As NAACP Votes For Charter Moratorium, School Families Rally Outside

As NAACP Votes for Charter Moratorium, School Families Rally Outside

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) reaffirmed its opposition to charter schools on Saturday when its board of directors approved a resolution recommending a halt in the expansion of charter schools until stricter oversight is put in place.

The board’s decision came after months of intense pressure from other advocates for black education, who argued that charter schools offer better educational options for children in disadvantaged neighborhoods. A group called Memphis Lift staged protests and disrupted the board meeting at one point.

The NAACP’s caution is rooted in its long-standing support for creating more equitable opportunities for black children within traditional public schools, according to Roslyn Brock, the chairperson of the board.

"The NAACP has always been at the forefront of the fight for free, high-quality, fully funded public education that is fair to all children," stated Brock. "We are committed to eliminating the significant racial disparities that persist in the education system."

The resolution was initially proposed by the NAACP branches in California and Hawaii, and it received unanimous support from 2,200 delegates at the organization’s annual convention in July 2016, as reported by Hilary Shelton, the Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy at the NAACP.

During a meeting in Cincinnati, the resolution was ratified by the 64-member board through a voice vote. Shelton confirmed that the vote was clearly unanimous and uncontested. Additionally, the board also agreed to establish a task force that will gather input from charter school families and experts to establish more specific objectives for the moratorium.

The NAACP has already specified certain conditions for the moratorium, including holding charter schools to the same standards of transparency and accountability as district schools. It has also raised concerns about the funding of charter schools, suggesting that the moratorium should persist until public funds are no longer diverted from the public school system to charter schools.

Furthermore, the NAACP criticized the expulsion of students who are entitled to receive an education in public schools and highlighted the practice of separating high-performing children from their peers who may have high aspirations but have yet to demonstrate obvious talent.

Amos Brown, a board member who supported the resolution, stated, "The NAACP has stayed firm in its position. We have made it clear that our stance is in support of public education, as this is where the most disadvantaged students receive an education. Our aim is to ensure that public education is effective for all students, and that is where we stand."

However, there was dissent from at least one board member. Phil Murphy, former U.S. ambassador to Germany and current Democratic candidate for governor in New Jersey, believed that the resolution went too far.

"I am committed to bridging the gap and finding common ground on this issue in New Jersey, to determine what works, what doesn’t, and how district schools and charter schools can best coexist in our communities," he said in a statement. "While communities may have differing opinions, it is the duty of leadership to thoroughly examine all the facts and strive toward achieving consensus whenever possible. I couldn’t support the resolution today without having that clarity."

Education advocates lobbied the board to reject the resolution until shortly before the vote over the weekend. The Black Alliance for Education Options and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools co-hosted a breakfast event for board members to discuss the potential impact of the resolution on black students. However, only one board member attended, according to the Alliance.

Advocates also presented a petition with over 3,000 signatures opposing the moratorium. Last month, both groups launched a campaign called "Charters Work," in which over 160 black leaders in education and faith sent a letter to the NAACP urging them to reconsider the resolution.

In a separate demonstration, more than 100 African American parents and grandparents who support charter schools from Memphis traveled by bus to attend the vote. The protesters, affiliated with the advocacy group Memphis Lift, gathered in the square outside the hotel, chanting "I won’t stop. I can’t stop," according to reports from the Cincinnati Enquirer.

"We have good charter schools," said Sarah Carpenter, a grandmother of 13, during the protest. "We are not against public schools. We want good schools, regardless of the type. Where was the NAACP when so many public schools were failing our children?"

"But the same is happening in public schools as well," a woman shouted in response.

A regional field director for the NAACP faced intense responses from parents in favor of charter schools after the board approved a resolution for a moratorium. The incident happened during a board meeting at a hotel, where some of the demonstrators marched in and disrupted the meeting with chants until the police were called. Despite the commotion, no arrests were made, and it was likely the hotel that called the police, according to Shelton.

Shelton, who spoke with some of the protesters, mentioned that they were able to express their views. He hopes that this is just the beginning of hearing from these parents and other charter school parents.

The vote received quick reactions from education groups nationwide. Michael Mulgrew, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, expressed support on behalf of the membership and commended the NAACP for their resolution, calling for a moratorium on charter school expansion. Mulgrew pointed out that charter schools receive public funds but often lack accountability to parents, lawmakers, and taxpayers.

However, the president of Democrats for Education Reform, Shavar Jeffries, argued that the NAACP was going against its own mission. He mentioned that the NAACP, an organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for communities of color, was now denying life-changing educational opportunities to millions of children seeking alternatives to failing schools.

The debate among minority groups about charter schools has been ongoing since their establishment in the 1990s. The NAACP itself was divided in 1997 over whether supporting charter schools undermined their long-standing demand for better public education for all children. A year later, the civil rights group passed a resolution against charter schools, stating that they don’t adhere to the same accountability standards as public schools.

More resolutions against charter schools followed over the years. In 2010, the NAACP argued that charter schools received too much emphasis. In 2014, the group passed another resolution, opposing the privatization of public schools.

Given the NAACP’s history of advocating for equal resources in public schools, it was not surprising that the board voted in favor of a moratorium, according to Brown. Brown emphasized that all schools should be working and that there should not be inequality among school districts.

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