Public Education Advocates to Rally at Statehouse Today

Advocates of Massachusetts public education are set to hold a press conference and subsequent rally at the State House Tuesday afternoon.

These advocates are gathering to urge the state legislature to maintain the cap on charter schools within the commonwealth.

According to a statement from leaders with the Youth Organizers United for the Now Generation (YOUNG), Youth on Board and the Boston Teachers Union, the press conference will be held in Room 222 at 2 p.m. followed by the rally at 4 p.m. on the steps at the State House.

"We feel that the expansion of charter schools in the state of Massachusetts will diminish our public education system," said event organizer Collique Williams in a statement. "Our public schools will lose funding that they cannot afford to lose. The people of Massachusetts are not asking for more charter schools, we are asking for equity."

Richard Stutman, president of the Boston Teachers Union, said the state "should focus on schools that are truly 'public,' schools that proudly educate all students."

Others are advocating for the lift of the charter schools cap, including the argument made in this recent Boston Herald op/ed that states there is "overwhelming evidence of charter schools’ success at educating underprivileged children."