charter School Network
Urban Prep Charter Academies
Young Women's Leadership Charter School

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) is dedicated to the improvement of education by establishing high-quality charter public schools that transform lives and communities.  As the voice of the Illinois charter schools, INCS advocates for legislation on behalf of the charter sector, provides support to strengthen charter schools, and influences education policy for the benefit of all public school students.

CONTACT:
Sylvia Ewing
773-575-0073 (mobile)
312 629-2063 ext. 33

SOURCE Illinois Network of Charter Schools