Jeremiah Grace: Connecticut Charter Schools Celebrate ‘Miraculous’ 20th Anniversary
I recently had the privilege of witnessing something truly extraordinary.
It was a warm summer day in downtown Hartford, Connecticut, and I found myself in a vibrant performing arts hall. I was there to witness a remarkable event – the graduation ceremony of an entire class of seniors from Achievement First Hartford High. What made this graduating class even more remarkable was that it consisted entirely of students of color. As each student walked across the stage, they not only told the story of their high school experience but also proudly held up a t-shirt representing the college or university they would be attending in the fall.
Yes, you read that correctly – every single student from Achievement First Hartford High is going to college.
Meanwhile, in New Haven, a similar magical moment was unfolding at Common Ground. Parents and family members gathered near the school’s urban farm to bid farewell to their graduating seniors as they embarked on their college journeys. These students are not just symbols of a better life, but many of them are also the first in their families to graduate high school and pursue higher education.
You may be wondering, what makes this such a miracle?
While it is undoubtedly incredible news, the true miracle lies not in the fact that these students graduated, for we believed in their potential to do so. No, the miracle lies in the fact that these students had access to these schools in the first place. Despite facing endless criticism, hatred, and constant attacks from individuals who wish to restrict parents’ educational choices, the charter movement in Connecticut has managed to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
These students have defied the odds simply by attending public charter schools.
It is awe-inspiring to see families filled with pride, beaming with joy, and shedding tears of happiness because their sons and daughters are accomplishing what we always knew they were capable of.
Truly, it is a miracle that public charter schools have not only survived but thrived for the past two decades despite those who seek to undermine and dismantle them. In June of 1996, Connecticut’s charter law was signed, marking the beginning of a journey to provide educational options to communities in desperate need. And that is precisely what these schools have done. The graduating students this year spoke of their friends and peers who have not been as fortunate.
These charter school graduates are the fortunate ones, the ones who have made it against all odds. Many of them acknowledged that they could have easily become statistics, but instead, they are succeeding. And they attribute a significant portion of their success to the public charter schools they chose to attend.
These public charter schools in Connecticut are answering the call of families who are in dire need of better educational opportunities. These schools can only open in the lowest-performing districts in the state and primarily serve a student population that is over 85 percent Black or Hispanic and nearly 75 percent low-income. Due to their presence in these high-need areas, charter schools have had a life-changing impact on their students.
For these families, these schools are nothing short of miracles. Once plagued by the worst achievement gap in the nation, Connecticut has witnessed charters gradually closing that gap by providing an excellent education to children who have historically been underserved.
Twenty years into this movement in Connecticut, over 9,000 students are enrolled in one of the state’s 24 charter schools. However, the demand for better schools far exceeds the supply. Just this year, the waiting list for charter schools grew by 60 percent, reaching 6,000 names.
Let us remember that this isn’t just a theoretical issue. These are real families, real communities.
Each year, these families march, rally, and lobby at the Capitol in Hartford. They tirelessly meet with lawmakers, including our friend Governor Malloy, who understands the crucial role of charter schools in public education. They even engage with our opponents. Parents will stop at nothing to ensure that lawmakers understand that the right to a great school should not be limited to the privileged wealthy. It should belong to every child, regardless of their zip code, their parents’ income, or the language spoken at home.
We must not forget about the children on the waitlist. Their future depends on timely action. The time to provide them with excellent educational options is now, not in 20 years.
As we reflect on the miracle of having schools of choice as a part of our public education system, we must acknowledge that we still have a long road ahead. We will not rest until the thousands of children on waitlists find themselves sitting proudly at desks in schools that truly work for them, prepare them, love them, and help them achieve everything they are capable of.
It is indeed a miracle that charter schools have come this far, and we celebrate the incredible high school seniors we saw grace the stage earlier this summer. However, it should not require a miracle to do right by the thousands of children eagerly awaiting their chance.
Here’s to the next 20 years.
Receive stories like these directly to your email inbox. Join Newsletter for updates.
