Hello, Missouri Charter Public School Advocates! Last Friday, the Missouri legislature missed a critical opportunity to ensure equitable funding for all public school students across Missouri. With 4 hours left in Session, the Senate adjourned early leaving the question of charter public school funding equity unanswered. While we are deeply disappointed with this result, we still celebrate the tireless efforts of people like you, who make up the incredible Kansas City and St. Louis charter school community of parents, caretakers, teachers, educational leaders, and supporters. So please allow us to say, “Thank you.” Because of you, we’ve come closer to passing charter public school funding equity for your students than ever before. Every phone call, text message, email, sign, testimonial, and story helped to move the needle and show critics that we were up to the challenge. And, not only have you stepped up for your students, but you’ve also modeled to your community how to stand up and fight in the face of injustice. You have given a voice to charter public school students, who don’t usually have a seat at the table. While the session is over and legislators depart the Capitol, we will still be here, planning, advocating, and fighting for our students, so that one day we can guarantee their right to equitable funding, choice, and a quality public education that’s right for them. We will continue the battle because each and every one of them deserves someone in their corner. Today is not the end, it’s only a pause in productivity and the time will come when your students receive the equitable funding they deserve. Finally, it's not all doom and gloom! There was good news last week when the Missouri General Assembly passed an appropriation of $5 million for charter public school deferred maintenance. Without bonding authority, Missouri's charter public schools have long had to use operating dollars for high dollar maintenance costs. With this grant covering deferred maintenance costs it leaves more dollars in charter school budgets for students and their instruction. That's worth celebrating! To My Fellow Advocates of Charter Public School Children, Your tireless advocacy throughout the 2021 legislative session hasn't gone unnoticed. I am extremely proud of all we accomplished and of how far we got! I personally want to say THANK YOU for your commitment to our children and to our schools. Throughout this campaign I've met some of the fiercest advocates who are always putting our children first. Please know that our work isn't over, and that we will continue to advocate for the quality public education that our children so deserve. ¡Gracias! Christy Moreno - Parent & Bilingual Director of Advocacy THE FACES OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS SERIES needs more stories like yours! Want to participate? Email me at cmoreno@mocharterschools.org BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY!Are you on Facebook? Join our Missouri's Charter Public School Community closed group where parents, caregivers, educators and allies meet to advocate for our children! Never underestimate the power of your voice. CHRISTY MORENO |