From the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA)
website
Contact: Vicky Waters, CCSA
(415) 505-7575 vwaters@calcharters.org
SACRAMENTO, California.--Some 1,500 parents, students, leaders
and supporters from charter schools across California rallied on
Wednesday afternoon at the State Capitol steps to demand better
funding for the state's 982 charter schools. They were joined in
support by president and CEO of the California Charter Schools
Association (CCSA) Jed Wallace, founder and CEO of the PUC Schools
in Los Angeles Dr. Jacqueline Elliot, and Margaret Fortune, founder
of the Fortune School of Education, among others.
The rally was part of the 19th Annual Charter Schools
Conference, being held this week at the Sacramento Convention
Center.
Carrying signs that read "Equal Funding for All Public School
Students" and "Fair Funding for Charter Schools," the crowd called
for equity and fairness to all public schools, including
charters.
"We need to bring more money to California schools, and fix our
budget," said Governor Jerry Brown during the rally. "Let's show
people we can come together as Californians."
"It is extremely gratifying to see so many people here in
Sacramento, fighting for their voices to be heard," said Wallace.
"Charter schools should be funded at the same level as traditional
public schools. Yet, despite these challenges, we continue to push
through, with over 300 new charters opening in California in the
last three years."
The
Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) released a report in January
2012, which showed charter schools are underfunded in California by
as much as $1,068 per student in some charter schools.
"We are here because charter school students are public school
students, and they deserve the same funding as other public school
students. California law says charter public schools should get
equal funding to a similar district public school, but they don't,"
said Elliot.
This year's Conference theme is "You are the Charter School
Movement."
About the California Charter Schools
Association
The California Charter Schools Association is the membership
and professional organization serving 982 charter public schools
and more than 412,000 students in the state of California. The
Vision of the California Charter Schools Association is to usher in
a new era in public education so all students attend independent,
innovative, accountable schools of choice. The Mission of the
California Charter Schools Association is to influence the
legislative and policy environments, leverage collective advocacy,
and provide resources to support our members in developing and
operating high quality, charter schools reflective of California's
student population. For more information, please visit
www.calcharters.org.