1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I’m urging you to vote NO on AB 84. This bill would cut funding for students in non-classroom-based charter schools, including my child. These families are taxpayers too, and they deserve access to flexible learning options that work. There is a widespread—and false—belief among many Assemblymembers that this bill won’t negatively impact “good charter schools.” We know that’s simply not true. AB 84 threatens all NCB public charter schools, regardless of student performance or compliance. If passed, AB 84 would: • Cut funding by up to 30%, threatening programs, staffing, and instructional services.
 • Eliminate access to vendor-led instruction, removing enrichment and real-world learning opportunities.
 • Triple the fees that charter schools must pay to their authorizers—draining funds away from students.
 • Block schools from using long-standing authorizing districts based solely on district size, not their proven oversight. 
 Let’s be clear: this is a penalty imposed on parents who are making personal sacrifices to support their children’s education. They should be rewarded, not punished. Families who choose charter schools still pay taxes that support public education. Cutting their funding is unwarranted and discriminatory—a tactic that seems designed to reduce educational choice and eliminate competition. And yet, charter schools were created to improve public education by introducing innovation and options. Restricting that choice under the false banner of accountability harms the very students our system claims to serve. There Are Better Oversight Tools Already in Place. Current law already mandates that NCB charter schools spend at least 80% of their funding on educational expenses. These expenditures are thoroughly reviewed through annual audits, which are public, detailed, and designed to ensure compliance. I agree that transparency and accountability are important—but the solution is not to strip funding from students, especially when clear oversight mechanisms already exist. If the goal is truly to support students, then cutting funds for instruction is not the answer. Please stand up for parent choice and student equity—oppose AB 84. And share this info with your colleagues, so they understand the REAL impact of this bill!