The Case for Charter Schools in Minnesota’s Educational Battlefield
By Rashad Turner
Summer might be a slower-paced, more relaxed period for most teachers and school administration, but for Minnesota Parent Union, it’s been a busy few months filled with advocacy, community events, meetings with parents and a heightened focus on the most pressing issues our students face in our state’s school system. We’re continuing the fight for quality education because with another school year underway, many of our students are settling back into classrooms where they will not receive a quality academic experience.
There’s no time to relax. We have to keep demanding our politicians and educational leaders step up and make the changes necessary to provide kids with an education that will set them up for success in life. That’s one of the reasons why we’ve been doubling down on our support of charter schools and making our opposition to the Cruz-Guzman case known. Things got quiet after the MN Supreme Court called to order at Richfield High School at the beginning of May, but the heated debate over charter schools versus district schools hasn’t calmed down. The Cruz-Guzman case, aka the “Segregation Lawsuit,” creates the perception that charter schools are a form of segregation. In other words, people who support charter schools are often portrayed as segregationists in an effort to minimize our voices.
Supporters of Charters Schools Are Not Segregationists
Let’s be clear about what segregation is and isn’t. A segregationist is a person who supports the lawful separation of different racial groups for the sake of alienating and dehumanizing the group that is perceived to be inferior, which historically has been Black people. A segregationist is NOT a Black parent who wants to send their child to a Black student serving school that will provide a culturally responsive curriculum and safe environment for their child. My friends, a favorable outcome for the plaintiffs of the Cruz-Guzman case is a major setback for parents of color because it makes it harder for us to send our kids to culturally and racially affirming schools. The Cruz-Guzman case holds negative ramifications for all parents, including white parents who choose charter schools. This case could also have a detrimental impact on our children by forcing them to be stuck in persistently failing schools in Minneapolis. Speaking of…
Minneapolis Public Schools Are On The Brink of Collapse
Enrollment in Minneapolis Public Schools continues to decline, and increasing costs are pushing the school district to the edge of insolvency. If the Minnesota Department of Education’s intervention isn’t successful, Minneapolis will have to start closing schools and, potentially worse, letting teachers go once federal COVID-19 funds evaporate. Yes, you read that correctly. The district might completely run out of money and become inoperable. This might come as shocking news, but certainly not for MNPU. We have been fighting for years
to bring awareness of the monumental issues in the Minneapolis school system, and we have been demanding that Minnesota’s political and educational leaders take action to improve the quality of our students’ academic experience. But have they made education a priority? No, they have consistently failed our students, which is why the potential of insolvency comes as no surprise.
Why Charter Schools Are The Better Way To Go
Charter schools are much more likely to be culturally and racially affirming because there is a more diverse teaching staff that can relate to the challenges students of color face and provide the tools and support they need to succeed. Unlike district schools, charter schools are not at the mercy of policies like "Last In First Out (LIFO) that disproportionately remove teachers of color from classrooms, simultaneously stripping qualified and effective educators of jobs and depriving students of color of an education from excellent mentors who can truly set them up for success. Charter schools have more personalized classrooms which often allows students to receive more individualized attention. It’s not the “one-size-fits-all” approach of district schools. The bottom line is that we need to get our students out of Minneapolis public schools and into charter institutions. If you want some specifics, we can help you with that. MNPU is committed to advocating for students by fighting to ensure they receive the best education possible. We are also a major support system for parents who know their children need a better education but don’t know where to start getting them out of underperforming schools like Bethune Elementary, Hall Academy and Franklin Middle. We can help parents get their kids into better quality charter schools like Yinghua Academy, Northeast College Prep and
SET Academy, or private schools like De La Salle High School and Hope Academy.
If you’re a parent grappling with questions like, “Where do I even begin in finding a new school?” or “How can I support the battle for better education in Minnesota?” – we got you! We have resources and advocates available to help you on your journey. We have a network of 10 chapters that helps maintain strong connections between parents throughout the state. We will equip you with strategies that will empower you to collaborate with school leaders. All you have to do is complete this form to get connected with a family advocate, and we’ll get the partnership started!