AS SOME NYC COUNCILMEMBERS SAYS NO TO MORE AND BETTER PUBLIC SCHOOL OPTIONS, NYC CHARTER SCHOOL EDUCATORS, PARENTS SAY YES!

As City Council Comes Under UFT Political Pressure, Public Charter School Advocates Gathered at City Hall to Support Raising the Charter Cap

(New York, NY) – Today, New York City public school leaders and parents stood united on the steps of City Hall to declare that it is time for the City Council to listen to their constituents’ demands for more and better public school options and take the side of our city’s children – instead of the political machine that is the UFT.

City Hall Resolution 563, which has five sponsors (Members D. Dromm, R. Mendez, C. Johnson, D. Miller, M. Chin) calls upon the New York State Legislature to reject any attempt to raise the cap on the number of charter schools – as demand skyrockets in New York City’s lowest-income neighborhoods and 50,000 children, largely concentrated in Central Brooklyn, the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, sit on waitlists. New York City public charter school advocates distributed their own resolution that lays out their values and a case for supporting Governor Cuomo’s push to raise the charter cap.

“Enough is enough,” said James Merriman, CEO of the New York City Charter School Center. “It’s time that the City Council stands up for the needs of public school children and their families, rejects the incredible pressure put on them by the UFT, and votes this resolution down. Raising the cap on the number of charter schools will allow us to make progress in answering parents’ call for more and better public school options – the need is urgent and the children of this city shouldn’t have to wait.”

“We are grateful to Governor Cuomo for taking the lead in proposing to lift the cap on new charter schools as well as removing the regional restrictions in order to allow for sustainable growth of charters, especially in low-income communities like East Harlem, where DREAM is located,” said Eve Colavito, Head of School at DREAM Charter School. “What we need from the City Council is support of the Governor’s plans, so that charter schools can reach more children.”

“Achievement First is proud to provide thousands of Brooklyn students and their families with a high-quality education option that will prepare them for success in college, career and life,” said Chastity Lord, Chief External Officer for Achievement First. “Every year, thousands of students in our communities are stuck on public charter school waitlists, without access to high-performing schools. Eliminating the charter cap will allow more families the opportunity to send their children to schools of their choice, and give them greater access to the opportunities that flow from a great education.”

“Now is the time to not only eliminate the charter cap, but to eliminate the political divide between charter and district schools,” said Stacey Gauthier, Representatives of the Coalition of Community Charter Schools. “There should never be a limit on great schools. Let’s finally commit to working together to make it a goal for every child to get a high quality education.”

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The New York City Charter School Center is an independent non-profit committed to fostering an environment in which public charters can open and flourish, and, through their innovative approaches, provide models for improving all public schools. The Charter Center helps new charter schools get started, supports existing schools, and engages the charter school community around key issues. Learn more about the NYC Charter School Center at www.nyccharterschools.org.