Purple was the new black yesterday at the statehouse. Over 200 Rhody superheroes donning purple superhero t-shirts came out to show their support for Super Schoolhouses, a budget item that would allow charter schools to invest in school buildings.
Weren’t able to make it to the hearing yesterday? Good news: you can still be a superhero. The House Finance Committee witnessed a pretty impressive showing of superheroes yesterday, but they still need to hear from you about why passing Super Schoolhouses is so important. And if you did attend the hearing, this letter will be the perfect follow-up. Please send the finance committee members a letter by clicking here.
Public charter schools are posting some of Rhode Island’s most impressive gains when it comes to student achievement—especially for our low-income and minority students. But they’re reimbursed for just 30 percent of the costs of building and running schoolhouses, compared to the districts they serve, which in some cases are reimbursed 80 percent and higher. Those unequal reimbursement rates make it nearly impossible for existing charter schools to get a new building to serve more students or for new charter schools to open.
This is our chance to shepherd into law a proposal that will help our high-performing charter schools reach even more of our students. Today, your greatest superhero power is your voice. Please use it to tell the Finance Committee that we expect nothing less than a superhero effort to carry Super Schoolhouse to the finish line.