By: Sharon Higgins
Introduction
On March 19, 2013, the Illinois State Charter School Commission approved two new Chicagocharter schools to be operated by Concept Schools. The 
decision reversed a ruling by ChicagoPublic Schools.Concept Schools is a charter management organization associated with the Gulen movement, areligious group with a global reach that originated in Turkey forty years ago. The movement isinvolved with business, media, interfaith dialogue, and Turkish culture promotional activities
decision reversed a ruling by ChicagoPublic Schools.Concept Schools is a charter management organization associated with the Gulen movement, areligious group with a global reach that originated in Turkey forty years ago. The movement isinvolved with business, media, interfaith dialogue, and Turkish culture promotional activities –
but it is especially known for its focus on establishing schools. People in Turkey are familiar with the movement and aware of its connection to certain Turkishschools. People in other countries who are not familiar with themovement may only notice that a local school is“Turkish run.
To date, members of the Gulen movement have opened hundreds of private
schools in over 100countries around the world, as well as 135 charter schools in the United States. The creation of charter school law presented the Gulen movement with the opportunity to establish schools in theUS that would be fully funded by American taxpayers.The founders of Concept Schools opened the movements first charter schools in 1999, twoHorizon Science Academy schools in Ohio. Today, Concept is a regional organization thatoperates 27 charter schools in seven Midwestern states, two of which are Illinois: the ChicagoMath and Science Academy and Quest Charter Academy in Peoria.This report will provide readers with a basic understanding about the Gulen movement, itsstructure in the US, and some of the activities in which it is engaged, especially as they relate tothe
movement’s charter schools in Illinois. It contains the following sections:
The real motivation of the Gulen movement — charter schools and all — is to accumulate political and financial resources to further the transformation of Turkey itself, according to JoshuaHendrick, assistant professor of sociology and global studies at Loyola University in Maryland and perhaps the leading U.S. scholar of Gulen.
Portland Press Herald (1)