GEM supporters want a moratorium on school closures and more community involvement in the decisions. They'd also like to strengthen local school councils.
"Our parents don't want the choice to send their children to this school or that school. That is just some marketing thing that is made up. Our parents want to send their children to a world class school in their neighborhood," said Jitu Brown, GEM.
Chief education officer Barbara Eason-Watkins says CPS believes it conducted a thorough review process with community impute and involvement, and she says demand shows that charter schools are thriving.
