Tonight, the San Jose Unified school board will vote whether to approve Promise Academy, a new TK-12 charter public school proposed for downtown San Jose.
In today’s Mercury News, parent leader and Promise Academy founding parent, Molly Reyes, shared why she wants her son to be able to attend Promise Academy.
“What parents want is very simple. We want high-quality school options for our kids, not having them stuck in low-performing schools. We want to be respected and we want to be heard. We want a fair process for the Promise Academy petition and, on Thursday, we want San Jose Unified to listen to parents and vote yes to approve the school.”
Molly, along with over 100 other parents, gathered last Thursday at the Roosevelt Community Center to show support for Promise Academy. Parent leaders shared what they have experienced in the school system and what they want for their kids. They also expressed serious concerns about the district’s process for reviewing this petition.
Three Santa Clara County Office of Education trustees came to the meeting and told parents they have their support.
“It is absolutely your right to demand a quality education,” SCCOE trustee Darcie Green told parents.
Green, and fellow trustees, Joe DiSalvo and Grace Mah, each pledged to ensure that Promise Academy’s petition gets a fair and transparent review process if it goes before the county. They also expressed great concern about SJUSD’s petition process.
“The process San Jose Unified has used to validate signatures both of teachers and parents has been very inconsistent and unprofessional,” said Grace Mah. “That process, as I’ve heard about it, really needs incredible work and it’s almost inexcusable.” Joe DiSalvo agreed: “I’m perplexed because it is their role as elected officials to work on your behalf … and not to be treated with fairness and justice … is wrong, it’s just wrong. And that needs to change.”
Tonight the SJUSD school board will vote on whether to approve Promise Academy. Join us to show the school board that Promise Academy has your support and that we will not accept an unfair process.
Thursday, June 1, 6pm
855 Lenzen Avenue, San Jose