Tuesday, October 29, 2013

16,000 students could suffer from De Blasio’s charter pledge


Bill de Blasio’s vow to impose a moratorium on opening new charter schools inside public-school buildings could freeze out nearly 16,000 students from the charter system, according to a new study.


Dozens of charters won’t be able to open or expand if the Democratic mayoral candidate follows through on a campaign pledge to impose a one-year freeze on so-called “co-locations,” the study by Families for Excellent Schools said.


Charter-school operators refer to their predicament as “one year to live.”


Several elementary- and middle-school charters are looking to add higher grades. If their plans are blocked, 9,307 students would be affected — either stopped from entering charters in the first place or from continuing in their current schools through the higher grades, the study found.


Regular public schools could also be negatively impacted because more students would be re-routed to them.


Among the existing schools that are planning expansions are five in Harlem: Harlem Prep Charter, three Success Academy schools and KIPP S.T.A.R.


In the Bronx, the Girls Prep, Children’s Aid and the Icahn schools could face similar problems.


So could Achievement First Apollo, three Uncommon Schools and Invectus Prep in Brooklyn.


In addition, 14 new charter schools slated to open in 2014-2015 could be nixed under the moratorium, blocking entry for 6,519 students.


“It’s our hope that city officials . . . will provide families the right to choose their own schools,” said Jeremiah Kittredge, director of Families for Excellent Schools.


The de Blasio campaign blasted the organization as a “special-interest group” that is mischaracterizing his position.


“Bill de Blasio has been clear that he supports a moratorium on future school closings and co-locations until a more honest, inclusive and fact-based process can be implemented,” campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith said in a statement.


She also said de Blasio “will review all current proposals and make the best decision for the schools and students in the building on a case-by-case basis. Suggestions otherwise are nothing more than misleading fear mongering.”





Yahoo Local News – New York Post




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