Charter school advocates rallied at the Capitol on Wednesday to demand funding for their schools, which have received approval from the state Department of Education but lack the legislature’s sign-off on financial support.
Roughly 200 parents, teachers, high school students and community activists gathered in support of Danbury International Academy Charter School and Capital Prep Middletown — two charter schools that weren’t included in the biennial state budget passed by the General Assembly last year.
“It’s amazing to me that we have to work this hard, fight this hard for something that all of our babies deserve,” said John Taylor, the operator of the Danbury charter school. “Get out of the way of progress and make sure that the families in Danbury and the city of Middletown have more than just one limited choice option. My child, my choice.”
Danbury International Academy Charter School has been waiting to receive funding from the state since 2018. Capital Prep Middletown joined the waitlist last year. Connecticut’s two-tier process for opening charter schools requires a school to first be approved by the Department of Education and then granted funding by the legislature — leaving the two schools’ fates in limbo.
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In Connecticut, 94% of the more than 11,000 people enrolled in charter schools are students of color, according to the Connecticut Charter Schools Association. Both the Danbury and Middletown schools would cater their academic programs to the local community, with Capital Prep focusing on social justice and the International Academy dedicated to English language learners, according to Capital Preparatory Schools, one of the organizers of Wednesday’s demonstration.
Opponents to the proposed charter school funding — a group that includes public school teachers and district leaders — say they’re concerned traditional public schools are already underfunded. New funding for charter schools could further reduce the money available to support and improve existing programs, they say.
“We should invest in finding good solutions for the whole student population, as opposed to a charter school solution which would really only address a very small percentage of the student population,” said Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, in a May 2023 interview with The Connecticut Mirror. “We have worked on that for a number of years and we are making significant progress.”
In 2023, the Appropriations Committee declined to fund the schools in its biennial budget, but this has not stopped parents from advocating for the schools’ opening.
“I want to emphasize the importance of having alternative educational options for our kids,” said Melissa Santana, a mother of two from Danbury. “It’s not just about providing equitable choices. It’s about recognizing that each child learns differently and deserves an education tailored to their strengths and interests.”
This year, advocates believe their waiting will finally pay off. Jose Lucas Pimentel, CEO of Latinos for Educational Advocacy and Diversity, thinks this legislative session will be the year both these charter schools can move forward.
“We are asking the Appropriations Committee to put us in the budget,” said Pimentel in an interview with CT Mirror. “How many years must our parents have to come and send emails and testify? The school has already been approved, so we’re just asking for them to do the right thing.”
“Whether the charter school takes one student, 110 students or 770 students out of the traditional schools, they all benefit,” said Rep. Rachel Chaleski, R-Danbury. “We’re simply asking for fair access to educational opportunities. No more lies. No more excuses.”