New York parents give Mayor Eric Adams an A for running new charter schools

Angry parents whose children were left on charter school waiting lists lashed out at Mayor Eric Adams after his administration dropped a plan to co-locate three Success Academy charters in existing public school buildings in Queens and the Bronx.

The parents said Adams and school chancellor David Banks turned them down, blinking in the face of opposition from entrenched political interests, especially local elected leaders and the teachers’ union.

“I’m at a loss for words. I’m devastated. The mayor stopped the opening – I want to pack my bags and leave,” outraged Bronx parent Nicole Lawrence, whose 5-year-old daughter applied to kindergarten at Williamsbridge Success Academy in the Bronx.

“I got the impression that Eric Adams was a supporter of the Charter. I guess he didn’t want to deal with the noise, deal with the backlash. I’m upset that Mayor Adams didn’t take the fight. Preventing a vote on a proposed co-location of charter schools is unacceptable.

“I think the mayor took the easy way,” she added, “and now the children are suffering and the parents are suffering.”

Success Academy Williamsbridge was scheduled to open at the Richard Green Education Campus on Barnes Avenue until Banks shut down three co-located locations on Monday, citing “significant challenges for new schools and existing co-located schools.”

Banks took the issue off the agenda for a vote before the Education Policy Commission, catching success academy officials and parents who supported charter schools in their neighborhoods by surprise. The mayor appoints the majority of appointed PEPs – 13 out of 23 – but it’s unclear whether co-location would be approved.

“The parents were stunned by this statement. The Department of Education says it is listening to the community but ignoring the needs of the thousands of families who want to send their children to our schools. They are also part of the community,” said Eva Moskowitz, CEO of Success Academy, which operates 49 charter schools with 20,000 students.

A charter school receives funding through the Department of Education but is allowed to operate independently, often ahead of struggling public schools. At one of the nearby traditional public schools, PS 41, only 15% of students passed the state standard math exam and only 18% passed the English language exam.

Joseph Melo, who lives in the Highbridge area of ​​the Bronx and has a son, Josiah, who is expecting to enroll in charter school kindergarten, said: “Eric Adams isn’t doing enough for charter schools. Now that Adams is part of the system, he is looking the other way.”

“Children should have a choice, parents should have a choice. The public schools have gone down the drain.”

But Adams isn’t the only power broker who hesitates when it comes to choosing a school, he said.

Melo criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul for the chatter, saying she had not delivered on a promise to lift state restrictions preventing more charter schools from opening in New York.

“When she was running for office, Hochul said she would raise her hat. She must keep her promise. Lifting the restriction will give children more choices,” he said.

“Hochul supports the teachers union. They approved her. What we got is a code of silence.”

Hochul made no mention of charter schools at all in her recent 2023 state policy address. She will present the executive budget outline next week.

Parents with children on the waiting lists of a charter school in Queens were also desperate.

Two new Success Academy charter schools proposed for co-location at the Springfield Gardens Education Campus and 72 Katherine and Count Basie High School in Jamaica’s Rochdale Village were also removed from the Adams administration.

Parent Dave Bell, whose daughter Yariya applied to kindergarten at the proposed Academy of Success in Springfield Gardens, said: “I don’t believe Mayor Adams has the guts to turn down charter schools. Adams doesn’t show enough fight. I was very surprised”.

The 29-year-old dad said he has three nephews who attend other Success Academy charter schools he attended.

“I can see how good the Success Academy is. I definitely see a difference in results with regular public schools. Charter schools are pushing regular public schools out of the window,” Bell said.

“I am disappointed with Eric Adams. Adams said he was for change. Adams should advocate for more charter schools.”

Adams and Chancellor Banks did not comment immediately.

But Banks defended his decision to close the three charter schools on Monday, saying it was based on discussions and suggestions with all “stakeholders” and building visits.

“Hearing from community members throughout this process that the proposals will create significant challenges for new schools and existing schools co-located,” Banks said.

He noted that the Department of Education is required by state law to help find locations for the three approved Success Academy charter schools in alternative locations.

“We are committed to continuing to work with success academies to find suitable spaces for their new schools… Responsibility for the voices of families, staff and the community is a major pillar of this administration, and we welcome all voices to participate in these discussions,” said Banks.

Opponents of the co-location plan included the mayor’s allies, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

Also objecting were the powerful players that Adams needs to push his agenda through the city council and Albany—council speaker Adrienne Adams and state assembly speaker Carl Histie (D-Bronx).

The United Federation of Teachers, opposed to charter schools, also submitted a letter to members of the Education Policy Group objecting to co-housing.