BY BECKY SCHLIKERMAN Staff Reporter January 22, 2014 10:40AM

The Chicago Public Schools Board Meeting on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. | Chandler West/For Sun-Times Media

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Updated: January 22, 2014 9:27PM

The Chicago Board of Education Wednesday approved proposals for seven new charter schools to open over the next two years, sparking some outcry from those wondering how the district could close dozens of neighborhood schools then open new charters.

This is a complex situation, Board of Education President David Vitale said. When we are making these decisions, it does affect neighborhoods. It does affect schools we understand that.

Our goal is for quality schools. Theres been an agnosticism towards the form of the schools, but there is a strong belief that charters do provide quality just like contract schools and just as importantly ... as our regular schools.

But Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis called the boards approval of new charters hypocritical.

Freedom to choose is at the bedrock of our society, she said, but choice should be based on fact and data. What is being presented is a false choice. Knowledge is the basis for real choice. What parents and the public are being presented with is a pre-determined path that leads to the undermining of our neighborhood schools and the privatization of public education.

The proposals approved outright are:

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Board of Ed. approves 7 new Chicago charter schools