Futuro San Antonio Holds City Leaders Accountable for Ignoring Charter School Families

Members of the Futuro Family Advocacy Team reported to City Hall earlier this week to deliver a clear message to local leaders: “Charter Schools are Public Schools.” Organized by Futuro San Antonio, speakers at the October 15th City Council meeting demanded that District 6 Councilmember Ric Galvan stop dismissing charter school students and start representing every family in his district.

“…[I]t was heartbreaking to sit in the education forum hosted by Council Member Galvan and hear charter schools described as a problem, as a threat or competition,” said Sooner Guerra, a District 6 parent whose son attends Promesa Academy. “Because when you say that, it doesn’t just hurt systems. It hurts kids. It hurts families who made a choice that’s best for them. Charter Schools are public schools.”

83% of voters support having diverse public school options that include traditional public and public charter schools. (Source: Futuro Education San Antonio, citywide survey, April 2025, n=477, MOE ±4.5.) Parents now urge San Antonians, especially District 6 constituents, to email and text Councilmember Galvan’s office and ask for fairness, equity, and respect for families’ educational choices.

District 6 is home to 31,242 public-school students, including more than 8,000 charter-school students — roughly one in four children in the district. Yet, parents say Councilmember Galvan has repeatedly dismissed these stu@dents and the high-performing public-charter schools they attend.

“As both a charter school teacher and a charter school parent, it was hurtful and disappointing to see one of our city leaders take a stance against schools that serve 27% of all public school students in District 6,” said Herlinda Aguilar, AP Spanish teacher at IDEA Monterrey Park and mother of two IDEA students. “Charter schools are public schools too. Our students are part of this community, and they deserve a council member who believes in them. We need leaders who include all families in their vision for a stronger, more equitable education system in San Antonio.”

Independent research shows that San Antonio charter school students demonstrate stronger reading growth than their peers, including those who have been historically underserved. Despite this, Councilmember Galvan has refused to acknowledge charter schools as equal partners in the city’s public-education ecosystem.

“Public charter schools are not here to compete with ISDs. They exist to complement the system and make sure every student has a chance to succeed,” said Madison Cruz, a 2024 graduate of Harmony Science Academy in District 6 and current political science major at Texas A&M–San Antonio. “At my charter school, I was given the tools, support, and opportunities to grow, not just as a student but as a future leader. I hope our city leaders will see us as partners in the community and treat charter school students as the public school students we are.”

“Politicians attacking public charters are out of touch with local families,” said Daiana Lambrecht, CEO of Futuro San Antonio. “These parents are not asking for special treatment — just equal treatment. Public means all.”

To learn more or request interviews, please contact: Communications Director Sayda Mitchell-Morales at sayda@futuro-sa.org and visit: futuro-sa.org/galvandoesntgetit