NEW YORK CITY CHARTER SCHOOL CENTER APPLAUDS SUNY FOR APPROVING FIVE NEW CHARTER SCHOOLS
New Schools Are First From Group of 14 “Zombie” Charter Schools That Were Revived in FY24 Budget
(NEW YORK, NY) – James Merriman, Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Charter School Center, released the following statement in response to the State University of New York (SUNY) voting to approve five new public charter schools. Today’s vote was made possible thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul and state legislators who supported reviving 14 “zombie” charter schools in the FY24 Budget. These select community-based schools were approved years ago, but couldn’t open their doors due to the charter cap. They can now open in place of previously closed schools and expand educational opportunities for NYC students and families.
The proposed charter schools that will open in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens are: Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter School 2; Central Queens Academy Charter School II; Kwenda Collegiate Girls Charter School; Math, Engineering, and Science Academy (MESA) Charter High School 2; and, Haven Charter High School.
“Today’s vote allows five new public charter schools to open that will help meet the needs of families and students across the City and increase access to high-quality public schools in our communities. This moment would not be possible without the strength and leadership of Governor Hochul and the support of members of the legislature who were instrumental in ensuring the FY24 Budget revived ‘zombie’ charters and reflected the needs of New York’s students and families. We look forward to working with each new school as they prepare to open their doors and work to help students thrive in the classroom and beyond.”
