Educators, Advocates Rally Around Proposed Charter School

At public hearing, critics say Fairfax Leadership Academy would take away resources, duplicate services.

In a nearly year-long discussion about a proposed charter school designed to target at-risk students, its advocates and opponents have played a tug-of-war for supporters ahead of a Fairfax County School Board decision on the application. On Tuesday, it appeared for the moment Fairfax Leadership Academy advocates had the advantage, as most of the nearly 50 people who spoke at a public hearing about the issue — among them, parents,immigrants, former students, business leaders and several teachers — urged the board to vote later this month in favor of the charter school, saying the county had the chance to be a national leader in finding a new way to address its achievement gap. "As educators, we are always looking for ways to work together …

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