Parents, clergy rally at State Capitol for approved charter school funding

Educators, parents, and faith leaders gathered at the State Capitol on Wednesday, urging the Connecticut General Assembly to release funding for five charter schools approved years ago but yet to open.

The event, hosted by the Alliance for Connecticut Charter Schools, focused on what advocates describe as a yearslong delay in funding schools that have already received state approval.

“This issue has been ongoing since 2018,” organizers said, pointing to the Danbury Charter School, which was approved that year but has not received state funding to begin operations.

The five schools awaiting funding are:

• Proud Academy, Ansonia
• Olam Public Charter School, Stamford
• Taino CoLab, New Haven
• Danbury Charter School, Danbury
• Capital Preparatory School, Middletown

At the event, Pastor Daniel Laender of Danbury was one of the many clergy leaders calling on lawmakers to act.

“Do what is right, end the blocking, release the funding that we need,” he said.

Maria Matos, chief advocacy officer for the Alliance for Connecticut Charter Schools, said the push is about expanding educational options — not diverting resources from traditional public schools.

“School choice is having the choice to go to a traditional public school, where you have a big environment, or a magnet, or a charter school — it’s just a choice,” Matos said.

July Miliano, a parent with three children in the Danbury Public School system, said she supports charter schools because she believes they can provide more individualized attention.

“That’s very frustrating when you take into consideration that it might be my child or my neighbor’s child that might need that extra help and education, and they are not getting what they need,” Miliano said.

Stephen Tracy, chair of the planning team for Danbury Charter School, said the school is prepared to open if funding is approved.

“We’ve got a great team, we have a facility that’s fully furnished and ready to go — it’s simply that funding commitment that’s standing in the way,” Tracy said.

Matos said it was important to include Latino and Black clergy members in the event to demonstrate unity in the call for expanded educational opportunities.

“They are the ears of our people — people go to them to express to them what is happening in their families,” she said.

As the 2026 legislative session continues, state Sen. Kathy Osten, co-chair of the Appropriations Committee, said no decision is imminent.

“The Appropriations Committee is nowhere near making a decision on that yet,” Osten said.

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