Illinois

105 ILCS 5/27A School Code: Charter Schools.

"A charter school shall be a public, nonsectarian, nonreligious, non-home based, and non-profit school. A charter school shall be organized and operated as a nonprofit corporation or other discrete, legal, nonprofit entity authorized under the laws of the State of Illinois."

"A charter school may negotiate and contract with...any other public or for-profit or nonprofit private entity for: (i) the use of a school building and grounds or any other real property or facilities that the charter school desires to use or convert for use as a charter school site, (ii) the operation and maintenance thereof, and (iii) the provision of any service, activity, or undertaking that the charter school is required to perform in order to carry out the terms of its charter."

105 ILCS 5/27A-5(a) & (h): Charter school; legal entity; requirements

The total number of charter schools shall not exceed 120. Not more than 70 charters may operate in a city with a population exceeding 500,000, with at least five devoted to students from low-performing or overcrowded schools. Not more than 45 charter schools shall operate in remainder of Illinois, with not more than one school initiated by board of education or by intergovernmental agreement between boards of education at any one time in a district.

105 ILCS 5/27A-4(b): General provisions

Charter schools shall provide a description of how they plan to meet the transportation needs of its pupils, and a plan for addressing the transportation needs of low-income and at-risk pupils. However, a local school board shall not attempt to obligate a charter school to provide transportation for students for whom a district is not required to provide transportation under the criteria set forth in subsection (a)(13) of Section 27A-7.

105 ILCS 5/27A-7(a)(13): Charter submission
105 ILCS 5/27A-11(b): Local financing

"Charter schools shall employ in instructional positions, as defined in the charter, individuals who are certificated under Article 21 of this Code or who possess the following qualifications:

(i) graduated with a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning;

(ii) been employed for a period of at least 5 years in an area requiring application of the individual's education;

(iii) (blank); and

(iv) demonstrate continuing evidence of professional growth which shall include, but not be limited to, successful teaching experience, attendance at professional meetings, membership in professional organizations, additional credits earned at institutions of higher learning, travel specifically for educational purposes, and reading of professional books and periodicals."

105 ILCS 5/27A-10 (c)(i-iv): Employees

Virtual schools "are cyber schools where students engage in online curriculum and instruction via the Internet and electronic communication with their teachers at remote locations." There was a moratorium on virtual schools from April 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016, but it did not apply to existing virtual-schooling components in district schools.

105 ILCS 5/27A-5 (b-5) Charter school; legal entity; requirements

No voucher programs found.

EdChoice School Choice in America

Illinois statutes allow for an education expense credit: A taxpayer who is the parent/legal guardian of one or more qualifying pupils shall be allowed a tax credit for qualified education expenses (excess of $250 for tuition, book fees, and lab fees) incurred on behalf of the qualifying pupils.

Education Expense Tax Credit: 35 ILCS5/201(m)