Testimony of Susan Sheffler, Brooke Parent, In Opposition to Section 4 of the Thrive Act, S.374
November 12, 2025 | Susan Sheffler, Brooke Charter Schools Parent
Good afternoon. My name is Susan Sheffler.
My son Gus is a twice exceptional child – commonly referred to as 2e. What that means is that he is very, very smart – and he has multiple neurodevelopmental disabilities that impede his ability to reach his full potential.
Gus attended Boston Public Schools for K1 and K2. Over that time, we noticed that he was really struggling with regulating his emotions at home and focusing in the classroom. We paid for a private neuropsych evaluation and ultimately, he was diagnosed with a disability. We learned that his disability and the associated challenges with working memory would make reading very hard for him.
We were eager to work with the team at his school to develop an IEP. However, we found the process incredibly challenging. Essentially, the district staff told us that they didn’t care whether he learned to read – as long as he was not disruptive. As long as he wasn’t failing, or making other kids fail, that was their marker of success.
In the meantime, we had entered into the admissions lottery at Brooke, which was nearby our home. When the lottery was conducted, we ended up on the wait list but were incredibly lucky when, in the summer, he was offered a spot.
At Brooke, Gus is truly seen, loved, and supported. Thanks to intensive reading intervention, social skills group, and a culture of high expectations and tremendous care, Gus’s core reading skills have progressed significantly – and he’s continuing to grow. He’s confident, his self-expression has grown tremendously, and he loves school. And that would not be true if it were not for Brooke.
Every child deserves a school like Brooke.
If Section 4 of S.374 were adopted, Brooke – one of the top performing schools in the state – would be forced to shrink by nearly 700 kids. We shouldn’t be taking away excellent public school options that are changing lives and helping kids – including kids with special needs – succeed both in and out of the classroom.
Please reject Section 4 of S.374.
Thank you.
Charter public school alumni, leaders, board members, parents, and educators testified before the Joint Committee on Education on November 12th, 2025, expressing unified opposition to Section 4 of the Thrive Act (S.374). Their testimony highlighted how the proposal would eliminate high-quality public school options, undermine strong student outcomes, and restrict access for families – particularly in the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable communities. Together, their perspectives underscored the urgent need to preserve effective charter public school seats and protect the educational opportunities students rely on.
