Local Parents and Community Leaders Call for Urgent Action to Lift the Cap on Public Charter Schools
LAWRENCE, MA – Seeking fair treatment for the 37,000 families stuck on charter school waitlists, parents and community leaders gathered Saturday morning for a regional launch of the Great Schools Massachusetts campaign, a grassroots effort to provide equal access to public charter schools to families who are being shut-out off a world-class education by an arbitrary cap on public schools.
“I got lucky when I got into a charter school. But far too many students in Lawrence are not that fortunate,” said Andreina Bernabel, Lawrence Family Development Charter School alumna. “They’re stuck on waiting lists, and falling further and further behind because of the cap.”
At a launch event at the State House last week, Governor Charlie Baker spoke strongly in support of lifting the cap on public charter schools. “Access to great schools should not depend on your zip code,” said Governor Baker. “It’s time for us to come together to lift the charter school cap and give all kids access to great public schools in their communities.”
The Lawrence launch event was organized by Great Schools Massachusetts, a newly-formed statewide coalition of parents, community groups, public charter schools and education advocates committed to giving equal opportunity to all of Massachusetts’ children.
“It’s about giving students and families more access to better educational opportunities and not to limiting them,” said Rep. Frank Moran of Lawrence. “Today we’re raising the next generation of teachers, nurses, politicians and we need to make sure they get the education they deserve. It’s time to lift the cap.”
Great Schools Massachusetts founding coalition members include the executive directors of Alianza Hispana, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Chelsea Collaborative, and the Massachusetts Immigrants and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), The BASE, among others. Organizational members include the Massachusetts Charter Public Schools Association (MCPSA), the Boston Charter Alliance, Families for Excellent Schools (FES), Democrats for Education Reform, and the Massachusetts High Technology Council (MHTC). Click here for the full list of coalition members, which will be added to as others join the effort.
Great Schools Massachusetts is committed to providing families with equal access to public charter schools, whether that happens through a ballot measure or a legislative solution. More than 37,000 children remain on public charter school waiting lists statewide, including more than 1,800 in Lawrence, where traditional public schools are underperforming and parents have shown a clear demand for public charter schools.
In August, coalition members filed a ballot question that would allow the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to authorize up to 12 new public charter schools or existing school expansions per year, with priority given to the lowest-performing 25% of the state’s school districts.
“We’re determined to lift the cap for families this year,” said Beth Anderson, President of the Massachusetts Charter Public Schools Association (MCPSA). “Whether that comes by ballot measure or by legislation, it’s time to change this outdated and unfair law that keeps our most at-risk kids from the education they deserve.”
Organizers must submit more than 65,000 certified signatures this fall to qualify their ballot measure. In the coming weeks, Great Schools Massachusetts will host organizing kickoffs in cities across the state.
