Episode 123: Empowering Parents Through Charter School Choice

In this episode, Dr. Almitra Berry sits down with Shelby Mims and Julie Takata from Charter Schools Now, a Texas-based organization dedicated to mobilizing charter school supporters, engaging in elections, and fostering bipartisan partnerships to create thriving educational opportunities for students. They discuss the vital role of public charter schools, the importance of civic engagement, and how parents can advocate for the best public school options for their children.

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Transcript

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If you're a parent, teacher or school leader and you're sick and tired of the frustration, anger and unfair treatment of children at high risk in our public schools, then perhaps it's time for all of us to do something about it. In this podcast, Dr amitra Berry brings you tips, tools, strategies and tactics to build successful solutions while touching, moving and inspiring all of us to transform our schools so that every child thrives. Here's your host, Dr Bay, hey there equity lawyers. Today I am thrilled to welcome Shelby Mims and Julie Takata from charter schools now. Charter schools now is dedicated to mobilizing charter school supporters, engaging in elections and fostering bipartisan partnerships to create thriving educational opportunities for students in Texas. In our conversation today, we'll explore the vital role of public charter schools and why it's essential for those passionate about education to participate in elections. These inspiring leaders are working tirelessly to empower parents to choose the best public schools for their children. So join us today as we discuss how charter schools now is shaping the future of education through civic engagement and school choice. Ladies, thanks so much for joining me today. Thank you for having us. Thank you so much. So I want to start with introductions. I didn't want to read your bios. I hate doing that. I always, you know, it doesn't, just doesn't quite feel as organic. So I would like for you, because your roles are very different, to tell our audience a little bit about you and what you do for charter schools now, sort of give us an elevator bio and Shelby, I'll pick on you first. Well, I'm Shelby Mims. It's so good to be here with you guys today. I have worked with the Texas Public Charter Schools Association and charter schools now our sister organization for the past four years. But prior to that, I was doing some external lobbying. But I, you know, truly have found my home year, my passion. Year I serve as the vice president of external engagement. So I work on the charter schools now side of things with our election work, but then I also work on our legislative side of things, right? So, like, I think that it's really great to pair the two so that all parties can see that we have to have good and successful elections to maintain a pro charter candidate, so that, like, when we do go to the legislature, they understand the needs of the charter community and the voice of the charter community. So it's, like, really cool just to see those two work hand in hand, and then I also work with our State Board of Education and do some work on that end. So really, just working through a lot of parts of the organization, but just like making sure that the charter schools are heard throughout our policy makers. Okay, awesome. I wanted to be a lobbyist at one point in my very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very young life, very young life, didn't go that route, obviously. Jillian, what about you? Yeah, thank you so much for having us. I'm so happy to be here. Shelby is a tough act to follow. I should have reversed you. So my role with charter schools now and the Texas Public Charter Schools Association is Senior Director of donor relations, so I am charged with raising money for the work that we do electorally, and then also to a lesser degree, especially right now during election season with our advocacy work on the tpcsa Association side. And my background is I am I have never wanted to be a lobbyist. I am slightly aghast to find myself so deep in the political realm, but I am nevertheless happy to be here. My background is, is very much in in public charter schools, working as a fundraiser, more on the institutional fundraising side of things, so grant writing and things like and things like that, with a couple of networks and schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, and so this is kind of my leap into more systems level, trying to affect change in that way. And it has been, it has been very interesting. And, yeah, just happy to be here. Thank you. All right, so we're going to have a bit of a Texas Land star conversation today, I think. But my listeners are from around the country, and, you know, in some cases around the world, but the topics that we're going to talk about aren't necessarily state specific. These aren't just things in. Texas, right? So Are there similar or sister organizations to charter schools now, and you mentioned tpcsa, Texas Public Charter Schools Association. Are there sister organizations in other states or even at the national level? So listeners from other places will know where to go for their state. I see nodding, but who wants to take them? Yes. So the the Texas Public Charter Schools Association is a 501, c3, membership based organization. So essentially, we invite, it is not a requirement of public charter schools in Texas to be members, but we, we, essentially, we're a service provider membership organization that engages folks in advocacy. And, you know, basically advocates for policies that are going to help schools be able to do their best work. And so these types of associations do exist at a state level across the country. So for folks in other states, if you if you look up your your state public charter school association, you'll likely find something there. And there is also the National Alliance of public charter schools, and that's kind of like the national level umbrella organization when it comes to charter schools now. Charter schools now is actually a 501 c4 organization, which enables us to flex a little bit more into the lobbying side and advocating for specific bills policies. And then it also serves as a bridge to our political action committee, committee, our pack, which is how we engage in the electoral work. And so I actually am not sure. I not every state association has a similar sister organization or Affiliated Organization, but many states do have political action committees or c4 organizations that are out there advocating and lobbying for lobbying on behalf of public charter schools, but charter schools now in Texas, charter schools now and the charter schools now pack well the charter schools now pack is the only political action committee in Texas that is singularly focused on public charter schools and promoting candidates who are supportive of public charter schools. Okay, that's a lot to remember, so I'm gonna, if I boil it down, no matter where you no matter where you are, you're gonna look first for your state charter school association, and if you can't find one, go to the National Charter Schools Association, correct? All right. All right. Put it in a nutshell. So in Texas, and I guess around the country, charter schools really became a thing in the 1990s in Texas, they were created in 1995 so it can, can you who can tell me, I'll go, Shelby, it's your turn. What are? What is a charter school? If I'm just the I mean, I know what they are. But for the average person who doesn't understand, what is a charter school? Yeah, first and foremost, charter schools are public schools. They're free to attend, and they are open to all before I started at the association, I live in the southeast part of Houston, and all of my cousins were going to charter schools, and at that time, I was not familiar, like, with the Association. I was not familiar with that charter schools, and none of my aunts, none of my cousins, knew that charter schools were public schools. They just thought that they were these kind of like random entities that just like popped up in our neighborhood, and we were just like, going there, you know, so, like, I spoken to so many parents. I've spoken to so many people, like, within the community that just don't know that charter schools are public schools. So we just always like to first, just like, start off by saying that we are public schools. We are held accountable to the same standards as ISD, and we are open to all and tuition free. We are also funded by the state of Texas, and we are, as I said before, held to the same academic and financial standards as the traditional ISDS, okay? So a charter school is a public school. That's the huge takeaway there. That's it okay, and they're not closed off to anyone. Anyone can attend a charter school or apply to attend, because they do sometimes have limited enrollment, right? Because of size. All right. So those are the big things I want people to understand. I think when the greatest misconceptions is that charter schools are not public schools or that they are, yeah, we'll get into we're going to get into misconceptions in just a little bit, but one of the things that I know is that charter schools are big contributors to innovation when it comes to education. So can either of you give me something that you know comes to mind right away we think about innovation? Charter schools, the practices that have been introduced, something that you know sticks in your head as something you'd want people to know about in general. Sure, I can. I can start us off. So we also just always like to share that we are a very small subset of the public education model within the state of Texas. So public charter schools only represent 7% of the public education model across the state, and that is by design, because we are there one to serve as a compliment to the ISDS, but also to, like, really just serve as a benefit to students. So I've spoken with so many parents that have shared, you know, I have three kiddos, and two of them do really, really, really well at their traditional ISD, you know, but I knew that, like, I needed this specific thing for my youngest son. And they go to a charter school that focuses on autism. They go to a charter school that focuses on dropout recovery, they go to a Montessori charter school. So there are a lot of different avenues and innovative models there. Specifically here in the Houston area, we have a good number of STEM schools, and those really serve parents well. But also the majority of charter schools have smaller class sizes. So for someone who, you know, used to get lost in, like, the shuffle of school, you know, like, really hearing that as an adult, I could have definitely benefited from the smaller class sizes from like the one to one, and relationship with like the teachers. Okay, so I think for a lot of parents may know about magnet programs or something that's similar to a so a charter school, again, I'm trying to keep it to boil it down and make it simple and digestible for everyone, is sort of like a magnet school only. It's independently operated. It's not part of your in Texas, we say ISD for independent school districts. In California, they're Unified School Districts, but you know, those county or city level school districts, so it's just another option, right? So parents have sort of a smorgasbord of schools that they can choose from, and charter schools being one that will not cost them anything. So I think what you you know, one of the things that you said just now Shelby, is about the types of charter schools, schools for children with autism, schools who benefit for or benefit children who need smaller class sizes, STEM schools, dual language academies for parents who want an immersion school for their child. So what I hear in that is that these schools are almost like laboratories for educational equity in serving diverse students and their their particular needs. And you know, what am I and what I am about equity? It's all about the equity. So tell us a little bit more about Julia, you did a really good job of telling us a lot about charter schools now, community partnerships, I imagine, is part of the success of public charter schools. How do those work and how do those get strengthened? How do you make that a stronger network? Yeah, so I think the thing to point to is essentially the kind of the core characteristic of public charter schools. To your point about being able to innovate and develop these partnerships is autonomy, right? So we are whole. We are held to all of the same academic standards, and there are a lot of accountability checks in place to ensure that these schools are actually serving students, but they have the autonomy to be able to develop those relationships with with partner organizations within the communities that they're in which they're working there. They have the ability to decide which contracts they will they will decide to enter into with partner organizations. And I would love for Shelby to comment on this one, because I think she's probably familiar with maybe a couple of examples. I did really quickly. Just want to say, just in your relating the public charter schools to magnet schools, I just wanted to highlight again, that they are, they're open enrollment. So whereas a magnet school, you know, there are often, like, admission requirements and things like that, but with with public charter schools, it's generally open enrollment, open enrollment, unless there are specific requirements or, you know, things like that, written into their charter which is, which is not generally the case, but, but that's so that's why we always hear the term, I hear very specifically, open enrollment Charter School, correct? Yeah, right. And I don't know that I've ever heard open enrollment magnet school, right, right, right, yes, yeah, because, because, with magnet schools, you. Your child will need to do a test or an interview, and they are able to actually, like, pick which students are attending their schools. And with public charter schools that there, that is not an option, it is. It is open enrollment, meaning, if a child applies and there is a seat, they are worried they can have it. Okay, there are waiting lists sometimes. So yes, correct, yep, but it's not a selection process. It's simply that we have 500 seats. We have 700 people who want to be in here. So the first 500 are seated, and then you work your way down the list. Yeah. And if you can believe it, that by the last count, I believe there were 76,000 72,000 students on the wait list across the state. Wow, wow. That's a lot of children. That's a lot of children. It's a lot of demand. Yes. So community partnerships, I would imagine maybe a STEM school could have a partnership within engineering, or an oil in Houston, an oil and gas company, right? Or with NASA, or with, you know, just something that's focused on science or research, or maybe with the Texas Medical Center, a hospital, or something like that, if they're focused on the Health Sciences. And, oh, sorry, no, go ahead, please, Shelby and I was going to say just into that point, for a charter school to develop and to operate, they have to do that under a nonprofit. So I think that that adds a really great benefit to the schools. I've been to so many schools where the school operates underneath a nonprofit, and maybe, like on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they do a food giveaway, and, you know, on Fridays, they do a diaper drive, you know, so, like, it's really, like, ensuring that that school is a part of that community, and it's just like, ingrained in the partnerships that that nonprofit has. That's cool. I have not heard about that, but I think you know, really, when you're talking about making those connections to community, that's something that that really does serve a community where you might not see that in a regular school district. Julia, you started talking about accountability, and I'm glad you did, because it was my next question. So we'll just use that as the segue. So let's start with, how are charter schools funded? We'll just take that part of my first question, Where does the money come from? I can start us off so we are funded by the state. So we are funded by the public school foundation fund. We do not receive any of the local property taxes. So that is something that we often like to just make note of, that the local property tax funding that like you probably pay like on your house bill, we do not receive that, but we are completely funded at the state level. Okay, so local property tax money typically does go to the local school district, but you are not included in those funds, correct? Okay, all right, very different. What does that mean then for a charter school in a neighborhood, maybe they're located in an affluent neighborhood, or maybe one that is less affluent, but they're still not getting part of that tax that, that local tax base. What is that? How does that impact them? Do you know? Can you share? Yeah. I mean, we, may we, we receive about $1,300 less than our ISD counterparts. So, yeah, so $1,300 I just make sure that and the numbers, right, uh, less than our ISD counterparts, and typically that affects us in terms of the facilities funding, so, like, in terms of ensuring that the buildings are up to code, and, you know, like ensuring that, like, the buildings are, you know, like safe and secure for our Students. So it definitely impacts us in that way. Okay, so$1,300 is that per child per year, that it yes per child per year, yes per year, that's can add up to be a significant amount of money, yeah, and a significant shortfall and yeah, it's also noting that charter schools actually serve a higher percentage of at risk, students, English language learners and students that receive free and reduced lunch. So we are receiving less money, but we are serving students marginalized population of students. I want to ask you why, and I don't know if you are ready for that question, I'll take that one, or do you need to pass on that one? I'm fine if you pass. I mean, I have my opinions, but I will pass on that one wants to touch on it. I mean, I think it's fine to you know, we can, we can have an interesting conversation. What is your what is. Are, well, yeah, I stand on the data that says that our current system of schools are not serving the needs of the most marginalized students. And so, you know, personally, if it was me, it's like, how long do I need to go someplace and be beat up and unserved? If it's a restaurant that I go to and I received poor service. They don't bring the food that I asked for. I have to pay for it, but they still don't provide me what I what I paid for. How many times am I going to go back to that restaurant to continue getting unserved? And so when I think about students, as a, you know, as a former classroom teacher, as a consultant working with schools all over the country for now, close to, well, 30 plus years that we have children whose needs aren't being served. So shouldn't they be served somewhere? And if I find that that service is coming from a charter school and it's free and it's public and my child can get in, why not try it? Why not try it. Yeah? I mean, that's my opinion, that you know the most marginalized when they find out we spread the word, right? We're real good at within our network saying, Hey, I know you don't want to eat over there at Joe's diner because they don't serve us properly, but Becky's diner over across the street, they're doing some amazing things with food. Yeah? I mean, I personally agree with that. I mean, I think that, you know, it creates, because schools are able to operate autonomously and make decisions for themselves and for what's best for their specific community. It enables, it enables these institutions, like these, these, these charter schools, to do things a little bit differently than what you know, what's, what's happening in your local neighborhood school? There's not, there's, there is more flexibility in terms of individualization for for students. So you know, if something is is maybe not working for a kid within the school, you know, it the, it's not a situation where there has to be some kind of, like, hierarchy of, you know, approval, hierarchy of interventions and approvals. And this is what we do. And this is the, yeah, maybe a little more responsive. Exactly, exactly. So, you know, I mean, I think that is that that's always been, why I personally have been involved with with charter schools over the years, is, you know, the ability to innovate and flex to the needs of the kids who are the actual children and families who are in the buildings, rather than, you know what the state policy makers are passing down? Well, there's no secret I've been very, very vocal about systems that are set up right now are set to serve the adults, not the children who attend them. That's just my and I get to say my two cents worth all the time without a muzzle. So the second half of that question about how charter schools were funded, you've talked about accountability. How are they held accountable? At least in Texas, what's the accountability look like for a charter school? Sure. So first and foremost, we just always like to really touch on the three strikes rule. So what the three strikes rule requires is that any charter holder that fails academic or financial accountability for three years straight is set to close. So there's no appeals process, you know. So, like, we kind of, like, touched on the fact, you know, the analogy of going to a restaurant that has, you know, like, failed, you like time and time. If that happens three consecutive times with a charter school, they are set to close. So that is probably one of the highest levels of accountability that we do have. Just also touching on the fact that we are also responsible for administering the STAR test. And that's another myth that I have heard quite a bit, that we do not do standardized testing, and all charter schools do that. We also private schools. Private schools don't have to, but charter schools do. Mm, hmm, okay, let me make sure people hear that one, yeah, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. And we have the same academic and financial accountability, and we have the same teacher retirement contributions. And then another myth that we hear quite often is because our boards are not elected. They are appointed, that our boards are not held accountable, but we are definitely held accountable to the Open Meetings Act, the Public Records Act, the conflict of interest. So although they are not elected, they are still held accountable to the state. Now, right now, at the top of my head, I can think of one board that is not elected. Did that isn't an ISD, and that comes with, and typically comes with, and it happens around the country when a district is taken over by the state that their board is appointed, not elected. So you can't have it both ways, but we won't go down that, down that rabbit hole. So you touched on a couple of myths. Are there any others? Because I really want you know I we talked about Open Enrollment. I know that's a myth that people think that charter schools pick and choose their kids. It's not. It's open enrollment, the accountability. Wait a minute. Let me back up. I like the way you you frame the three strikes rule as one who's been around this this ballpark for a long time I can remember, and I won't call the name of the district. I can remember showing up to do consulting work at a school district after school teacher training session, and before we got there, just before we got there, we found out that the district had been taken over by the state and that the teachers were not going to receive paychecks that day. It was payday, and so here we are in an after school, which means you have already done your work day session with a room full of teachers who just found out that they are not going to be paid. It was years of financial mismanagement, years, not three years, decade, plus a financial mismanagement before that action was taken against a public school district, not charter school, public charter school, but just a regular in Texas, we'd say ISD in this state, they were called something else, SDS, but a long time, and it just doesn't happen. And it certainly never happened for failing to educate the children in that district, which I think is another aspect of the three strikes against a Texas public charter school, that when you fail academically three times in a row, that you lose your charter. And I see you nodding your head, so, yeah. So there's that, I think the level of accountability, the big takeaway there is that there's a much higher level of accountability for a public charter school than there is for a public school district. Yes, yeah, did. All right, any other myths that needed, since we're sort of doing Myth Busters right now, any other big myths you want to bust while we're on the topic, one that I hear quite a bit, that I definitely just want to make clear, and Julia probably knows what I'm going to share, but that public charter schools don't educate students with special needs. That is totally, totally, totally not true from someone I spent two years at the association as a regional director. So we go day in and day out to visit schools and to visit campuses. So I saw it with my own two eyes. By the federal law we must educate students with special needs when there's like the audit process that charter schools go through that is a part of the audit process, and when there's a part of the renewal process that is, you know, like a criteria there. So, we do, we do, we do educate students with especially, okay, you just said, you just said, renewal process. So charter schools don't just get a charter and go forever. Yes, they there. There is a very stringent renewal process, and I would love to know all of the details about it. I know the very high level. We have a colleague on our team that can probably a deep dive into it. But there is a renewal process that the schools must go to, and there is an expansion of process. So if a school would like to go to like a different city, a different part of their like town, they there's a process with tea, I believe, for them to expand. So they can't just open up another campus, like, we seat 500 we've got another 500 on the waiting list. We'll just open up another shop. That can't happen, all right, their original charter says that. So, like, if their original charter that they received from the State Board of Education, you know, says that they can do these things, but if they want to expand, they must go through, they have to go through a process, and they have to get, they have to get, it's like getting your testing for your driver's license every once in a while, right? We got to check and see whether or not you're still doing as well as you should before we let you continue to operate even unlike a regular public school district that just is a basically, it's a branch of the government, and it's going to exist no matter how good or how poorly they're doing, absolutely all right, in any other myths, we're on a roll here. The ones that I just listed are the ones that I probably hear every day, so they're probably like front of mind. So I can't think of any more right now. All, yeah, the special education one is one that I hear quite often that just makes me want to, like, scream from like, the top of my like group that yeah, that is not true, yeah, yeah. There's a federal guarantee any public school under IDEA individuals with disabilities and Education Act that every child is entitled to a free, appropriate public education. And since charter schools are public schools, that means they are required to provide a FAPE under IDEA. So it doesn't matter whether your child has a disability prior an identified disability, prior to attending a charter school, or if that disability is discovered while they in attendance, they are entitled to receive instruction, all right. And I think probably the only exception there, and that's true for regular public schools, is that if the disability is so severe that it cannot be served in that setting, that then they can go to an alternate setting. But that's those are, are some very extreme circumstances, all right, my next sort of big question, umbrella question, why would a parent want to go to a charter school? And we've sort of touched on that. But you know, if somebody asked you in the elevator, you know, hey, Shelby, Hey Julia, why should I send my child to a charter school? What would you say to them? I can, I can tag in here. So, I mean, I personally would say that I can't tell you that it is, it is fully individual. It's about being able to make a choice about what's best for your own child, from a place of, you know, confidence that you have many options to choose from, because the most affluent families are able to do that every day. And, you know, pick and choose and find a private school that fits their needs if they're not getting what they what they are looking for at a at a public school. You know, I have a kindergartner, and I, he is at an Austin Independent School District school, but he's not at our neighborhood school. So and I was able to look at the options around me. So I was, you know, everybody has their own, their own criteria for what makes the perfect school. So I was looking for something that was geographically close to us. I'm not interested in, you know, carting a kindergartner for like, an hour long commute every day, right? And so, you know, there's that, the size of the school, you know, the the leadership, whatever, whatever, your whatever is important to you. So what was important to me didn't actually fit what was available at the charter school that's closest to me, and neither did the local neighborhood school. And so luckily, I was able to because the Independent School District recognizes that there should be availability of choice and options for families. And so that is, that was, that was my choice. So again, in a nutshell, it depends on, on the family, and we believe that every family should have the opportunity to pick a school of best fit for their particular child. So it's not about, it's not about us coming in and saying, everybody should go to a charter school, right? It's about, you know, everybody should have the opportunity if they want it, to be able to shop around and find a school that fits their needs in terms of innovation, in terms of focus areas, community, whatever the whatever the case might be. So, okay? And to Julius point, you know, I I always think about like my upbringing, when I was growing up, the schools near me weren't the best schools, and I would wake up at like 5:30am and my dad would drive me 45 minutes to a magnet school, and then I would be there until like 6pm until they got off work. And then we would drive 45 minutes home. And then, like, we would do this every single day. So when my cousin started having kids, and we were, like, living in like, the same neighborhood, the fact that there was a alternative to their traditional ISD in the neighborhood, so they didn't have to do the 45 minute drive and pay for after school, care and all of the other things was very, very attractive. Because, you know, like my, like my kid, can get a good quality education without me waking them up before the chickens wake up, you know. So, you know. And that was a good, a good deal there, yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's what that actually touches on another like, myth. I. And hopefully I'm not walking into anything here, but that, that charter schools, like take students away from the local ISD schools. And I just think it's worth noting. You know, in in Shelby's case, she was, she was not attending, that her she was, her parents opted to, you know, take that 45 minute drive. You know, I am opting to take a little bit long, not, not that long of a drive, but, you know, go a little bit further. And because I it is more if, if, if charter schools were, were not a thing, I still probably would not choose my local neighborhood school. So it's, you know, it's, it's undue, undue weight is, is put on public charter schools. Again, we are seven. We're serving 7% of public school process, a drop in the bucket, right, right? So, if you have, if you have students who are leaving your school, my push would be that you need to improve your program so that you can attract more students. And you know, I would, I might. I would posit that those, those students who are are going to charter schools, would, if there was not a charter school would would opt, would still opt for another school. Because the baseline needs to be, you know, it needs to it needs to be good. What's good for kids? And so, yeah, that's the whole, you know, and that's the, that's the piece about creating competition in the market, and the, you know, the rising tide raises all boats concept. And, you know, just really encouraging everybody to do their best for kids and making it about what is good for kids. Yeah, you know, it's interesting that myth that they they're taking kids away from the local system, but nobody argues that private schools are pulling the most affluent children away from the local school district. So I always find that a bit humorous. It's like it's okay for private schools to pull them away, but it's not okay for another public school to have a population of students who choose not to go to I will, I will reserve my commentary on that for an episode that doesn't have you all on it, so that you don't feel like I put you in a situation, because I've got some opinions about that one. Let me tell you. You all are in involved in advocacy and getting people engaged in voting and understanding the system. What can both educators and parents do? How do? How can they become more involved in policy decisions that affect public charter schools? And I know a piece of that is just awareness when people understand and hopefully some folks listening to today's podcast will understand public charter schools a little bit better. What can we do as educators, as parents, as allies of education wants to take that one I can start us off, you know, truly just understanding the the political landscape of the individuals that really work to control education throughout the state, and specifically the state of Texas, we have the State Board of Education, and they are responsible for crafting the curriculum that our students receive. And I worked on a state board of education race a couple of years ago, and it was, it was very telling, you know, that, you know, like so many people, just like, did not know that one, that that was like a seat, and then, you know, like, two, you know, like, who are the people that are, like, running for the seat, because they have such a large job in constructing, you Know, what our students learn during their time in school, you know, so just like, definitely, like being involved in who are the legislators you know, from your local level to your state level, to the state board of education to the federal level, that are responsible for funding the schools, that are responsible for keeping the schools safe, you know, that are responsible for the curriculum. Definitely like being educated and like making their voice heard, so that the people that are elected, you know, like serve like the needs of those parents. I don't think enough people realize, you know, you just said State Board of Education race. But these are elected positions, not just your local school board, and I talk about that all the time, but your County Board of Education has elected representatives. Your state board has elected reps. Every state has a chief state school officer. Sometimes it's the State Superintendent of Schools. Sometimes it has another title to it, but there. Multiple levels of elected officials that govern public education and their races are often won by teeny tiny numbers of voters, a teeny tiny percentage of voters. I wish I had the numbers better in my head, but I remember there was some data around in most races where there are over like for local school boards where there are over 100,000 eligible voters for that race, that the race is actually only getting about three to 500 people voting in that race. I mean, it is such a small percentage of people that are making a decision about who's going to control the education of children, and I think some of it is awareness. So I'm going to applaud you for your work. And you know, raising awareness about public education and the need for people to engage in elections. Yes, definitely. And you know, it's the education related seats, certainly. But then also in the state legislature, that is where a lot of decisions are also being made. So every every legislative session, and here in Texas, it's every other year, we are charter schools now, and and tpcsa, the Texas Public Charter Schools Association, are working to bat down there are, there are many bills every session that are proposed that would essentially dismantle what's been built in terms of, you know, the success of public charter schools. So it's it. We're really on pretty tenuous ground politically. And these each session, it's like a new, like existential threat. And sometimes it is something that's really obvious. And then sometimes, you know, like last session we had, there was an amendment that was proposed that would have required a citywide election for every new charter campus, which is essentially, essentially like a death sentence to the movement, because new schools would not, first of all, there's, as you said, low turnout for those types of elections, those local elections, and then also the job of educating the public would would be massive. And, you know, the charter community only again, again, makes up 7% of of public charter school students. I mean, sorry, public school students. So yes, it's the and it's also the Yeah. So the legislative work, I would say the the cool thing, as I have become more familiar with this political work is working for charter schools now. Pack is it's it because it is a single issue. Pack, it is the most like bipartisan mechanism that I feel like I've encountered in this, like crazy day and age of, you know, highly, highly complicated political opinions, right? And so, you know, being able to a lot of our elections work actually focuses on making sure that folks are aware and educated on where candidates stand in terms of public charter schools, because you know you might have, and these are all down ballot votes, so like you might have, you might vote red or blue at the top of your ticket, Right? But once you get further down and into the which, frankly is more of the like daily impact, the day to day impact on on our our personal lives as citizens, you might, if you care deeply about your your public charter school, or the school that your child goes to, you know the difference you might, you might cross party lines to vote for the other side just based on their their stance on public charter schools. So that's been a really interesting piece of this work, because we do not, we do not get behind all you know, it's not, it's it's truly bipartisan. We support Democratic candidates, we support Republican candidates, and that enables us to really be strategic about how we're we're building a legislature that will cultivate an ecosystem that is supportive of charter schools. So that's been that's been a really fascinating I think I went off on a tangent. I don't know where I started, but it's been really fascinating to enter this space, for sure. And then to Julia's point, really building up that education piece, because we can't, we can't ask a person to you. Know, vote blue at the top of their ticket, and then, you know, like change at like, the bottom of their ticket, because a candidate is pro charter unless we have, like, educated them on the fact that, like, this candidate has gone out on a limb for charter schools, you know, been like a super, like, supporter of their child's charter school. So, like we do, like, a really, really, really, like, a big part of our work is just like, making sure that the parents and the community are just knowledgeable of the pro charter candidates that are on the ballot, whether they be a Democrat or a Republican, what's important is that this is because, or this is for children in a climate that is politically charged where people are, you know, not to be extreme, but some people talking about time for another civil war kind of nonsense. This is about children. This is about our future and their education and our ability to be a country that continues to thrive. So it should be crystal clear for anyone listening today that charter schools are public schools. But before I let you go, one last quick fire round. Dr Angela Davis once said, I am changing the things I cannot accept. So what is something that you cannot accept? And how can listeners support a change in that area? And Julia said Shelby got to go first on the first one. This one is yours first. What is that thing that you cannot accept? And then what can people do to help support change? Sure, no. Julia gets to go first. Shelby went first on the opening on the elevator. Speech, okay, and there is a little bit of an echo. Dr Barry, can you hear me? Yeah? Whenever either. Let's see. Okay, okay, nope, nope. Is it me? You still got echo? Yeah, it's very difficult. Do you still have echo? Yeah, okay. This is gonna be fun. Go down in your settings. And I think this might be because my headset just died. Might be the other thing, and go to audio. Now, I'll do it on my end. That might take care of it. How is that? Now, let's see, that's that? Oh, that's, that's great. Okay, so I'm going to back up. I'm going to ask you the question again. Thank you. Really disorienting. Hey, no, that's okay. At least I I've kept my language clean today. All right, one last quick fire round. Dr Angela Davis once said, I am changing the things I cannot accept. So what is something that you cannot accept? And how can listeners help support a change in that area? And Julia, you get to go first this time. Okay, thank you for that question and for that quote that really speaks to me very deeply I cannot accept a world where our systems are that were originally Well, let me back up. Hold on. Let me choose my words, because I actually just disagreed with it, with what I was just about to say. I believe that every child deserves the opportunity to a high quality public education that meets their needs. I want that for my children, and I believe that every child should, should have access and should have the opportunity to choose a school, choose a pathway, choose a, you know, an educational journey that works for them and enables them to thrive in whatever they choose to do, and so that is really on. I mean, honestly, that is the reason that I've been involved in this work of public education for the duration of my career. And I yeah, that is I cannot, I cannot accept, I cannot accept a world where, you know, politics and adult egos and money and all of the things stands in the way of a kid getting the education that they deserve. Thank you. Well, said, What can people do to help support you in that? Yes, so as I mentioned at the beginning, my my title is Senior Director of donor relations, and so right now, I am stumping hard for political contributions and so you. As a parent of a kindergartner, so I am of the mind that they're, you know, you asked earlier, what can people do to really get involved in this movement? Advocacy is 100% a valid and a very, very important piece of this for me, I work full time. I have two kids. One is five. One is two, it is a lot. I am not going to show up to every like PTA meeting. I'm not going to, like, you know, do every action, but if you get send me a link to contribute $10 I will opt for that. So there are, there are many ways to get involved and making a political contribution to the charter schools now, pack is is one of them. And again, just as a plug for that, it is truly a unique a unique organization. It's not it's yes, we do, we do work that you just don't see every day in terms of the bipartisanship, in terms of the singular focus on schools, and in terms of the very thoughtful strategy that goes into you know which races we're supporting and how we're doing that and, yeah, I just really appreciate Everybody out there who is either who's part of this, this, this very important community and yeah, so contributions are always welcome, but also calling your legislators when it comes time. So we'll put links down in the notes for that. Dear mom send money, but also, Dear Mom, please write your state legislator. Yeah, that's that, yeah, equally important, Shelby, your turn. What is that thing you cannot accept? And how can listeners help support change in that area? Sure, I often tell this story, but like when I was growing up, my grandparents used to sit on the front, kind of like porch, and I used to always just, like, hear them saying, you know, one day, you know, like, I'm gonna go and, like, tell the people in Austin, or one day I'm gonna go tell the people at City Hall and and I'm gonna tell them that we need this and that we need that. And it was always just very perplexing to me, because, like, we live like two hours from Austin, and we live like, 15 minutes from, like, City Hall. So I was like, why don't you just, like, go there, you know, but, but I think that there's a gap between, you know, like, people thinking that they have access to their elected officials and them thinking that the world is just going to, you know, be something that they don't see fit. Um, so I just grew up, and I was like, I'm going to be like, one of those people that's going to go and, like, talk to the people in Austin and talk to the people at City Hall, because, you know, like, the way that people that live 15 minutes from you get their education, they don't get their trash picked up, they don't have sidewalks, like, we don't have, like, safe communities. So I just think that people just shouldn't take what is given to them. They should know that the elected officials that serve them are like working for them. You have the power to elect them or not elect them. You have the power to hold them accountable, and the power is really within your hands. And it's not always within their hands for them to just do things to you. Yeah, good night. Yeah. Vote. Say something your vote is your voice, or your voice is your vote. Shelby. Juliette, thanks so much for joining me this episode and again, folks, remember your charter schools or public schools, use your voice, use your vote for change, to serve your community, and then join me again next episode. If you've got a question, a topic you'd like covered, or a special request, you know you can text it to me, because I do want to hear your stories. And remember, don't worry about things you cannot change. Change the things you can no longer accept, and that's a wrap for today's episode of The 3d podcast. Now here's how you can make a real difference. First, smash that subscribe button. It's free. It's easy, just do it. Second, share the show with anyone you know who cares about education. And third, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Together, we're not just talking about change. We're making it happen. Make a donation today to be part of that mission and change, and I'll catch you next time.