The escalating battle over Chicago school reform is similar to the ongoing fights over Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and police accountability, in that it can easily be minimized as a policy debate (in this case between those who favor charter schools or privatization and those who don’t). But to frame these disagreements in such a manner misses the fundamental issue. In the case of education reform, the parents, teachers, and community members raising a ruckus about proposed school closings want to know how these decisions are being made and, furthermore, want their voices heard. Like those pressing Mayor Daley on TIF or the CPD on repeat offenders, these citizen activists want transparency and access to the process. Only when this is achieved can a real policy discussion take place.

That is why Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman’s announcement this week that six schools have been spared for the remainder of the year is unlikely to quiet the storm. More from NewsTips' Curtis Black:

Leave aside the question of whether targeting neighborhood schools, moving children around and firing teachers wholesale serves the interests of education or rather other agendas, like privatization and gentrification, as critics argue.

Why were those six chosen? Many of the reasons given by CPS for saving them would have been apparent had a thorough assessment been done before the actions against them were proposed [...]

[W]hy, out of all the small and struggling schools in the district, were they and sixteen others the ones put on that list in the first place? Would more attention to detail have spared some of the other schools?

Black goes on to note that CPS’ evaluations of these schools aren’t made available to the public or even the principals. They’re not the only ones waiting to hear answers. District officials weren’t returning our calls yesterday either.

As we’ve reported, a frustrated state Rep. Cynthia Soto (D-Chicago) recently introduced a bill calling for a one-year moratorium on school closures, buying residents some time until the district comes up with a clear set of criteria and a more transparent process. Encouragingly, Soto’s measure easily advanced out of committee last week. Lawmakers owe it to the parents and students left wondering why their school didn’t make the cut to adopt the moratorium.

Meanwhile, Chicago Public Radio reported this morning that dozens of activists camped out at the board of education’s headquarters last night to protest today’s meeting, where the 16 still questionable Renaissance 2010 school closures will be decided. Hopefully, the school reform movement’s broader goals will be discussed, including a push for a democratically-elected school board that would feel obligated to answer important questions.

UPDATE: The Board of Education voted unanimously this afternoon to close or revamp all 16 schools, WBEZ reports.