Rep. Rachel Chaleski, Advocates Rally for Educational Justice and funding Danbury Charter School

Hartford, Conn. – Hundreds of people attended a rally Wednesday, urging lawmakers to approve funding for the Danbury International Academy Charter School and Capital Preparatory Charter School Middletown.

Danbury’s charter was approved in 2018 after the same rigorous process that all other large cities have opened their charter schools. Danbury remains the only large city in Connecticut without a charter school and is home to the largest high school in the state, with a student population of nearly 4,000 that is expected to continue to grow.

“Charters have been part of the state’s educational landscape for decades with the goal of raising student achievement in the lowest performing districts.  They are held to higher accountability in exchange for autonomy to achieve that goal.  The Danbury Public Schools would not lose ECS money with the addition of the charter school, and all students benefit from this option in its ripple effect,” said Rep. Rachel Chaleski (R-Danbury).

The State’s non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis noted that an Alliance District, once fully funded, cannot receive a decrease in funding under the hold harmless provision set in statute. Chaleski added that any ‘loss’ in ECS funding due to enrollment in the Charter School instead of the public school district does not take into account the rapid student growth experienced every year in Danbury.

Despite the inclusion of money in the 2023 state budget for Danbury and other charters, funding was pulled before the proposal made it to the House and Senate for further consideration.

“Our families have come before the legislature year after year to advocate for this option and for the opportunity to choose what is best for their children. Charter schools are public schools. If you claim to be pro-education and pro-public schools, then you support charter schools,” added Chaleski.

Chaleski is a member of the Committees on Education, Appropriations, and Transportation. She previously served as Chair of the Danbury Board of Education.