Letter to the Editor
Boston Globe
August 19, 2016

Liam Kerr’s call to action in “We need an Olympian focus on charter school facts” (Opinion, Aug. 17) could not be more important, as children’s futures are at stake.

But unfortunately, teachers unions are leading a deliberate, deceptive campaign designed to scare those who support families’ rights to choose the best education for their children.

In May, the Massachusetts Teachers Association approved more than $9 million to fight expanding charter school opportunities. Every year, the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) encourage and support state legislation that rolls back charter schools, using war chests at their disposal to promote traditional public education structures. In 2005, the NEA committed $1.75 million of membership dues to push an agenda aimed at hurting innovative opportunities and charter schools. This year, the NEA plans to spend close to $36 million to “seek political and legislative outcomes that support great public schools and sustainable organizational power,” with $1.4 million specifically going towards anti-charter efforts in Massachusetts.

It’s disappointing that so much money is being devoted to maintaining the status quo, when there are more than 30,000 children waiting for access to schools that have a proven record of preparing children — including those most historically underserved by our traditional public schools — for academic success.

Jeanne Allen

Founder and CEO

Center for Education Reform

Washington, D.C.