Latte in the Lobby: Why School Choice Deserves a Seat at the Table

☕ A Leadership With a Latte Reflection from Washington, D.C.

There are moments in leadership when you don’t just feel the weight of your work—you feel the worth of it. Last week, I experienced one of those moments in the heart of our nation’s capital as I proudly represented Lowcountry Leadership Charter School and the Charter Institute at Erskine on the Legislative Committee’s 2025 Advocacy Delegation to Washington, D.C.

Over two packed and purposeful days, I stood alongside some of South Carolina’s most committed charter school leaders, advocating on behalf of public charter schools, including our own high-performing, student-centered program in the small but mighty town of Meggett, South Carolina. This trip wasn’t just a tour. It wasn’t just a photo op. It was a deposit into the future of school choice, educational equity, and public charter legitimacy.

And I want to share with you—my fellow educators, advocates, and leadership latte-sippers—why these deposits matter more now than ever.

☑ The Power of Presence: Our DC Meetings

Advocacy is not a luxury. It’s a necessity—especially in times of vulnerable funding, shifting legislative priorities, and increasing pressure on public education across the country. Our delegation met with an extraordinary lineup of federal and state representatives, including:

• Senator Lindsey Graham

• Senator Tim Scott’s education team

• Congresswoman Nancy Mace

• Congressman William Timmons

• Congressman Ralph Norman

• Congressman Joe Wilson

• Congresswoman Sheri Biggs

• Congressman Russell Fry

• U.S. Department of Education officials

In each of these conversations, we shared the undeniable success of South Carolina charter schools—our achievements, our leadership models, our unique missions, and our challenges. We extended heartfelt invitations for our representatives to visit our schools, meet our students, and see firsthand the innovative practices changing lives across the state.

As a School Leader, it was profoundly validating to sit across from national leaders and speak not just about data, but about people—about students like ours in SC who are looking for choice in their education, for schools that fit their unique needs. About families who’ve chosen us. About educators who show up, innovate, and make do with far less than their district counterparts—yet achieve far more.

Why We Advocate: A Movement Built on Visibility and Value

The charter school movement in South Carolina has grown rapidly in the past decade. As of 2024, over 39,000 students are served by more than 80 public charter schools across the state. These schools are tuition-free, open to all students, and held to high levels of accountability and performance. Many, like LLCS, are outperforming surrounding district schools, especially in areas of student achievement, parent satisfaction, and leadership development (source: Public Charter School Alliance of SC).

However, with this growth comes increased scrutiny—and sometimes, misunderstanding.

A common misconception is that charter schools are “private” or that we somehow receive “extra” resources. The truth is the opposite. Most charter schools receive less per-pupil funding than their district counterparts. We do not receive local tax revenue, and in many cases, we are left out of critical facility funding streams. Despite these challenges, our outcomes speak volumes.

This is where advocacy steps in. If we are not at the table, our story is told by someone else—and often, it’s inaccurate. Legislative advocacy ensures that lawmakers understand our value, recognize our academic results, and fight for equitable funding and access.

Why Washington?

Some may wonder: Why take time away from school to meet with federal leaders? The answer is simple—decisions in D.C. impact classrooms in SC.

Whether it's federal dollars, charter start-up grants, IDEA funding, or legislation that could limit or expand charter school opportunities, these policies shape the landscape of what is possible for our students. Lobbying is not a luxury—it is a necessary deposit into the future of education.

Our presence in the Capitol sends a message: we are not fringe or temporary. We are public, accountable, and achieving results that matter. We are building bridges between families, educators, and elected officials—and these connections are how we protect the future of school choice.

Funding, Fairness & the Fight Ahead

While our schools are thriving, we’re also funded significantly less per pupil than traditional public schools—despite serving a similar or even higher proportion of special education and low-income students. Charter schools in SC do not receive local funding, leaving many to operate solely on state and federal dollars, often making facilities and programming a fiscal mountain to climb.

This is why advocacy matters. Our presence in D.C. was a statement: we will not let inequitable funding go unchallenged. We will speak up. We will organize. We will lead.

And we must do so with urgency. As the charter sector in SC continues to grow—at record rates, I might add—our collective voice must grow with it. Lobbying and advocacy aren’t just about today’s budget. They are about tomorrow’s access.

As author and school choice advocate Jeanne Allen says,

“Advocacy is the currency we use to buy change. Without it, the system stays the same.”

A Collective Voice: The Power of Unity

The Charter Institute at Erskine believes that strong schools support one another, and this trip underscored that belief tenfold. Each principal, authorizer, staff member, superintendent, and board member present was a representative not just of their own campus, but of the entire movement. We shared successes, struggles, and strategic ideas. We stood united—not in competition, but in community. Independent charter schools, while diverse in mission and model, share a common challenge: the need to be seen, heard, and supported in the broader educational and legislative landscape. Because they operate independently—outside of traditional district oversight—they often lack the unified infrastructure that larger systems leverage to influence policy. This makes collective advocacy not just beneficial, but essential. By uniting around the school choice movement, independent charters amplify their voices, share data-driven successes, and create a compelling, cohesive narrative that showcases the transformative impact of public charter education. In a time when funding equity, facilities access, and legislative protections are under constant scrutiny, solidarity ensures that no school stands alone in the fight for opportunity. Advocacy becomes more than a message—it becomes a movement when we speak together.

As we walked the halls of Congress and gathered in conference rooms with polished tables and U.S. flags, we remembered why we do this work. Not for applause or prestige, but for the students who rely on us to build something better than the status quo.

From the Floor to the Future

We were granted floor access to the Senate lobby, visited the House chamber, and experienced a tour of the U.S. Capitol, standing in the very rooms where landmark legislation has been debated for over two centuries. I couldn’t help but reflect on how far charter schools have come since the first one opened in 1992 in Minnesota. Back then, the idea was radical. Today, it’s a lifeline for nearly 4 million students across the country (source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools).

As I stood under the Capitol dome, I thought about my students back home in Meggett—the aspiring scientists, athletes, entrepreneurs, and educators who are charting their futures at LLCS. This experience reminded me that they, too, deserve limitless possibility, unwavering advocacy, and bold leadership.

South Carolina: A State of Support

Every South Carolina representative we met with greeted us with respect, curiosity, and encouragement. In an era when politics often feel polarizing, it was refreshing—and deeply meaningful—to feel united in our shared vision for educational excellence.

We are fortunate to live in a state that recognizes the power of choice, innovation, and local leadership. South Carolina’s commitment to charter growth is not only a policy—it's a partnership.

Leadership in Action

As charter leaders, we talk often about “leading the way.” That doesn’t just mean setting the standard in academics—it means stepping forward when it counts, representing our values in difficult conversations, and building bridges for the students of tomorrow.

I am incredibly proud to have represented the SC charter movement in Washington, D.C., and to have been a voice for charter students, teachers, and parents who deserve to be seen, heard, and supported.

To my fellow educators: Don’t underestimate your role in advocacy.

To my fellow charter leaders: There is power in our collective voice.

To every student watching us lead: This is what courageous leadership looks like.

With courage and caffeine, Julianne Lang 

☕ Leadership With a Latte