Testimony of Modesto Montero-Forman, Libertas Academy Executive Director, In Opposition to Section 4 of the Thrive Act, S.374

Good afternoon. My name is Modesto Montero-Forman. I am the proud founder and Executive Director of Libertas Academy, a grades 6 through 12 charter public school in Springfield. Libertas opened in the fall of 2017. Our mission is simple: To prepare all students to succeed in the college of their choice and become positive, engaged members of their communities.

At Libertas, 98% of our students identify as Latino or Black. 90% are “high needs” students, as defined by DESE. 85% come from low-income homes, and nearly a quarter have special needs. Our school is serving some of the most vulnerable children in the commonwealth.

It is for this reason that I’m beyond proud of our school. Our students are growing and achieving at extraordinary rates. On the most recent MCAS, Libertas Middle School students ranked #1 in the state for growth in math and #3 for growth in ELA. This means, our students are growing faster than almost all students across the state, be it charter or district public schools. Additionally, Libertas is one of only 13 districts in Massachusetts to have not only met but exceeded pre-pandemic levels of performance.

Despite the tremendous success of our students, Section 4 of S.374 proposes closing Libertas Academy. By lowering the charter net school spending cap, the state would be forced to eliminate thousands of charter public school seats in Springfield. Interestingly, the proposal protects seats awarded by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education before July 1, 2014. The result? Any schools that opened after 2014, or expanded to serve more kids after 2014, are uniquely impacted. Those are the seats that would have to be eliminated.

And that includes all seats at Libertas Academy.

Despite the fact that our kids are growing and achieving at among the highest rates in the state, despite strong demand among Springfield families, the Thrive Act proposes closing our school.

To be clear, this is not simply about Libertas – it’s about taking away the opportunity for the next Libertas to exist, for the next school that will help kids in otherwise forgotten communities to excel.

Frankly, I am disappointed and outraged that in Massachusetts, at a time when our most vulnerable communities are already under attack in numerous ways, we are considering exacerbating those attacks by eliminating excellent public school options.

I urge you to reject Section 4 of S.374.

Thank you.