1. Home /
  2. About CPS /
  3. Non-District School Management

2026 Request for Proposals for New Options Charter and Contract Schools

At Chicago Public Schools (CPS), our vision is that every student in every neighborhood will be engaged in a rigorous, well-rounded instructional program and will graduate prepared for success in college, career, and life. This Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks to identify high-quality school options that will accelerate academic outcomes for their targeted CPS student population.

Options Schools serve as one of the district’s strategies to better serve students that tend to be older and off-track, at-risk of not graduating, and furthest from opportunity. In turn, Options schools, also known as alternative schools, are designed to be a unique learning model for students who are not engaged in a traditional high school and seek an alternative pathway to graduation that leads to college and career success.

As the local school district in Chicago, CPS serves as the city's charter authorizer. Illinois Charter School Law requires review of all charter school proposals submitted to Illinois school districts. CPS releases an annual request for proposals designed to review new school applications, provides recommendations to the Chicago Board of Education on new school proposals, and provides oversight to authorized charter schools. CPS uses this RFP as its mechanism to accept proposals and meet the Illinois statutory requirement. The Options Network oversees Options charter school authorization and district oversight within CPS.

The 2026 Request for Proposals

This RFP seeks proposals from development teams and existing operators who wish to open an Options charter or contract school. Before an application can be submitted, any team or operator to submit proposals must first meet with the Options Network.

The application is available for download on the dates specified below. A key timeline of the RFP process is available below.

Prospective RFP applicants must schedule a one-on-one meeting with the Options Network by March 9, 2026, to discuss your proposal and the application process and to request an Epicenter account for RFP submissions. Applicants are encouraged to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Even those applicants who have applied in years past must schedule a one-on-one meeting before submitting any application materials.

Please contact 773-553-3065 or contact Molly Mikolajczyk, at mmikolajczy@cps.edu, if you have any questions.

Request For Proposal Process Timeline 2026

Each stage of the proposal submission and evaluation process is included in the timeline below. Please note that dates are subject to change.

Activity Date Information
RFP Released December 19, 2025 The RFP is available for download.
Office Hours with Applicants February 9 through March 9, 2026 Before receiving access to the application portal (EpiCenter), all prospective applicants must schedule a one-on-one meeting with the Options Network to discuss their proposal and the application process. 
Tier I Application Due March 9, 2026 Due by 5 p.m. to Epicenter
Applicant Meeting Late March 2026 Options Network staff will meet individually with applicants to discuss their proposal and the RFP process.
Tier II Application Due May 18, 2026 Due by 5 p.m. to Epicenter
Tier III Application Due July 27, 2026 Due by 5 p.m. to Epicenter
Tier IV Application Due October 5, 2026 Due by 5 p.m. to Epicenter
Applicant Capacity Interviews October 2026  
Public Hearing November-December 2026  
CPS Board Meeting January 2027  

The Options Network reserves the right to request additional information and documentation from applicants, as deemed necessary for review, and to amend this timeline as needed.

Related Links