AGC Blog

The Academy for Global Citizenship has been granted a 7-year charter renewal by the Chicago Board of Education—the longest renewal term awarded to any school in AGC's cohort and a distinction no Illinois charter school has achieved in nearly a decade.

The unanimous vote took place on the same morning that AGC's Class of 2026 celebrated their 8th grade graduation, securing June 10th as a defining day in AGC's history as a public charter school, International Baccalaureate institution, and teacher development hub on Chicago's Southwest Side.

AGC's 7-year term was determined through a rigorous, multi-domain evaluation framework developed by CPS' Office of Innovation and Incubation under Superintendent Dr. Macquline King's leadership, assessing academic performance, financial health, inclusive programming, and organizational compliance. Earning the maximum available term reflects not just what AGC has achieved, but how it has achieved it: with fidelity, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to the children of LeClaire Courts.

"This renewal is a declaration that public education can be regenerative—nourishing the whole child, the whole family, and the whole community," said Sarah Elizabeth Ippel, AGC's founder and executive director. "It belongs to every student who walked through our doors and grew into someone who knows they can change the world, every teacher who found their purpose inside these walls and never looked back, and every family who trusted us with what matters most."

Since its founding in 2005, AGC has centered sustainability, dual language learning, social justice, and whole-child wellness as the foundation of its educational model, proving that regenerative, nature-centered education is possible within the Chicago Public Schools system.

The renewal news coincided with AGC honoring three notable recognitions from the 2025-26 school year: Every AGC student earned the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy, every graduate completed the IB Middle Years Programme, and every 8th grader earned placement in their preferred high school, including selective enrollment and IB programs across Chicago.

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools celebrated the decision. "The Academy for Global Citizenship has long been one of the most distinctive schools in Illinois,” said INCS President Andrew Broy. “It’s a place where academic excellence, bilingual education, and deep community rootedness are foundational. This 7-year renewal is proof that when a school refuses to compromise—on rigor, on equity, on community—the students flourish."

As one of 13 Chicago charter schools renewed at the Board's June meeting, AGC is part of a cohort serving more than 8,300 students across the city, 98.7% of whom are children of color. This renewal affirms AGC's role as a vital, long-term investment in the children and families of Southwest Chicago.

Learn more about AGC's mission and award-winning model here.