U.S. Rep. Danny Davis supports proposed Austin charter

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) urged the Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday to approve a new charter school in Austin.

Chicago Education Partnership is seeking to build an elementary school charter in the West Side community. It plans to partner with By The Hand Club For Kids, a “Christ-centered, after-school program.”

“I am a member of New Galilee Missionary Baptist Church that is very much engaged and very much involved with the By The Hand organization,” the congressman, who once worked as a teacher, told CPS officials.

“I’m aware of their philosophy, their desire and I know that faith is often times an integral part of children’s desire for learning.”

He added: “Bottom line, with everything that is said and done, I do believe that this charter with the leadership and the interaction of the leadership from my church … the accountability will be present and enhanced and so I would ask that the By The Hand organization be granted the opportunity to display the kind of leadership and direction they have already demonstrated.”