Charter school advocates host 'Yes on 2' event in Springfield
Modesto Montero, founder of Libertas Academy, a charter that will open in Springfield next year. Great Schools Massachusetts, an educational organization advocating for lifting the charter school cap, held an event in downtown Springfield on Monday, September 12, 2016 in support of the ballot effort to lift the cap.
The pro-charter school ballot committee Great Schools Massachusetts is beginning to air its final ad of the Question 2 campaign on Wednesday.
The ad touts endorsements by the editorial boards of nine of Massachusetts' newspapers -- including The Springfield Republican, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald and several other regional papers.
The ad cites lines from the various editorials, and says an expansion of charter schools will have no impact on suburban districts while providing choices for urban parents. Gov. Charlie Baker, a major supporter of charter school expansion, appears in the ad speaking to a student.
"Join leading newspapers and Gov. Baker in voting yes on 2," the ad concludes.
The campaign will also continue airing an older ad that features Baker.
On Tuesday, Massachusetts voters will decide whether to allow the state to approve up to a dozen new charter schools a year outside of an existing cap. The most recent polling shows voters are evenly split on the question.
Ballot committees supporting charter school expansion have significantly more money to spend than opponents. They have raised $21.8 million, compared to $12.5 million by the charter school opponents.