This petition, co-sponsored by the Greater Danbury Central Labor Chapter, Western CT Area Labor Federation, and National Education Association Danbury is to raise awareness and demonstrate that we, the community, stand against the proposed Danbury Prospect charter school.

According to recent public expenditures reports Danbury schools have the least amount of funding per student in Connecticut, and the charter school organization Danbury Prospect seeks to further defund Danbury Public Schools by funneling money away from the majority of students. Danbury Public Schools have close to 12,000 students currently. Prospect Charter would only enroll 110 students in its first year, or less than 1% of the current student population. At full enrollment, this would only increase to 6%. The losses will be great, and they will hit students the hardest.

Danbury has the lowest per-pupil spending combined state and local in Connecticut. Can Danbury students afford to lose an additional $3500 per student per year? Can your student afford to have $3500 less funding per year in order to fund a school they likely will never even get a seat in? Is that a good use of your taxpayer money? No!

There’s a better alternative. The Career Academy is a better opportunity for Danbury students and their families. It plans to serve 1400 students rather than 700 and it is already funded 80% by the state. It will be completed in three years. The Career Academy will give us twice the benefit in half the time. Don’t be misled by Prospect! Don’t defund Danbury’s students, don’t defund our community!