June 30, 2020
Dear Staff and Families,
Last night, Governor Newsom signed the budget bill and issued this press release. In his final signing message regarding SB-98, he acknowledged that schools like Sage Oak with growing enrollment will be negatively impacted since the current language does not “take into account schools that had planned expansions. By not funding those expansions, families enrolled in those schools may be displaced … I urge members of the Legislature to pursue targeted solutions to these potential disruptions, and will work with you in the coming weeks to enact them.”
We want to thank all of you who have been calling, emailing, and writing to your local legislators and the governor as it clearly got his attention. We encourage you to continue communicating with your legislators and our governor as they will be collaborating on this issue over the next few weeks.
A petition circled over the weekend that collected over 11,000 signatures. Although the Governor signed the 2020 Budget Act regardless, the petition delivered a strong signal that there is widespread opposition to the current language that excludes funding for students choosing new public charter schools for the 2020-21 school year. This advocacy campaign will continue throughout the summer as we put pressure on the legislatures to fix this issue by the start of the new school year.
Your active participation in this campaign is key! Please do not give up hope, keep trying, and urge your local legislators to enact solutions to fund growing schools.
Thank you for your support,
Krista Woodgrift
Executive Director
