TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NYC FAMILIES RALLY TO SUPPORT CHARTER SCHOOLS IN LARGEST DEMONSTRATION IN OVER A DECADE
Thousands of City’s Most Vulnerable Public School Students Denied Funding for “Learn to Work” Program
(NEW YORK) – Today, public charter school students and school leaders testified at the NYC Council’s Committee on Education hearing, calling for charter transfer high schools to be included in the DOE’s “Learn to Work” program, and for the City to fulfill its promise to issue a new RFP so that all public transfer school students can benefit from the program. 5 students and leaders from across the five boroughs testified at the hearing. Transfer high schools are a crucial lifeline for some of NYC’s most vulnerable students – delivering both strong academics and real, hands-on career support for young people who are overage and under-credited.
Learn to Work is a vital program that funds Community Based Organizations to partner with transfer high schools to provide critical youth development support services including internships, job training, social/emotional counseling, experiential learning, college prep and more. Despite years of advocacy, the City hasn’t issued a new RFP for the Learn to Work program in years, impacting all of the city public transfer high schools, including the 8 charter transfer high schools serving over 2,000 students across NYC that have been locked out of the program since its inception.
“We’re not asking for luxury—we’re asking for equity. When we invest in youth, we invest in our city’s future,” said Alyssa Vasquez, former student at New Ventures Charter School. “Let’s give all students the proper resources for the incredible work they do.”
“New Dawn serves some of our most vulnerable students who need strong academics and real, hands-on career support,” said Sara Asmussen, Executive Director of New Dawn Charter Schools. “The Learn to Work program provides critical services that help these students get the most out of their education, and it’s entirely unfair that thousands of kids are left out of it just because of their choice of public school. We are hopeful that our city’s leaders will see this injustice and open an RFP for the program to include charter transfer high schools.”
“Transfer high schools play a vital role in giving our young people a second chance to succeed,” said Council Member Kevin Riley. “Programs like Learn to Work are lifelines for students who need extra support to finish school, gain work experience, and build a better future. City Hall must ensure these schools have the resources they need without interruption to keep changing lives.”
“As the founder of Staten Island’s first YouthBuild program, I know first-hand how important job training, internships, and life skills are to helping at-risk students succeed,” said Council Member Kamillah Hanks. “There is no sound reason to deny access to Learn to Work to any public school transfer student, district or charter. Release the RFP.”
“It’s unconscionable that over 2,000 students are being denied access to Learn to Work simply because of the kind of school they attend,” said James Merriman, CEO of New York City Charter School Center. “It’s not just unconscionable, it’s crazy. Charter transfer school students and their teachers are putting in the work day in and day out to be ready for meaningful careers. It’s long past time for NYC leaders to give all students access to the tools they need to succeed and contribute to our great city.”
