We know many charter leaders began the school year with fewer students than expected. In fact, some of you have told us about very significant drops in ADM, with enormous potential impacts for your school budgets. We are working hard to ensure you get help.
We have an update for you on the steps we are taking, and we are asking you to take action as well. Leaders in the NC General Assembly need to hear directly from you and from parents in your school community. We are urging them to hold public schools harmless for 2021-22 ADM in the state budget (more on this below). They also need to hear from you about how critical it is that schools are held harmless for 2021-22 ADM.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
Right now, we are pursuing a two-pronged approach to address this problem. First, we are working with leadership at the Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education, asking that charters be treated like district schools for 2021-22 funding--basing funding on the best of two ADM counts (days 1-20 OR days 21-40, whichever is better, rather than average ADM for the first 20 days). This change in how charter funding is calculated would require approval from the State Board of Education, and would be addressed as an action item at SBE's October meeting. We are advocating for this path, and we currently believe it will happen.
Second, we are also working concurrently with leadership at the General Assembly, urging lawmakers to hold public schools harmless in the state budget for 2021-22 ADM. The NC School Boards Association is working alongside us in this effort. This ask is for both charter and district schools, with funds addressing the shortfall coming from COVID relief dollars and allocated in the state budget. This allocation can only be made by leaders in the General Assembly.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
We need you to take action. Please contact Appropriations Committee Chairs in both chambers of the General Assembly and ask them to hold public schools harmless in the state budget for 2021-22 ADM. Share information with parents in your school community, asking them to take action as well.
Contact the General Assembly leaders listed below by phone or email today, Friday, and over the weekend. We have talking points for you below if you choose to call, along with sample text you can use for an email.
919.715.3007 and 704.282.0418
919.733.5747
919.733.5782
919.733.5191
919.733.5865 and 336.625.9210
919.733.5868 and 704.263.9282
919.733.5935
919.733.5734
919.733.3460
919.733.5705
919.733.5742
919.715.2525
Feel free to reach out to lawmakers who represent you directly--or to those you know personally. Find your legislators here.
Talking points:
Why should lawmakers hold schools harmless for ADM in 2021-22?
- The delta variant has fueled major changes in K-12 enrollment that schools could not have foreseen--and that were not clear in June when public schools provided 2021-22 ADM projections. In addition, authorization for charter schools to offer virtual instruction for 2021-22 did not come until August 30, after most schools had begun the academic year. So, charters have been impacted significantly by families leaving for a remote learning option.
- Because public schools must follow mask mandates from local public health departments, numerous parents have chosen this fall to pull children out of public schools, opting instead for home schools or private schools. We expect these students and families to come back, and we must be ready for them when they return.
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Ensuring capacity for students and sustainability for schools hinges on sufficient funding for 2021-22. Drastic reductions in funding will lead to long-term consequences that will not be easily undone. Please ensure that charter and district schools are held harmless in the state budget for 2021-22 ADM.
Sample email text:
Dear Representative/Senator:
I urge you to hold charter and district public schools harmless in the state budget for 2021-22 ADM. The COVID pandemic continues to wreak havoc on schools and students, fueled by the delta variant this fall. In addition, authorization for charter schools to offer virtual instruction for 2021-22 did not come until August 30--so charters have been impacted significantly by families leaving for a remote learning option.
Public K-12 enrollment remains in a constant state of flux. Such changes could not have been foreseen when schools projected enrollment in June and the pandemic appeared to be subsiding.
In addition, because public schools must follow mask mandates from local public health departments, many parents are choosing this fall to pull children out of public schools for home school and private school settings. We expect these students and families to come back, and we must be ready for them when they return.
Finally, schools cannot make sound budgetary and planning decisions in the midst of swirling and dramatic shifts in enrollment and funding. Ensuring capacity for students and sustainability for public schools hinges on sufficient funding for 2021-22. Drastic reductions in funding will lead to long-term consequences for schools and students that will not be easily undone.
A note about emails:
Please write your own email subject line and change text to make your response more personal. If you can use an example from your own school, that is best. We don't want lawmakers to receive the same email over and over; emails that are specific and personal are most effective. What lawmakers remember is that you cared enough about this issue to contact them. Taking the time to do this is impressive to General Assembly members. Thank you!
