Open Letter to California State Legislators: Put a Moratorium on Failing Schools, Not High Quality​ Charter Schools

01May
by Eva Heredia

Dear Assembly members O’Donnell, Bonta, McCarty, Smith, Kalra, and Senators Skinner and Durazo,

I don’t want to continue fighting anymore. How many more days do I have to take off from work to travel to Sacramento and share my personal experience and advocate for my children’s high quality charter schools? Will you ever agree to collaborate and work with us parents and actually hear our stories? Do you have any idea of the amazing things that are happening in our campuses that I never saw in other schools?

I’m a parent leader supporting high quality schools, whether they are public charter or traditional public schools. Let’s put a moratorium on failing schools, and yes I mean every kind of public school that is not providing the education that my children and all children deserve. I invite you to the table to talk about the current bills that would stop public charter schools from growing so that instead the language can support high quality schools and also support those schools who are struggling instead of continuing this battle. The fight is focused on money, it is focused on accountability only for charters, but what if we can keep ALL schools accountable for the education that all children are receiving? Shouldn’t that be the focus?

I am tired of the traditional public vs. public charter school rhetoric. Let’s sit down, collaborate and come together for the better of ALL children. Assembly members and Senators, I want to invite us all to the table that is filled with other parent leaders, teachers and school leaders so that we can share ideas and talk about how we can truly support all children. I invite you to visit my children’s schools in East Side San Jose. We can collaborate instead of fight against each other.

Let’s push low performing schools to be better and do better for all kids. Who will stand up and write a bill that reflects the real needs in our communities across California? Who do you think would benefit from such a bill to push low performing schools to make real improvements? Students across the state in low income and underserved communities, that is who will benefit. I hope you take time to read my plea and accept my invitation.

Sincerely,

Eva Heredia

Parent and Advocate from East Side San Jose

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Eva Heredia

Eva is a parent leader at Rocketship Discovery Prep and at KIPP Heritage Academy in East Side San Jose. She currently lives in San Jose California with her two beautiful daughters and her husband. She was born in Mexico City in 1976 but also considers Oaxaca as her home because of her mother. She began her leadership at Rocketship Discovery Prep over four years ago. She learned that there was so much more that she could do as a parent beyond volunteering in her children’s classroom. Eva became fully aware of the political involvement a parent must act on. She has the experience and extensive knowledge about public officials, school board members, and school administrators who play an important role in public education in East Side San Jose. She supported the opening of Kipp Navigate at a State level, by advocating for quality schools alongside other parents in 2018. She then became a founding parent at Kipp Navigate. Besides being a champion for high-quality education and choice, she also helped build the Wooster Neighborhood Association in her community. She is the voice for her children, students, and her community. She is a huge supporter of parent engagement, choice, and access to higher education. In addition, Eva also attended an Adult High School and graduated from Independence High School in 2019.

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