The Biden Administration submitted the FY2025 Budget proposal to Congress last week. It included a request for a $40 million historic cut to the Charter Schools Program, the only source of federal funding for start-up, replication, and facilities for public charter schools.
The President’s FY 2025 budget falls disappointingly short of prioritizing public charter schools and public educational options for the parents who are looking for something better. Read more below.
ICYMI: The House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing to discuss the benefits of charter schools for students and families.
In ongoing work to secure protect our federal appropriation for the Charter Schools Program, there is promising news this week. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce will consider the Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act on Thursday, along with several other bills. This bill is one that the National Alliance is enthusiastic about, as it supports one of our major advocacy goals. Learn more about the bill in our blog.
TO WATCH: President Biden Proposes $40M CSP Cut for FY25
In a disheartening move, President Biden's proposed budget for FY2025 includes a significant $40 million cut to the Charter Schools Program (CSP). Charter schools are free, public, and open to all. These unique public schools are a lifeline to students nationwide. Our ask of Congress is $500 million in FY2025 funding for the Charter Schools Program.
The Biden Administration should focus instead on reducing the burden of their CSP regulations and bureaucratic processes that slow down grantee spending. In addition, they should support Congressional efforts to increase flexibility for facilities funding under the Charter Schools Program and supporting educators, including educators of color, who are inspired to open new schools.
Charter schools are the only part of public education that is steadily growing. Over the last four school years (2019-20 to 2022-23), charter schools gained more than 300,000 new students, an increase of 9%.
While disappointed about the proposed funding cut to the Charter Schools Program, we were pleased to see the proposal in the president’s budget to increase Title I funding and IDEA funding by $200 million each. This will help millions of public school students from low-income families, including many who attend charter schools.
RECAP: Highlighting the Benefits of Charter Schools for Students and Families
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing discussing the benefits of charter schools.
Here's what you may have missed:
Congressional representatives and witnesses highlightedthe exceptional results of charter schools, especially when educating Black and Latino students, and those from low-income families.
The hearing emphasized the significance of having culturally competent teachers and school leaders who reflect the diverse experiences of students.
Long-time charter school supporters Robert Pondiscio and Kenneth Campbell were joined by Stanford CREDO researcher Macke Raymond in testifying before the Subcommittee.
IN MEMORIAM: Mourning the Loss of Great Leaders in our Movement
More than 30 years ago, a bold idea was born in public education. Thanks to the early and sustained work of those who helped to found this movement, we now have definitive proof that any student in any community, regardless of family income, can achieve. As our movement has grown, we are beginning to mourn the loss of our pioneers. This weekend, we lost Don Shalvey, a giant who is most known for having founded the nation’s first charter management organization. His legacy will live on and he will be deeply missed. Over the past several weeks, we also lost three other giants:
Linda Brown, the formidable founder of Building Excellent Schools who helped nurture and support some to of the nation’s most effective charter school leaders.
Ramona Edelin, a civil rights activist who led the DC charter association and helped shape one of the strongest and highest performing charter sectors in the nation.
Eugene Piccolo, who led the charter school state association in Minnesota for many years and helped support so many great schools and leaders in the state where the first charter school was launched.
We send heartfelt gratitude for these leaders who have given us so much.
Who: The Walton Family Foundation and Seigel Family Endowment
What: The Learning Landscapes Challenge, sponsored by Siegel Family Endowment and the Walton Family Foundation, will help changemakers integrate social, digital, and physical infrastructure solutions that deliver and connect digital, in-school, and community-based learning experiences, to bridge the learning of today with the learning of tomorrow. The multiphase challenge will provide entrants with funding, expertise, and access to a collaborative community of like-minded partners that can help them scale their solutions.
When: Submissions are due by 7:59 p.m. ET on May 14.
Where: For more information and to apply, see here.
What: During this webinar, participants will hear from LEAs who have successfully used ARP-HCY funds to purchase district vehicles, including the process of how they navigated internal requirements, and the impact of vehicle purchases on students experiencing homelessness.
.png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Charter%20School%20Weekly%20Brief%20Header%20Revamp%202%20(1).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Weekly%20Brief%20Image%20(67).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Weekly%20Brief%20Image%20(63).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Weekly%20Brief%20Image%20(66).png)
%20(51).png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Email%20Graphic%20(1200px%20%C3%97%20600px)%20(51).png)
