Dear NAACP: Before Your Charter School Vote, One Oklahoma Parent Wants to Share His Experience
Being an African-American man in Oklahoma City, I am indebted to the NAACP for the countless opportunities they have created for me. The NAACP’s historic endeavors, such as promoting school integration, safeguarding voting rights, and combatting housing discrimination, have had a profound influence on almost every aspect of my life. Currently, I proudly align myself with the NAACP in their Protect and Preserve Our Lives Pledge, a movement aimed at reducing violence and reforming policing in our communities.
However, this summer, I was taken aback when I learned about another initiative by the NAACP: a proposal to impose a moratorium on new public charter schools. This resolution will be voted on during the annual gathering in Ohio this Saturday. As both a community leader and the father of a daughter who attends a charter school, it was disheartening to discover that an organization as esteemed as the NAACP would oppose quality public school options for African-American children.
Like many parents, I initially had limited knowledge about charter schools until I began volunteering as a leader for a troop primarily composed of students from KIPP Reach. KIPP Reach is a highly successful public charter school in Oklahoma City that has been operating since 2002, educating students in grades five through eight.
The dedication the boys showed towards their education, the collaborative efforts between KIPP and their parents to create a supportive learning environment, and the emphasis on learning from mistakes rather than merely reprimanding them greatly impressed me. Consequently, I made the decision to transfer my daughter to KIPP Reach a year ago, and it has proven to be the best choice I have ever made. She is thriving in her new environment.
This experience has motivated me to advocate for high-quality educational opportunities for all parents in Oklahoma City. Last summer, I joined a coalition comprised of pastors, community leaders, and elected officials, including County Commissioner Willa Johnson, City Councilman John Pettis Jr., and State Senator Anastasia Pittman. Together, we voiced our support for expanding charter schools in Oklahoma City as a means to ensure that more children receive the education they need to succeed.
However, the NAACP’s resolution threatens to undermine the grassroots support for charter schools in our community. While oversight for charter schools is necessary, closing the door on any K-12 educational option that helps our children meet high standards is not the solution.
Before casting their votes on this resolution, I urge the leaders of the NAACP to take the time to gain a deeper understanding of charter schools and their positive impact on African-American children in overcoming educational challenges. In light of the NAACP’s historical significance and the aspirations of its founders, now is not the time for the organization to forsake schools that offer hope and opportunity to thousands of African-American children, including my own.
Instead of eliminating public school choices for African-American parents, the NAACP has the opportunity to join coalitions, such as the one here in Oklahoma City, that collaborate with both the local school district and charter schools. Together, we can create more opportunities for children. Let us look beyond school labels and prioritize providing our kids with the best public education possible, whether that means attending a traditional public school or a public charter school. Our children deserve our collective effort in ensuring a brighter future for them.
Gary Jones, a government relations consultant in Oklahoma City, actively works towards promoting quality education for all children in the community.