Testimony of Tim Nicolette, MCPSA Executive Director, In Opposition to Section 4 of the Thrive Act, S.374

Good afternoon. My name is Tim Nicolette, and I am the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association. 

Charter public schools were created by the Legislature in 1993 to provide free, high-quality public education options. In particular, the Legislature aimed to address persistent achievement and opportunity gaps. Your predecessors were deeply committed to ensuring that all children – regardless of zip code, race, or family income – would have access to a public school that was right for them. A public school where they would not only learn to read, write, and do math – but discover and fulfill their potential. They recognized that in order for that to be true, we would have to have different types of public schools, all working together, and thus charter public schools were created as one important part of that broader system. 

Years later, in 2010, the Legislature recognized two things: First, kids attending charter public schools were growing and excelling at high rates – including those in communities that had historically been left behind. Second, families were clamoring for charter public school options, with wait lists tens of thousands of students long. 

In response, the Legislature decided that in the communities where traditional public schools were performing at the lowest levels, more kids would have access to charter public schools, if they wished. 

Today, if you are a Black or brown student in Massachusetts, or if you come from a low income home, you are significantly more likely to be able read and write proficiently if you attend a charter public school. Wait lists for charter public schools remain thousands of students long.

Which is why we are here today to oppose Section 4 of S.374 – a proposal that ignores what’s working, ignores the wishes of families, and instead suggests taking effective, valued public schools away from kids and families in our communities that most need these options. 

I ask you to maintain that deep commitment to all children that guided your predecessors. Reject Section 4 of S.374.

Thank you.