Testimony of Jacob Bombard, Joint Committee on Education, In Opposition to Bills That Would Harm Charter Public Schools

Good afternoon. My name is Jacob Bombard. I am a graduate of Boston Collegiate Charter School. Today, I am Executive Director at the Joseph Nee Collaborative Center, a mental health and addiction services clinic here in Boston. We’re here today on behalf of thousands of students whose lives have been transformed by charter public schools.  

I grew up in the D Street housing projects here in the city. Our family was very poor. We could afford neither the expensive tutoring it would take to get into an exam school nor the expensive tuition of the private schools. And our experiences in Boston Public Schools were not good. Growing up, not one of my friends—all just as smart as me—none of them made it past 10th grade, much less went to college.

But I was lucky enough that in sixth grade, my name was drawn to go to Collegiate. For the first time, I was challenged in the classroom, the expectations were clear, and the support was consistent. The teachers believed in me – and it changed my whole life. 

At Collegiate, I was told every day that I could go to college, and I had the support I needed to make it a reality. My college counselor spent countless hours helping me apply to different universities, and because of his help, I received a full merit scholarship to the College of William and Mary. 

Without Collegiate, I would not be where I am or who I am today. 

Charter public schools are lifting up communities that are too often overlooked. If your goal is truly equity for all children, do not hamper public schools that are working. Charter public schools aren’t the problem – they’re part of the solution. Every student deserves a school like Boston Collegiate.

I urge you to vote against these harmful proposals. 

Thank you.