Charter school students deserve same perks as BPS kids

When is a public school student not a public school student?

When they attend a charter school

That seems to be the defining line for Mayor Michelle Wu, who, as MassGOP Chairwoman Amy Carnevale pointed out, left charter school students out of a cultural treat.

Earlier this month, Wu launched BPS Sundays, which gives Boston Public Schools students and their families free access to the Boston Children’s Museum, the Franklin Park Zoo, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium on the first and second Sundays of each month.

“Boston is home to some of the world’s best cultural and educational institutions, and our students deserve to feel at home at these institutions without any barriers,” said Wu in a statement announcing the venture.

“In our hands is the ability to show our students the world — to spark their imagination, to discover their interests. What we also have is the opportunity for students to bond with their families — allowing for parents, grandparents, siblings to create irreplaceable memories. I am thrilled and grateful for our partnership with these institutions to give young people access to learning, wonder, and community in our city.”

Great stuff, and a muchneeded benefit for Boston kids and families. Who wouldn’t treasure a free family trip to the zoo, or MFA, Children’s Museum or Aquarium? These are some of the places that attract visitors to our city, and it’s important that our own residents, especially children, can enjoy them.

So why is this offer only for those who attend Boston Public Schools? Why not charter school kids as well?

Carnevale wasn’t happy with the exclusion, saying in a statement, “If Mayor Wu continues with the museum initiative, the Mayor should not exclude charter school students. Just as families in non-charter school systems face financial struggles limiting access to these museums, so do many charter school families. It’s worth noting that charter schools are public schools. The decision to exclude charter school kids seems politically motivated.”

While charter schools are indeed public schools, they aren’t under the aegis of school committees. It’s this point that rankles the Massachusetts Teachers Association, which notes on its website: “Commonwealth charter schools are publicly funded schools that are privately operated with no local oversight. They hurt students who attend public schools by siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars from Massachusetts school districts. Most charters fail to serve as many high-need students as their host districts, creating separate and unequal conditions for success.”

We gather that they’re not fans.

“I fail to see any justification to exclude children based on the type of public school they attend. It’s unfair to the kids enrolled in charter schools,” wrote Carnevale.

We agree. Whether they answer to the Boston School Committee or not, these are public schools and deserve to be included in perks intended for public school students.