Question 2: Yes or No?

On November 8th, voters will receive a ballot with what is being referred to as Question 2. It concerns the expansion of charter schools in Massachusetts.  This question is a hot topic and each side is projected to spend about $30 million in advertising before November 8th arrives. If passed, Question 2 would allow Massachusetts to add as many as 12 schools a year, and increase enrollment by up to one percent each year.

With all of the conversation surrounding it, and all of the differing opinions, it is important to get the facts before making a decision. Below you will find a list of facts from both sides, compiled from their websites.

“In 2017, charter schools will siphon off more than $450 million in funds that would otherwise stay in public schools. If Question 2 passes, that amount can increase by $100 million a year.”According to SaveOurPublicSchoolsMA.org, these are the reasons voter should say “no” to Question 2:

• “Charter schools are not accountable to local communities. The state often approves them over the opposition of local parents and taxpayers.”
• “Charter schools create a two-track system described by the NAACP as “separate and unequal.” They typically underserve English language learners and special needs students, leaving public schools with fewer resources to educate a higher-need population.”

According to yeson2ma.org, these are the reasons voter should say “yes” to Question 2:

• “Independent studies from Harvard, Stanford, and MIT show that Massachusetts’ public charter schools are some of the best public schools in the Commonwealth – and are closing the achievement gap for the state’s highest-need children.”
• “Education funding is assigned to a student, not to a school. So when a student opts for a public charter school, the money to educate that student simply follows her from one public school to another, exactly how it would if she moved from one district school to another. “
• “Charter public schools are under the same state and federal obligations to provide services to special needs children and English Language Learners as other public schools”