Dear (elected official’s name),
My name is (parent name), I am a parent of a child/children at Westlake Academy, an International Baccalaureate (IB) K-12 public charter school. We are deeply grateful for your willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue and learn more about the unique nature of our school and the challenges faced by charter schools across Texas.
Westlake Academy is truly one of a kind. As an open-enrollment charter school, we are committed to providing a high-quality education that prepares our students for success in an increasingly globalized world. Our IB curriculum sets us apart, offering a rigorous, internationally recognized program that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and a passion for lifelong learning.
We recognize that increasing the overall funding allotment for education is a complex and challenging endeavor. However, we hope you will consider supporting efforts to remove the cap on facilities funding for charter schools. House Bill 21 provided a solution with the formula it proposed but also created a problem when it implemented the cap. Charter facilities funding is currently held by a “lesser of” provision that was capped at $60 million in overall facilities funding, which means charter schools are only receiving one-sixth of the funding that the formula should provide. Currently, the $60 million allocated for facilities funding is split among the 900+ charter schools in Texas. This amount is insufficient to meet the growing needs of our schools and students. Removing this cap would provide critical resources to ensure that charter schools can continue to thrive and serve their communities effectively.
Thank you again for your time, your thoughtful consideration of this issue, and your dedication to serving the people of Texas. We greatly appreciate your hard work and commitment to improving education for all students across the state. Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can provide additional information or support in your efforts.
With gratitude,
(parent name)
