NYC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS DOUBLE IN SIZE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS

Of the 15 new public charter schools opening this fall, eight are located in Manhattan, including five in Harlem. The three other schools in Manhattan include an all-girls prep school, an elementary school offering music as a core subject, and a school for children with autism. Six new public charter schools are opening in the Brooklyn communities of Crown Heights, East New York, Park Slope, Prospect Heights and Willamsburg. One new public charter school is opening in the South Bronx bringing the total number of schools in the borough to 13.

The leaders of these schools represent a diversity of talent, experience and background, ranging from teachers, parents and community leaders to professionals, entrepreneurs and educators associated with charter management organizations.

"We are excited about the growth of charter schools and the positive impact these unique schools are having on the public education system by raising academic standards and expectations," said Paula Gavin, Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence. "In most cases, the leaders of these schools have devoted 24 to 36 months of time, energy and resources to the preparation of their school. We applaud their efforts, resolve and the high-level of commitment they bring to extending important educational opportunities to students and families residing in some of the city's neediest communities. And we once again urge state legislators to lift the cap on public charter schools and allow us to build on the educational progress being made," said Gavin.

Charter schools are independent public schools with their own not-for-profit Board of Directors. They are held accountable to meet or exceed ambitious academic goals for student performance or risk revocation of their five-year charter to operate. The 47 current charter schools in New York City serve approximately 12,000 students. Nearly 90 percent of all NYC charter school students are African-American and Latino. Seventy-five percent of the students are eligible for the federal government's Free and Reduced Lunch program.

Authorizers of charter schools in New York (Chancellor of the New York City Board of Education, New York State Board of Regents and State University of New York) give preference to schools that demonstrate the capacity to provide for students identified as at risk of academic failure.

The NYC Center for Charter School Excellence, which celebrated its one-year anniversary on September 1, was established as part of a partnership between the public sector and philanthropic communities in New York City. Through grants, advocacy, networking and the sharing of best practice models in academics and operations, the Charter Center supports the development of high-quality public charter schools.

For a complete listing and map of all 47 NYC public charter schools go to: www.nycchartercenter.org/locations.html. For more information on the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence visit our Web site at www.nycchartercenter.org or call 212-437-8300.

The NYC Center for Charter School Excellence is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in the belief that public charter schools are integral to the overall effort to raise academic achievement and improve the educational environment in the New York City public school system. The Center will identify and promote effective charter school models of excellence, autonomy and accountability for academic as well as operational excellence.

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