Charter School Advocates Urge School Board Cooperation

News release from Families for Excellent Schools

Parents, students and advocates who support education reform tonight called the Board of Education’s first organizing meeting an opportunity for cooperation, and challenged members to work together to transform Bridgeport schools and provide better educational opportunities for all 20,000 Bridgeport students.

While acrimony has characterized much of the recent public discussion about Bridgeport schools, parents said the time has come for the board, parents and advocates for education reform to work together.

“There is one thing that every one of us can agree on, which is that when only 20 percent of third graders read on grade level, our students are not receiving the education they deserve,” Leon Woods, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee for Bridgeport’s Families for Excellent Schools, said at a rally and press conference prior to the board’s first meeting.

Woods continued, “We are here to say we want to work with the board to make sure that every family across this city can send their children to a great school.”

As advocates for public charter schools, Families for Excellent Schools parent leaders said they plan to attend every Board of Education meeting to participate in the process. A key focus of their work will be to emphasize public charter schools as strategy for transforming education.

“In a city where 40 percent of students graduate high school on time,” Linda Francis said. “We’re hopeful this Board of Education considers all possible public school options when acting to support our children.”

Parent leaders stressed the urgency of the board taking action to expand educational opportunities.

“This crisis needs immediate attention,” Francis said. “Our hope is that this Board of Education will act urgently to improve our schools. We’re eager to work with them to do so.”