Dear Editor, 

Assembly Bill 84 unfairly targets charter schools — and the families like mine who rely on them. We chose a charter because it offered the flexibility and personal support our child needed to thrive. Everything from the school’s budget to test scores is public — charter schools are already transparent.

Meanwhile, traditional districts that experienced massive fraud — like Magnolia, where $16.7 million was stolen, or Mt. Diablo, where $3.3 million disappeared — faced no state crackdown. So why punish charter schools that are doing things right?

Charters serve many students who need something different: those with learning disabilities, anxiety, health conditions, or challenges in traditional classrooms. AB 84 would strip those families of choice, replacing it with red tape and funding cuts.

Rather than pass AB 84, our lawmakers should support SB 414 — a more balanced approach that strengthens oversight without dismantling educational options. Accountability should be systemwide, not selective.

Shelly Thompson lives in Los Angeles, California.