Chicago Tribune

Come fall, hundreds of kids in North Chicago School District 187 — one of the worst-performing districts in the state — will have a terrific chance at a better education. They owe that opportunity to Illinois schools Superintendent Christopher Koch. On Thursday, Koch swept aside a decision by local school board members and said, yes, North Chicago will welcome a new school operated by LEARN, one of the best charter school outfits in the state.

In November 2010, the Illinois State Board of Education took virtual control of one of the worst school districts in the state, North Chicago School District 187. One of the smart ways state officials planned to boost academic performance: Invite a top charter operator, LEARN Charter School Networks, to build an elementary school at a former Naval Station Great Lakes training facility.