Charter Schools Booming

The bustling sounds coming from the city’s 32 charter schools are being caused by the increasing number of local parents registering their children for the coming fall term.
On the immediate horizon in September is an already-scheduled 50 percent increase in the number of charter schools in New York City to meet this exploding demand. Registration for the fall term ends early this month.
While no new charter schools are scheduled to open in Queens this year, demand for school space may be greater this fall. As a result, three out of the borough’s four existing charter schools are expanding the number of classrooms and students.
New York City Center for Charter School Excellence (CCSE) spokesperson Jeff Maclin stressed that his agency is currently reaching out to individuals and groups who have expressed an interest in starting a charter school in the borough.
“We want to increase the number of quality applicants in Queens,” Maclin said, “and encourage those who have ideas about starting charter schools to contact us.”
The CCSE, he added, will help outline what it takes to operate a successful charter school and assist with the application process.
Heightened parental interest is also based on a CCSE study comparing the 2003-04 third to eighth grade math and English test results. Seventy percent of the charter schools had a higher percentage of students who met or exceeded the state standards. Some parents choose charter schools because they are not controlled by local school districts and are free to test new teaching techniques.
Charter schools are independent public schools governed by their own board of directors and managed by a five-year contract. These schools are held accountable for student performance and risk revocation of their charter if they do not meet or exceed goals.
They are generally located in school districts whose schools are at or below state standards.
Charter school students are now being accepted by random lottery. Students not immediately accepted are placed on a waiting list.