This is a must read:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/22/chicago-school-closings_n_3319755.html
Of critical concern is this paragraph:
“Their [the children of Chicago] education has been hijacked by an unrepresentative, unelected corporate school board, acting at the behest of a mayor who has no vision for improving the education of our children,” Lewis said. “Closing schools is not an education plan. It is a scorched earth policy.”