Massachusetts Charter Public School Association: Charter schools can be both antiracist and exceptional
In Steven F. Wilson and Charles Chieppo’s op-ed (“Did an antiracism shift break Boston’s best charter schools?” Opinion, June 23) the authors discuss how antiracism practices undermined the effectiveness of academic instruction. This shouldn’t be a mutually exclusive choice. For decades, Boston’s charter public schools have dismantled systems of racism and provided high-quality education, allowing them to meaningfully elevate academic outcomes — and they continue to do so today.
While it is true that performance fell following the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilson and Chieppo’s rationale is flawed. The decline showed the significant value of an in-person charter education, which allows nimble, individualized instruction that is adapted to meet student needs in the moment. Since returning to the classroom, student outcomes have consistently improved at rates that have outpaced their district peers. Of the 13 districts statewide that have reached pre-pandemic performance in both English and math, five are charter public schools.
The data is clear. Black and brown families are seeking out charter public schools at high rates because at charters, their children are excelling. Black and brown children achieve at higher levels when they attend charter public schools — in Boston and across Massachusetts. Additionally, they attend and finish college at higher rates. In 2024, 9 of the top 13 Boston schools ranked by college-going rates were charters.
Read the full story via The Boston Globe >>> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/29/opinion/letter-charter-schools-antiracism-boston/