WHY CONSIDER CHARTER SCHOOLS?
Caribbean Life, March 20-26, 2020 25
By Shnieka L. Johnson
It is prime school-search season in
New York City. If you are one of the thousands
of families weighing their child’s
educational options for pre-Kindergarten,
elementary, middle, and high school, you
are in the thick of applications, essays, and
assessments or testing. Aside from your
regular work and daily activities during
this time, you now must add researching
schools, contacting administrators, and
touring neighborhood options to your
busy to-do list. This is true whether you
considering public or private schools.
So, how does one choose the best
option? Begin with the big decision —
public or private. Then, take a look at
the options within your preferred category.
For those utilizing the city’s public
school options, you have many options in
your district, with priority at your zoned
school, and you will also have access to a
host of charter schools.
Charter schools (founded by not-forprofit
Boards of Trustees) receive government
funding, but unlike public schools,
they operate independently under a contract
(or “charter”)—an example of what
has been labeled by some as “public asset
privatization” or contracting out. Many
of the city’s charter schools utilize public
school space. Since the passing of the
New York Charter Schools Act of 1998,
there has been debate from government
officials and families alike on whether
these schools should be considered public.
According to the United States Department
of Education, given that charter
schools are open to all students and do
not charge tuition, they are categorized
right alongside your area public schools.
“We serve the communities in which
we are located,” says Emily Kim, the Chief
Executive Officer of Zeta Charter Schools,
which has sites in the South Bronx and
the Inwood/Washington Heights areas.
Zeta opened its doors in the fall of 2018.
Charter schools may not have all the
regulations of a districted school, but
they are accountable for academic results
and upholding promises that the charter
school stemmed from. With well over 200
charter schools in the city, there are tens
of thousands of New York City families
that are served by these institutions, and
these schools have thousands more on
their waitlists.
So, why are so many families choosing
charter schools? Charter schools have
more flexibility in their offerings, a longer
school year, extended daily hours, and
additional programming. “Much of my
experience is in charter education, and
I love how charters are free to innovate
and raise the excellence bar for children,”
Kim says.
Although every charter is different
(the model, goals, and policies may vary)
— overall, they are outperforming their
neighborhood counterparts on state tests
(English language arts and math).
“Parents deserve to have a high-quality
school option, as well as a choice
as to where they send their children to
school. Charters provide parents with
much-needed educational options for
their children, which raises the bar for
public education, generally,” Kim says.
“We serve families and want them to be
close partners with us in their children’s
education. Through this partnership, we
ensure that children meet their highest
and best potential.”
Many families are drawn by the opportunity
to send their children to highperforming
charter schools. Most operate
through a lottery placement system due
to the demand.
“We were zoned for a failing public
school (math and reading scores were in
the single-digit percentile), and private
school is too costly,” says Tiffany G., who
is a parent at Harlem Hebrew Language
Academy Charter School. Her daughter,
now in fourth grade, started at the school
in kindergarten.
“Public schools in New York are wonderful
if you are wealthy and thereby able
to afford an affluent neighborhood where
high-quality public schools can be found.
For many who are not wealthy or able to
afford expensive neighborhoods, public
schools are poor performing, sometimes
perilous places. The current public school
system exacerbates our city’s economic
system of have and have-nots, while
many charter schools offer a high-quality
education accessible to all New Yorkers
regardless of income,” she says. Adding:
“There is a tremendous amount of variety
among charter schools, as they are
not bound by all the same regulations as
public schools. Shop around to find the
school that is the best fit for your child’s
learning needs.”
For families in the midst of the school
search, a common online application
(available via nyccharterschools.org) represents
approximately 75% of New York
City’s charter schools, adding ease to the
process of applying. The online form, due
by April 1, makes searching school options
and information on each accessible. New
York families interested in applying to
charter schools should check individual
school websites for listings of tours, open
houses, and application instructions.
Shnieka L. Johnson is an education
consultant and freelance writer. She is
based in Manhattan, where she resides
with her husband and son. Contact her
via her at shniekajohnson.com.
EDUCATION
/nyccharterschools.org
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