I’m writing with an update on both the state COVID-19 response and our advocacy efforts.

Updates from the State Capitol

As I’m sure you are aware, on May 5th, Governor Lamont issued Executive Order NO. 7II, extending mandatory closure for all Connecticut state schools through the remainder of the academic school year.

Additionally, the Governor is consulting with state and local education officials regarding whether summer school programming should commence as scheduled. A decision on allowing in-school instruction for summer school as well as summer camp operation is expected to be made by the end of May. In the meantime, in-person summer programming has been suspended until June 29, 2020. To read more about this announcement, click here.

Finally, as a reminder, the State Board of Education meeting scheduled for May 7, 2020, has been postponed to May 13, 2020. We do not anticipate that charter renewals will be included on this meeting’s agenda.

Updates on our work

Adding to our engagement and advocacy work, this week, I sent a letter to the Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona, advocating for the importance of supporting all students throughout this crisis and beyond, including public charter school students. To read my letter to the Commissioner, click here.

This week, Common Ground High School was featured on NBC Connecticut for their Emergency Farm Share program, which was created and implemented in response to COVID-19. To watch the feature piece and learn more about the impact this program has had on the New Haven community, click here.

How is your school community in this crisis? Share your stories with us, both big and small and we will share them on social media and with local media.

Sunday, May 10 marks the beginning of 2020’s National Charter Schools Week. Historically, this week-long celebration has brought individuals from across the sector together to highlight the unique qualities of our great schools. This year, in light of COVID-19, these celebrations will look a little different. There are many ways in which your school can get involved in the virtual celebration of National Charter Schools Week, including posting to social media, distributing a press release, and participating in the virtual spirit week. To learn more about how your school can celebrate virtually and access templated materials, click here.

Additionally, the New York Times is seeking input from teachers on if a student’s zip code determines their destiny. To share your perspective, click here.

Lastly, we encourage you to continue to review the resources available to all charter schools on our Coronavirus Resources Page.

We will continue to provide you with important updates as we become aware of them. In the meantime, let us know how else we can support you.