Our mission: To preserve, promote, improve and strengthen public schools for both current and future generations of students.

For years, a charter school network in Chicago was celebrated nationally for getting 100% of its Black male graduates admitted to college. Its founder was once even named “hero of the year” by People Magazine.

But behind the scenes Urban Prep Charter Academies has been mired in such deep financial trouble that Chicago Public Schools officials say they have “grave concerns” about its sustainability, WBEZ has learned.