State officials pursue private support for public school reform initiatives

According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, Illinois School Superintendent, Christopher Koch, hopes to raise about $80 million in private support and grants in the next four years to support reforms. Illinois lawmakers enacted 5 reform bills in support of the state's Race to the Top bid. Now, in a bid to meet the new law requirements, schools are courting private support to cover the costs associated with the mandated changes.