TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NYC FAMILIES RALLY TO SUPPORT CHARTER SCHOOLS IN LARGEST DEMONSTRATION IN OVER A DECADE
(NEW YORK) – Today, tens of thousands of NYC families, students, and educators rallied and marched over the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall in support of public charter schools. The families – representing more than 200 schools – called on NYC leaders to stand with them and ensure that every NYC student can access a good public education.
James Merriman, CEO of the New York City Charter School Center released the following statement in support:
“Thousands of families turned out today to send a clear message that their kids’ choice of public school deserves to be both honored and supported. This moment is about celebrating families and ensuring that every student, in every borough can access a good public education that sets them up for lifelong success.
Charter schools make our city a better and more affordable place to live for working families. Today’s rally is a reminder that charter school families – whose kids make up 15% of all NYC public school students – will not be ignored.”
Fast Facts:
- There are more than 150,000 students attending charter schools this year – representing more than 15% of all public school students across NYC;
- 1 in 3 kindergarten students in the Bronx attends a public charter school;
- Two-thirds of students attending NYC charter schools are testing proficient in both ELA and Math, more than 11 percentage points higher than their district school counterparts.
- Enrollment in charter schools has increased more than 6% since the 2022-23 school year
