IL can gag charter school operators over teacher unionization, judge says

Illinois Democratic state lawmakers can constitutionally force charter school operators into silence when Democratic-allied teachers unions attempt to organize their workforces, under threat of losing the charter they need to remain in business, a federal judge has ruled.

On Feb. 24, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey rejected a bid by the operators of Illinois charter schools for an injunction blocking the state of Illinois from enforcing a law which demands “neutrality” from charter school operators concerning union activity in their schools.

In the ruling, Blakey agreed the law carried potential First Amendment applications, as it could “chill” or “suppress” the speech of charter school operators.

But the judge said the state law is still constitutionally acceptable because the state has the constitutional authority to set ...