Aliyya Swaby Photo
Sharon Lewis said she wants her four grandchildren to ultimately have better educational options in New Haven, evening out the playing field instead of allowing for disparity.
She is one of several family members who turned out to a rally Monday afternoon at Booker T. Washington Academy calling for the state to increase per pupil funding for charter school kids, instead of decreasing it. Organized by the pro-charter group Families for Excellent Schools, the protesters plan to lead a “Fight For Fairness” march in Bridgeport at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Lewis’s grandchildren currently attend L.W. Beecher School, a public school. Her daughter is trying to get them into local charter schools. She learned about the march from La’Quita Boles, who attends her church, and got her involved in charter funding organizing.
Boles, who attended New Haven Public Schools and is now raising her children in Bridgeport, urged other parents to “call on our leaders” in the state legislature to get charter schools funded equally. Her children, ages 13 and 5, go to Achievement First charter schools.
Charter schools receive about $11,000 per pupil in government money.