Advocacy & Engagement

At Acero Schools, we believe that advocating for our children's education is important. Our parents' voices makes the difference! Our goals are to:

	1. Fearlessly advocate for the interests of our students, families, schools, community and network in the public policy space at all levels of government and within the communities we serve.
	2. Build a strong base of support among charter school parents and families and mobilize supporters to elevate their voices to advance the interests of their students and the community.
	3. Educate our stakeholders on key K-12 and public charter school policies and trends being centered in a public debate and policy circles and our perspective on these issues.
	4. Emerge as the preeminent voice for Latina/o-serving public charter school communities in the Midwest.
	5. Celebrate and engage, through service, our schools, students, graduates, families and communities.

Red banner that reads- What is Advocacy?

Advocacy means raising awareness about an important matter to educate people and communities faced with big decisions or choices. There are a variety of ways to advocate for something important to our schools. This can include signing petitions or letters, attending events and speaking with public officials and community leaders.

Red banner that reads- How Advocacy relates to charter schools

As members of the public charter school community, we have the ability to use our voice to educate and weigh in on important decisions that directly impact our schools, kids and families. Advocacy for and about the Acero Schools’ community is vital to bolstering public knowledge and support for public charter schools. Our objectives are simple - maintain and seek greater equity with other public schools, tell our story and secure the resources needed to continue our work.

Red banner that reads- How your voice can make a difference

Collective action is the key to our success, as the power of one individual alone is often not enough to make the kind of progress our students deserve. However, a group of people speaking up about the same issue makes it more challenging to ignore. Advocacy on a large scale on a single issue can make a serious impact on the decision-making of public officials and that is the crux of our Somos Potentes efforts.

Opportunities to Engage

Van trips: Join us in Springfield to meet with public officials. If you would like to get involved please email [email protected]

Lobby Day: Participate in the annual INCS Lobby Day to advocate for your children's education.

Speak at a CPS board meetings: Join us to share your student's experience each month. We will work with you to create a narrative that will speak on your experience with Acero and together learn how to confidently speak to our CPS Board Members.

Share your testimonial: We want to hear from you! Contact [email protected] to share your story!

Stay informed: Contact [email protected] if you'd like to be added to advocacy-related newsletters and resources in partnership with the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) and Elevate Chicago.

Spread the word: Each of us has the opportunity to be an Acero ambassador. Join us!

Interested in learning more about public policy and how to advocate for your child's school? Join our parent advocacy group! For more information, email [email protected] or contact Ivette Esparza at [email protected]