It's decision time for HB 363, the bill sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Soto calling for a moratorium on school closings while a citizen/legislative panel prepares a proposal for a fairer, more open process.

You've read about the Soto bill here, but now it's time for action. The House must pass an amended bill by April 3 in order for the bill to proceed to the Senate. The GEM coalition is supporting the bill and an amendment that assures that the moratorium is retroactive to include the schools closed at last month's board meeting.

Our state representatives should be in their Chicago offices on Monday, March 31, because there is no Springfield session that day.  We'd like to generate hundreds of phone calls on Monday in support of HB 363. You can begin calling now, but please make a follow-up call on Monday if you don't hear right away that your rep supports the bill.

Go to civicfootprint.org to find your Rep’s phone number – all you need to know is your address.

We're also asking you to call three other influential reps:

• House Speaker Mike Madigan: Chicago 773/581-8000; Springfield 217/782-535
• Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Curry: Chicago 773/667-0550; Springfield 217/782-8121
• Representative Esther Golar in the 6^th District  Chicago 773/925-6580; Springfield 217/782-5971

TALKING POINTS: 

1. For ten years, the Chicago Public Schools have been closing schools and handing the buildings over to private companies. Many communities have lost all of their neighborhood public schools.
2. Some of the privately-run schools pick and choose their students. Some push out students  who are behavior problems or low achievers. The data shows that these new schools serve fewer low-income, special education, and limited-English speaking children.
3. Overall these new schools have not done a better job educating children, so why are we paying for all the expensive new programs, firing teachers, and moving children around like chess pieces? CPS has broken a promise made two years ago to report on the effect of all these changes on children.
4. These privately-run schools are not accountable to the community. They do not have LSCs or other effective ways for parents voices to be heard. A recent PURE study showed that parents make up only 5% of the members of charter school boards. Many of the privately-run schools do not have public meetings or public records of their activities, even though they are funded by the public.
5. It's time to put an end to the irresponsible experimentation with our children. HB 363 will call a time out on school closings and set up an independent fact-finding panel to prepare a process for school closings that is responsible, fair, and in the bests interests of children, families, communities, and our city.

Make sure you get a commitment from your state rep to support HB 363.

Thanks!!!  and pass this request along to your networks!