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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Hundreds of charter school advocates are rallying outside the Connecticut state Capitol, urging lawmakers to approve funding to expand charter school seats.
A coalition of pro-charter school organizations sponsored the event on Thursday. Rally-goers dressed in fluorescent green shirts and matching hats that read "For Every Child."
Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy included $32 million in his two-year budget proposal to expand charter school seats, including new schools in Stamford and Bridgeport. But the Democrat-controlled Appropriations Committee pared that amount to about $11.1 million. Those funds, however, would not fund the two new schools.
Lawmakers and Malloy must reach a budget compromise by June 3. Malloy urged the crowd to "make sure we fund charter schools."
Legislators are being lobbied heavily by charter school advocates with emails and TV ads.
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