Wednesday, February 21, 2018

While Dan Biss praises public education on the campaign trail, he voted to shift tax dollars from neighborhood public schools to charter schools in 2012, despite strong opposition from teachers unions and progressive groups. Biss’ support for charter schools comes as no surprise given his unequivocal statement in 2010: “I support the charter school movement,” and the tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions he’s accepted from a pro-charter group that fought for school privatization.

REALITY CHECK

• In 2012, Dan Biss voted for HB 4277, which increased charter funding at the expense of neighborhood public schools.
• Chicago Public Schools alone would have lost $126 million a year if the bill passed.
• The Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Education Association, Chicago Teachers Union, and Citizen Action/Illinois all opposed HB 4277.
• In 2010, Biss wrote, “I support the charter school movement,” in a Chicago Tribune questionnaire where he noted he was a “long-time” charter school volunteer.
• Biss has accepted $66,000 from Stand for Children.

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