RICHTON PARK, ILLINOIS–(ENEWSPF)–January 1, 2012. The Illinois Appellate Court has affirmed the judgment of the Circuit Court of Cook County upholding the decision of the Illinois State Board of Education to reverse Rich Township District 227’s denial and grant Southland College Prep Charter High School’s proposal to establish a new charter high school.
In a unanimous 43-page opinion written by Justice Rodolfo Garcia and concurred in by Presiding Justice Robert E. Gordon and Justice Bertina E. Lampkin of the Sixth Division of the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court, the Court found that:
- the Illinois State Board of Education did not err in concluding that Southland’s charter school proposal satisfied all requirements of Illinois charter law, including that the school is economically sound for both District 227 and Southland;
- Southland provided sufficient information regarding the new charter school’s goals, objectives and pupil performance standards; and
- the new school did not have any impermissible admissions requirements but is open to all students who reside within the boundaries of District 227.
“This ruling by the Illinois Appellate Court is most welcome,” said Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, CEO of Southland College Prep and Superintendent of Elementary District 162.
“The Appellate Court’s decision is a victory for the students who have the opportunity to study and graduate from the only public charter high school in Chicago’s suburbs, whose mission is to prepare all of its graduates for academic success in college through the completion of a degree,” Dr. Davis said.
“This decision is confirmation that the parents who petitioned for better educational opportunities for their children, members of the business and civic community who have supported us, and the dedicated Board of Directors, faculty and staff of Southland made the right decision in creating and nurturing a true learning community for the young men and women who are enrolled in this new school,” she said.
About Southland College Prep Charter High School
Southland College Prep, 4601 Sauk Trail Road, Richton Park opened in August, 2010. It is the only public charter high school in Chicago’s suburbs.
Southland College Prep offers area students a choice. It is designed to prepare all of its graduates for academic success in college through completion of a degree. For the academic year, 2011-12, 248 students are enrolled in Southland’s freshmen and sophomore classes. Over the next two years, the enrollment is scheduled to double to approximately 500 as set by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Southland is located on eight- acres in a three-story state-of-the art learning center with small class sizes at a 17:1 pupil teacher ratio, an extended nine-hour school day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a college prep curriculum which emphasizes foreign languages and the arts.
Southland College Preparatory Charter High School serves students drawn from District 227’s four elementary school districts which include: Country Club Hills, Flossmoor, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Matteson, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park and Tinley Park.
