Movement Monday: If You Hear Renegade, It’s Time to Stand Up
They moved the goal posts. We’re moving faster.
If you’re a Steelers fan, you already know.
When Renegade starts playing in the fourth quarter, that’s not background music.
That’s a signal.
It’s time to get loud.
It’s time to stand up.
It’s time to wave the towel.
Parents across Pennsylvania — this is that moment.
They Changed the Language. Again.
Last week, leaders including Speaker Joanna McClinton and Appropriations Chair Jordan Harris stood with the William Penn School District to celebrate increased investments in “local schools.”
State lawmakers celebrate, renew commitment to local schools
Did you catch that?
Not “public schools.”
Local schools.
Why the shift?
Because parents have been clear — repeatedly and directly — that cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania are public schools.
Our kids are public school students.
Our teachers are public educators.
Our schools are accountable to the state.
When lawmakers say they want to invest in “local schools,” but not acknowledge cyber charters as public schools, they’re talking out of both sides of their mouth.
You can’t say:
“Every student deserves what they need to succeed.”
…while designing policy that cuts funding for 60,000+ public cyber students.
You can’t say:
“We support public education.”
…while redefining who counts.
We are not less than.
Our kids are not a budget line item.
And we’re not going away.
The Fight Is Moving Because We Are Fighting
Let me say this clearly:
The narrative is shifting because parents are engaging.
You showed up.
You emailed.
You drove to Harrisburg.
You asked uncomfortable questions.
You forced clarity.
That matters.
But this budget is coming fast and hard. And if we slow down, they will redefine the terms again.
We need to be louder and faster.
March 4 — One Day. No Wiggle Room.
On March 4, 1681, King Charles II granted William Penn the charter for what would become Pennsylvania.
It was about building something.
So on March 4, we build something together.
And this time, it’s not just cyber charters.
It’s brick-and-mortar.
It’s cyber.
It’s families who chose differently but believe the same thing:
Kids come first. No more cuts.
Here’s The Plan
To parents.
To caregivers.
To community partners.
This is a good-faith ask.
We are better together than apart.
March 4:
Wear Blue
Post on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Use #OneDayPA
Share your story
Spend intentional time at the end of the day liking and amplifying each other
No attacks.
No infighting.
No policy debates.
Just stories.
Pride.
Visibility.
We own one day of the conversation.
This Is Renegade Time
If you know, you know.
When that song hits, you don’t stay seated.
You don’t whisper.
You don’t wait for someone else to start.
You stand up and wave your towel.
This is that fourth-quarter moment.
To every parent reading this:
Get on your feet.
Wave your towel.
Be loud.
Be proud.
Be unmistakable.
Because this movement is working.
The goal posts moved because we pushed them.
Now we push harder.
Respectfully — and fired up,
Jim Malliard