Advocacy Day Success: Thank You!

It's about great public schools.

Thanks to You, Advocacy Day 2016 Was A Success!

Dear Parents and Charter School Supporters,

Advocacy Day 2016 was, by all accounts, a wonderful success. More than ever before, we were amazed at the response we received from you, and we are happy to see the impact that our voices make in Albany. Thank you so much for joining us on our 12th year of advocating on behalf of our children! Your participation means that legislators remember that we are an important constituency to be reckoned with.

Here is how we fared:

• We had over 1,000 parents, students and educators in the room - including a few dozen grandparents, who got a special shoutout - representing 123 schools statewide! Besides NYC’s 5 boroughs, 9 upstate cities participated.
  
  
• An impressive line-up of elected officials and policymakers came to speak. They included the NYS Commissioner of Education MaryEllen Elia, our special guest; Assemblymember Marcos Crespo, our keynote speaker, along with his colleagues Assemblymembers Michael Blake, Mark Gjonaj, Luis Sepulveda and Robert Rodriguez; the Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan; the Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein; and Senators Mary Golden and Ruben Diaz Sr.
  
  
• NYC parents held more than 60 meetings with their elected officials or staff.
  
  
• Click HERE to see pictures! And don’t forget to share your photos with us as well, using the hashtags #CharterFamiliesUnite, #120kStrong and #BuildingEqualityNow on social media. We were trending on Twitter during Advocacy Day!
  
  
• And check out some of our media coverage:
  • Capital Tonight with Liz Benjamin: Charter School Advocacy Day
  • TWC Channel 9 Albany: Charter School Families, Educators Push for Equal Funding in Albany
  • New York Post: Over 1,000 charter school kids rally in Albany for more money
  • WNYT Channel 13/ Associated Press: Charter school advocates rally for equal funding
  • WETMTV/ My Twin Tiers: Charter Schools Rally in Albany for More State Aid
  • WBFO 88.7: NYSED Commissioner appears at charter school rally

Many thanks again for your participation!

Patricia Tudosa
Program Manager, Policy & Advocacy