Thousands of charter school parents and students from more than 200 charter schools will march over the Brooklyn Bridge on Thursday to advocate for educational choice and excellence for New York City families. The march brings together networks including Eva Moskowitz’s Success Academy, Ascend, Democracy Prep, KIPP, Uncommon Schools, Zeta, and groups from the Black, Latinx, Asian Charter Collaborative. Bishop Raymond Rivera, founder of the Family Life Academy charter school network, said that students have a civil right to a quality education and that families should have options that promote excellence. Organizers said mayoral candidates were not invited to speak at the event and were discouraged from attending, but Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa said he would attend in support.
Charter schools are publicly funded but privately managed by nonprofit entities. They typically employ non-union staff and run longer school days and school years than traditional public schools. The rally is set against a backdrop of growth: there are now 286 charter schools serving more than 150,000 students, or about 15 percent of the city’s publicly funded schools, according to the NYC Charter School Center.
Research and the political climate: In general, charter school students outperform peers in state English and math tests, particularly in poorer neighborhoods such as the South Bronx. The Democratic-controlled state Legislature has resisted raising the cap on charter openings in New York City despite broad support from parents. Opponents, including the teachers’ union, argue charter schools siphon taxpayer dollars away from traditional public schools. The rally echoes a 2013 demonstration by charter supporters during then-mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s campaign over a plan to charge rent for charter use of city school buildings.
Politically, the issue remains a fault line in the city’s mayoral race. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has run as an independent in the race, supported pro-charter laws when he was governor. The event unfolds as candidates weigh positions on charter expansion, with organizers highlighting educational choice as a central theme.
