Chicago Charter Schools Operate as Usual Despite Strike

The independently operated, mostly non-union schools serve about 52,000 students

The bulk of Chicago's public schools have been paralyzed by a teachers' strike, but the city's charter schools are operating as normal—or at least something approaching normal.

There are 119 charter schools in Chicago serving 52,000 students, and as of Tuesday, all of those schools remain open, said Andrew Broy, the president of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, an advocacy group that represents the sector.