MAJOR LEGAL VICTORY FOR CHICAGO CHARTER SCHOOLS

Urban Prep Academies won a significant legal victory on June 23, 2023, with the assistance of attorneys Eric Grodsky and Eric Bernard.  The First District Appellate Court granted Urban Prep Academies’ motion for a temporary restraining order against Chicago Public Schools (CPS).  The order prevents CPS from closing the Urban Prep-Bronzeville and Urban Prep-Englewood campuses until the lawsuit that Urban Prep Academies filed against CPS in April 2023 is fully litigated.  The ruling from the Appellate Court will allow both Urban Prep schools to continue to operate and keep their doors open for students.

Urban Prep’s lawsuit against Chicago Public Schools alleges that CPS violated the Chicago school closure moratorium, a statute which prohibits CPS from closing schools until 2025.  In a brief submitted to the Appellate Court, Mr. Grodsky and Mr. Bernard argued that the school closure moratorium prohibited CPS from closing all schools, including charter schools, and that CPS’ non-renewal of the charters for both academies in October 2022 was tantamount to closing the schools.  In granting the restraining order, the Appellate Court determined that Urban Prep Academies had proven that it has “a likelihood of success,” on the merits of its lawsuit.

Petrarca, Gleason, Boyle & Izzo, LLC is grateful for the opportunity to represent Urban Prep Academies, which will be able to continue to provide an excellent education to Chicago-area boys and young men.