IL HB3257

Removes the cap of 120 total charter schools statewide and the limit of 70 charter schools in cities with populations exceeding 500,000.

Permits up to 5 additional charter schools exclusively serving re-enrolled high school dropouts and students 15-16 years old at risk of dropping out, each with up to 15 campuses and maximum 1,875 total enrollment seats per charter.

Requires charter school lotteries for enrollment (beginning 2015-2016 school year) to be videotaped, administered in real time with authorizer present, and recorded with time/date stamps submitted to the authorizer by September 1 annually.

Allows charter schools with missions exclusively serving dropouts or low-performing/overcrowded schools to grant priority admission and restrict enrollment accordingly, with dropout charters requiring minimum 90% enrollment of high school dropouts.

Requires school district advertisements purchased with public funds to include a disclaimer stating the ad was paid for using public funds, effective January 1, 2015.