Testimony of Kelly Garcia, Excel Academy Alumna & Chelsea City Counselor, In Opposition to Section 4 of the Thrive Act, S.374

Good morning. My name is Kelly Garcia. I am proud to serve as a Chelsea City Councilor-At-Large, following eight years on the Chelsea School Committee, including four as Chairwoman.

When my mother was a senior at Chelsea High School, she asked her guidance counselor how to apply to college. He quickly answered, “Oh, you won’t be going to college. Your accent is too thick.” That marked the end of my mother’s dreams.

Growing up in Chelsea meant that every penny my parents made was used to keep a roof over our heads and food on our table. And while education has always been the top priority, they simply couldn’t afford a private school for 5 kids or moving to a wealthier community.

When I was in the fifth grade, we learned about a new, free public school whose mission was to prepare all kids for college. That was Excel Academy. My mother knew immediately that this was our chance to achieve what she had only dreamed of.

As a young middle school student, I toured college campuses and even stayed overnight. Before these visits, I truly didn’t know what college was, and so that was never part of my plan. Excel instilled in me that it was possible for a girl from Chelsea to attend college – and prepared me to be the first in my family to earn not only a bachelor’s degree but a masters degree from Boston University. Excel Academy changed my life.

Chelsea Public Schools’ are in the bottom 10% of districts here in Massachusetts. While I know our Superintendent, School Committee, and teachers are working incredibly hard to improve and give kids what they need, families simply cannot wait. The options charter public schools provide are critical. Lowering the already-strict charter cap in our most vulnerable districts would be devastating for our kids and our families.

I humbly ask that you do not support Section 4 of Senate bill 374.