Parents Appeal to Lawmakers for More Charter School Funding (TX)

February 10, 2011

Bus loads of Houston parents headed to Austin Wednesday morning to tell lawmakers they want more money for public charter schools, even as the state faces a multi-billion dollar shortfall.

The parents said the additional funding is needed to improve schools and provide more slots for students.

Parents in the under-served North Forest Neighborhood said more schools like KIPP Academy for Boys are needed.

“Because charter schools sometimes do a better job than the districts do, so they should get the money just like the districts do,” said Jakarda Varnado.
    
Varnado said regular public schools were not helping her son Devin.

“It’s been my experience that public school has become less about educating the child and more about passing the test,” she said.

Varnado is fighting to get more funding for all public charter schools.

T he KIPP academy is now holding class in what was once an old grocery store.  The academy is already building new structures, but KIPP said more buildings are needed.

The administrators at KIPP say they hope to tear down this old strip center they are using for classrooms and build a brand new school from the ground up.

Getting the money will not be easy as the state is strapped for cash.

Devin said he knows the new buildings may not come in time for him, but said that’s OK because he has five younger brothers and sisters hoping to follow in his footsteps.