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

Good afternoon. My name is Alejandra Gil. I was born in Colombia. Like many immigrant families, my family left everything behind in search of better education when I was 5 years old. For our family, that dream became a reality in the form of a charter public school. 

I was lucky enough that my name was selected out of the hundreds of names vying for a spot at Excel Academy Charter School. Charter public school lotteries are blind lotteries. Admission is merely a stroke of luck. 

At Excel, I found rigorous academics and robust support. My teachers challenged me and believed in me. I soon became a confident writer, a thoughtful reader, and a curious mathematician. 

Unfortunately, Excel, at the time, was only a middle school. I was living in East Boston, where quality high school options were limited at best. After a tear-filled conversation with my parents, we made the decision that I would make a daily 3-hour commute to Weston for high school. 

When I got to high school, I quickly realized that everything about me was different: the skin I walked in, the food I ate, the clothing I wore, the salsa my parents blasted on Saturday mornings, and the neighborhood I called home. My dad winced when our first tuition bill arrived. My high school years were challenging, but through every obstacle, my Excel family continued to be my rock, telling me I could achieve what the world told me I could not. 

My experience is not uniquely my own. The fact is, Black and brown students in Massachusetts are more likely to achieve at higher levels if they attend charter public schools. This is why I have worked at Excel for the past 10 years as a teacher and as a leader – giving back to the community that changed the trajectory of my life. 

Every student deserves the opportunity to receive a high quality, rigorous, affirming public education in their own neighborhood – for free. Please do not hurt schools that are helping kids like me succeed. 

Thank you.