Parents and educators hoping to start a northwest side Montessori charter school are protesting this evening. They’re questioning Chicago Public Schools process for selecting new schools.

All six new schools announced this week will be run by entities already operating existing schools in the system. One has 13 campuses.

GABRIELLE SANSONETTI: And they all employ traditional education methods.

Parent Gabrielle Sansonetti is a supporter of the Avondale Montessori Academy proposal. She says Illinois’ charter school law is supposed to promote innovation, but that’s not happening in Chicago.

SANSONETTI: These small proposals may be getting overlooked in favor of these more conglomorate charter schools.

The head of the district’s Office of New Schools says those selected were “absolutely ready” to open schools. The district runs several Montessori schools.

Avondale Montessori backers are appealing to Chicago’s Board of Education to reconsider their plan. They say they may ask the state to authorize the school.

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