A group of nearly 400 parents, teachers and students visited Maryland’s State House recently with one message for their representatives: Charter schools are public schools and should be considered in all education spending.

The Maryland Alliance of Public Charter Schools came to Annapolis to argue that charter school students are no different from public school students. They had no specific legislative ask, just their representatives’ attention.

“We are here today advocating for an equal share in the decision-making process for charter schools across the state of Maryland,” said Miles Wilson, an eighth grader at Legends Charter School in Lanham.

This is their fourth year holding a lobbying day. The organization represents 54 charter schools in Maryland with more than 24,000 students.

Wilson is student body president, and this was his second year participating in the event. In class, Wilson and his classmates are learning about the legislative process, so their visit to the State House on Wednesday was a chance to advocate for their school and also to learn.

“We just spent the whole week practicing,” said Ashari James, a program coordinator at Legends. “I’m so excited for the babies who have been here last year to do it again, to see how they progress and help our newer generation of student government members talk to these delegates.”

Charter students are a minority in all school districts, but if all the charter schools in Maryland were in a single school district, it would be the 11th-largest district in Maryland.

“There are 24 districts in Maryland, and each of the superintendents has the same amount of power to call up a legislator or express concern,” said McKenzie Allen, executive director of the organization. “We don’t have anyone calling us to ask us what we think.”

Advocacy is a central part of the Maryland Alliance of Public Charter Schools, and they include students whenever they can.

“Especially if they’re students, elected officials are much more receptive to taking a meeting,” Allen said.

The students, from kindergartners to high school seniors, were escorted to their elected officials’ offices by chaperones, but did the talking themselves. The organization provided a script, but many spoke informally about what they appreciate about their school.

Decked out in school colors of purple and black, students from the Chesapeake Math & IT Academy High School in Prince George’s County broke into smaller groups and marched into their legislators’ offices, politely asking for a moment of their time.

“They’re actually listening and taking down notes, and I really appreciate it,” said Gloria Opoku-Agyemang, a 10th grader , after speaking with staff in Dels. Tiffany Alston and Kent Robinson’s office suite.

In Maryland, all charter schools are nonprofit, tuition-free and held to district standards for hiring, civil rights and academic standards. Anyone can apply to a charter school, although most have more applicants than seats available, so admission is largely determined by lottery.

The Maryland State Education Association, the statewide teacher’s union, helped develop the 2003 legislation that established and regulates the charter school system.

According to the group’s website, charter schools have the potential to be beneficial and innovative, but their success depends on a number of factors including oversight and assistance.

Have a news tip? Contact Bridget Byrne at bbyrne@baltsun.com, 443-690-7205 and x.com/brdgtbyrn.