“Yes on 2” Campaign to Lift the Cap on Charter Schools Kicks off Volunteer Day of Action in Boston

On Friday, the “Yes on 2” campaign kicked off a volunteer Day of Action with a coalition of parents, educators and stakeholder members of the Great Schools Massachusetts coalition. The Day of Action was held at the “Yes on 2” campaign headquarters in Roxbury. Governor Charlie Baker also joined the event.

The parent-led grassroots effort behind Question 2 has engaged more than 75,000 voters since kicking off grassroots outreach less than a month ago. Parents and organizers have built support for “Yes on 2” by going door-to-door, making phone calls and hosting organizing meetings in communities across the state.

Yes on 2 Campaign website: www.yeson2ma.com

Governor Baker addressed members of the Great Schools Massachusetts coalition, urging them and others to support “Yes on 2” and give families - particularly those stuck in underperforming school districts - fair access to Massachusetts’ best-in-the-nation public charter schools. After Governor Baker’s comments, parents and volunteers canvassed voters door-to-door in communities across the city of Boston.

“This is our opportunity to make sure that every family in Massachusetts has the choice and the opportunity to send their son or daughter to a great school,” said Gov. Baker.

Massachusetts is home to the best charter schools in the nation, with a proven, 20-year track record of closing the achievement gap in underperforming school districts. Today, almost 33,000 children across Massachusetts are stuck on waiting lists to attend public charter schools because of an arbitrary and outdated cap on enrollment.

“Thousands of families across the state have stated loudly and clearly that all of our kids deserve to attend the public school of their choice,” said Chhorvivoin Sumsethi, a campaign volunteer.

Passing Question 2 in November would enable the state Board of Education to approve a modest increase in new charter schools or expansions per year, with preference given to schools in the lowest 25% performing districts, where public charter schools are in high demand from parents. New public charter schools would continue to be subjected to the rigorous approval and accountability processes that have made Massachusetts home to the nation’s best public charter schools.

Great Schools Massachusetts is a statewide coalition of parents, community groups, public charter schools, education advocates and members of the business community committed to providing families with equal access to public charter schools. Nearly 33,000 children in Massachusetts remain stuck on public charter school waiting lists due to arbitrary enrollment caps, particularly in urban districts where traditional public schools are underperforming.