Parent Outreach Toolkit for Schools
Please use the attached toolkit to frame your comments about potential state funding cuts to charter schools and to sound the alarm for your families to ask their state legislators to oppose any and all proposed funding cuts to charter schools.
The toolkit contains easy-to-use materials designed to engage parents to act on your behalf.
Toolkit contents:
- Issue overview
- Sample email copy to parents
Issue overview
The education of public cyber charter students is just as valuable as that of non-cyber charter students—don't cut funding for cyber charter schools this year.
Funding for public cyber charter students was reduced by $100m last year. These students can't afford another cut.
In addition, public cyber charter students already receive 30% less for their education than students at traditional public schools after the traditional public schools exercise the wide array of exemptions available to them.
Funding cuts for public cyber charter students will impact those students who need equitable funding the most. Nearly 60% of cyber charter students come from economically disadvantaged homes compared to approximately 35% at traditional public schools.
Every year, more parents across Pennsylvania trust the public cyber charter school option to educate their children. The General Assembly should be helping public cyber charter schools grow, not trying to end them.
Sample email to parents:
Subject: Funding cuts are imminent
Preview: Act now to save your school
Dear *|FNAME|*
Pennsylvania politicians have put our public cyber charter schools on the chopping block again!
That’s on top of the $100 million they slashed from cyber charters last year. The schools can’t withstand another cut. Charter school parents need to tell Harrisburg to back off:
Whatever educational option you prefer, please know that an attack on cyber charters is an attack on your choice. The plan for massive cuts will hurt children, hurt education, and hurt Pennsylvania’s future.
Tell politicians: Oppose funding cuts to public cyber charter schools!