ICYMI - CLF Schools Visited MSDE!

Dear CLF Families,

First, thank you. Your advocacy over the last two years has made a significant impact. Because of your efforts, the regulation under review for public comment is less harmful than earlier versions. I am humbled and proud to be part of this community.

Your participation helped move the MSDE Board from proposals that could have taken eighteen percent or more to a smaller, capped amount. That was not easy, and it happened because families, staff, and students spoke up together. We will need that unity again as districts decide whether to use the full amounts allowed.

Continue to expect regular updates as counties make decisions, continued transparency about our budgets and enrollment, and direct outreach with specific ways to help. Our mission is unchanged, and we want our schools to remain open. We will continue to do the work to keep them strong.

With appreciation,

Mr. Yilmaz Ak, Ed.S.

Chief Executive Officer

Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation

Our fearless leader and relentless advocate, Mr. Ak, CEO of Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation, delivered a revelatory presentation at the Maryland State Department of Education Board Meeting on December 9, 2025, addressing the future of charter school funding.

His clear, concise, and deeply informative remarks, shared on behalf of thousands of charter school scholars, offered families a true-to-life explanation of how upcoming funding regulations could impact their children’s schools. His testimony brought clarity, transparency, and urgency to a complex issue now moving forward for public comment.

We encourage you to listen as Mr. Ak highlights the real funding challenges for charter school scholars in Prince George’s County.

When Jennifer Epps, a parent at CMIT South Elementary School, felt that the issue of charter school funding needed statewide attention, she took action. She wrote a heartfelt letter to a local news anchor.

To her delight, and to the benefit of all our charter school scholars, NBC4 responded. Their news team attended the MSDE Board Meeting, interviewing our CMIT parents as well as our CLF CEO, Mr. Ak.

The news story aired yesterday afternoon and again today. If you missed it, please watch it and share it widely. Your voices will help spread awareness and support informed public commentary on the MSDE regulation that will determine how Maryland charter schools are funded.