Oppose AB-84: Protect Charter School Flexibility

Subject: Oppose AB-84: Protect Charter Schools from Funding Cuts and Increased Bureaucracy

My name is [Full Name], and I am a California parent who relies on a non-classroom-based charter school to homeschool my child. I’m writing to strongly oppose AB-84, a bill that threatens the foundation of educational choice and flexibility in our state. AB-84 would make it nearly impossible for families like mine to access the personalized learning environments we depend on. This bill is not just about funding formulas or technical changes. It affects real students whose needs are not met by traditional classrooms. Thousands of children across California, including mine, are thriving because of the flexibility and support offered by charter schools that specialize in independent study and homeschooling. One of the most harmful parts of AB-84 is the proposed 30 percent cut in funding for non-classroom-based schools. These are successful, in-demand programs with long waitlists and strong academic results. Reducing their funding so severely would force many of them to close or cut essential services to students. Even more concerning, AB-84 would prohibit schools from working with families to create customized learning plans. It would ban the use of educational funds for enrichment taught by non-credentialed instructors, even when parents choose those programs themselves. This flexibility is a core part of why these schools work for so many families, including mine. The bill also requires charter schools to follow district rules without providing the same resources districts receive. That creates an unfair burden. On top of that, AB-84 gives local districts more authority to block the growth of charter schools, even when there is clear demand and long waitlists. Finally, the bill adds unnecessary bureaucracy and compliance requirements that will take money away from students and classrooms and put it into administrative costs. AB-84 threatens the educational models that allow families to choose what is best for their children. I respectfully urge you to oppose this bill and support the schools that are helping students succeed in non-traditional but highly effective ways. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely,