Friends of Charter Schools Rally on North Broad Street
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A rally today in Philadelphia highlighted a new Pennsylvania law that allows charter school operators a direct appeal if their application is turned down by the SRC.
Chanting "Charter schools work!," about 300 charter school parents and students gathered on the steps of Philadelphia school district headquarters, urging the School Reform Commission to approve new charter schools -- something the SRC hasn't done for seven years, largely for financial reasons.
The law allowing the $2-a-pack cigarette surtax in Philadelphia also created for charter operators an appeal to the state if the SRC denies their application to run new schools.
The SRC application deadline is Saturday.
"We really can positively impact the lives of young people. Why shouldn't we be given the chance?" asked David Shahriari, who would lead the Tech Freire High School, if it's approved.
There are 86 charter schools in Philadelphia now.