News

Focus Students and Staff Rally to Support Charter Schools

Posted in News on June 1st, 2009 with Comments Off

On Wednesday, May 13, several students and staff, armed with signs and enthusiasm, traveled downtown to participate in the My School My Choice Rally at the Statehouse. The rally drew over 4,000 charter school and online school supporters from around the state! The immense turnout was in response to Governor Strickland’s budget proposal that would severely cut public charter school funding by 26 percent and e-school funding by 74 percent.

Rally participants gathered at Veterans Memorial before marching together up Broad Street to the Statehouse lawn chanting “My school, my choice!” Once there, the crowd heard remarks from key supporters. The speakers included State Senate President Bill Harris, Senate Education Committee Chair Gary Cates, Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools President Bill Simms and Black Alliance for Educational Options State Director Tracie Craft. Several times the speakers urged the crowd to turn to the Statehouse and yell “Save our school!” in an effort to show the Governor that charter schools are an important option for students to have. Currently, 80,000 students attend charter or online schools in Ohio. Please help Focus continue giving students a safe and enriching schooling alternative by telling others the importance of supporting charter schools and opposing Governor Strickland’s educational budget proposal!