The Westford Republican Town Committee supports Ballot Question 2, Charter School Expansion.  Westford has one of the highest-quality and lowest-per-pupil-cost public school systems in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but it is not so in other systems statewide.

Education is of the utmost importance to the success of our children. School choice – whether through charter schools, open enrollment requests, career and technical education programs, vouchers, or tax credits – is important for all children, especially for families with children trapped in failing schools. Getting students into decent learning environments and helping them to realize their full potential is one of the greatest civil rights challenges of our time. Public charter schools offer parents a choice to provide the best education for their children.

By virtue of their charter, these public charter schools are a covenant between educators, parents and students in which all are accountable for performance. Charter schools are a public education system based on personal responsibility. A student’s educational opportunities depend on their talent and motivation as a student, and not where they live or their income level. When traditional school systems fail, charter schools give children a chance to succeed.

Students educated in charter schools do not cost taxpayers one penny more than the traditional public school system. Taxpayers still have a say in how much they wish to spend on education and student enrollment in charter schools does not result in an additional tax burden. What’s more, it doesn’t require additional state funding.

Vote YES on State Ballot Question 2 – YES to Charter School Expansion on Election Day, November 8, 2016.

Respectfully Submitted

Westford Republican Town Committee Members