We the parents and caregivers of Exceptional Children at PACE Academy Charter School, are pursuing a lawsuit against the State Board of Education (SBE), for failing to do its due diligence in serving our children. We believe that the SBE has neglected to conduct a thorough and adequate investigation of the claims being made against PACE Academy by the Charter School Advisory Board. Based on these unsubstantiated claims by the Charter School Advisory Board, the SBE went ahead and voted on May 13, 2015 to revoke PACE Academy’s charter. We strongly believe that this action taken by the SBE demonstrates both prejudice and discrimination against our children by refusing to acknowledge the educational accommodations and modifications required for special populations.  Therefore, the SBE has put our children at risk of irreparable harm by prohibiting access to their least restrictive educational environment should PACE be closed down. Thus, families would have to find less suitable educational placements for their children or return them to public schools that had previously failed them. This is unacceptable to us as parents and caregivers of children with special needs who depend on us for keeping them safe from harm, helping them maintain consistency with routines and above all being the guardians of their souls so that they can thrive in a world that already presents them with so many obstacles.  The teachers and staff at PACE Academy believe in our children’s potential and PACE has given our children the boost they need to believe in themselves.  Our children are different children than when they first walked through the doors of PACE.  We must not take that away from them.  We must stand together as a united front to fight this injustice. 

We are asking that each parent own a piece of this effort.  The Gahagan Law Firm has asked that we provide a retainer of $2500 (a substantial reduction in what they normally charge for this type of case). This will cover the costs associated with all the research and interpretation of the data required to determine whether we have a case. Please believe us when we say this is no small task, it involves reading through boxes and boxes of documents, internal emails and memos, and then sorting it into information that could develop into our case. If it is determined that there is enough evidence that we have a case we can win, we will move forward in pursuit of justice and hope that we can recover the attorney fees at the end. In addition, should our lawyers have enough evidence to pursue a case they will then seek an injunction against the SBE's vote to revoke PACE’s charter.  What this will do is allow the children who are currently enrolled and those children seeking enrollment for the 2015-16 school year to attend PACE without threat that the school will close during the time case is awaiting trial. Our goal is to keep PACE open and accessible to the students in our community who desperately need it.

We ask that each parent/caregiver of an EC student consider what PACE has meant to your child, and ask that you contribute to this cause to the best of your ability. The more people who are able to contribute, the less financial pressure for everyone involved. Where would our kids be without this school? Is it worth some sacrifice and effort to keep it open? We believe it is. We believe it is time to send a message to the SBE to stop bullying our vulnerable kids and to start showing support to the institutions that have taken on the challenging task of serving them with respect and understanding of their differences.

We also are asking ALL parents and even the teachers of PACE Academy to consider making any financial contribution you can to these efforts.  In addition, we are exploring other fundraising efforts for this endeavor.  If anyone has any ideas please send them our way.  Our first goal is the $2500 and hopefully if our case looks promising then we won’t have much fundraising to do for whatever additional fees we would incur. Please note that any additional funds raised that are not used for this lawsuit will go directly to PACE Academy's Go Fund Me account. 

We need everyone to be a part of this movement, whether you have an EC student or not, PACE is a community that needs you to show your commitment, not just by talking but by  DOING!! Let’s change the culture of charter school education in North Carolina. Let’s be a voice for our kids and an advocate for our school! Let’s be the change we want to see in the world!  On behalf of our children, we thank you.