The following statement was issued today by the National Coalition for Public School Options in response to the defeat of Congressional Review Act (CRA) legislation aimed at protecting charter schools:

We are very disappointed that the U.S. Senate rejected a resolution today along party lines that would have repealed new rules that add burdensome requirements to charter schools seeking federal funding.

Charter schools are a lifeline for many American families, and were among the only public schools to see enrollment growth during the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education’s changes to the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) are an attempt to cater to the demands of charter school opponents, and are not in the best interest of American families and students.

We were saddened to see many Democratic lawmakers that have previously shown support for charter schools on the list of lawmakers that voted against the CRA. It’s heartbreaking that political allegiance has once again prevailed over doing what’s best for families.

We must never forget that it was the charter schools that kept teaching uninterrupted during the pandemic. Every single charter school student is enrolled because their parents decided it’s in their best educational interest. Charter schools may not be the best option for every child, but they are a vital option for the millions of students they serve across the country.