Tom Flynn misrepresents several facts about public charters schools in his Oct. 24 letter against Question 2.
Charter schools in Massachusetts are tuition-free, nonprofit public schools that operate outside of the traditional school district.
Rather than reporting to a school committee, charter schools must report directly to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and must show consistent results or face their charter being revoked.
Charter school boards are made up of unpaid educators, parents, nonprofit and business leaders, and are open to any Massachusetts child. Students are enrolled by a blind lottery.
Charter schools in Massachusetts have been found to be doing more than any other schools in the nation to break through the two-tiered educational system that already exists in public education. Access to high quality public schools is largely determined by zip code and socio-economic status.
Mr. Flynn questions whether charters take special-needs students and English language learners. Yes, we do. In fact, Lowell Community Charter School has higher concentrations of disadvantaged children than the district: children with special needs (16.9 percent-15.5 percent), English language learners (48.2 percent-25 percent), and African American/Latino children (71.9 percent-38 percent). It also has lower rates of attrition (5.7 percent-9.3 percent) and out-of-school suspensions (2.7 percent-6.2 percent).
Families whose children are being underserved in school districts are counting on voters to make an informed decision on their children’s future on Nov. 8. If you believe that every child should have the opportunity to attend a high-quality school, no matter their parents’ income or their zip code, I urge you to vote yes on Question 2, and allow the 32,000 children on charter waitlists to attend great public schools.
Marc Kenen
Executive Director
Massachusetts Charter Public School Association
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