Charter school campaign claims to have surpassed signature threshold

[unhappycamper]

http://www.heraldnews.com/article/20151027/NEWS/151026039

Charter school campaign claims to have surpassed signature threshold
By Michael Norton
State House News Service Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 4:35 pm Updated Oct 27, 2015 at 4:39 PM

BOSTON — On the eve of a high-stakes Senate caucus, activists planning to put a charter school expansion question before voters in November 2016 say they've already compiled more than 100,000 signatures, three weeks before those signatures are due to be presented to local offices for certification.

The coalition behind the ballot question also touted a nearly four-month-old poll of 600 likely Massachusetts voters commissioned by a member of the coalition that found 63 percent in favor of adding 12 new charter schools or expansions per year, with 26 percent opposed.

"If the legislature doesn't take meaningful action by the end of session, we're confident that the voters will take a stand for the 37,000 families that are on public charter school waiting lists," Eileen O'Connor, spokesperson for Great Schools Massachusetts, said in a statement.

The state Senate last session rejected a limited, House-approved expansion of charter schools, and senators on Wednesday plan to meet in a private caucus to debate the issue again. The outcome of that internal debate could provide insight into whether the Legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker can agree on a path for more charter schools and avert what would likely be an expensive and bruising ballot fight.

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We need more charter schools like the Carolinas need more churches.