By James Merriman
Each year,
thousands of New York City parents ponder school choices for their children. In addition to
traditional public schools, there are now 136 charter schools operating in NYC,
educating more than 45,000 students.
Charter
schools are free public schools that are open to all city students. They
operate independently of the NYC Department of Education. Because they are separate from the
district system, charter schools have greater flexibility in the way they
function. They can develop their own academic program, choose staff and set their
own educational goals and standards for student behavior. Many
also have longer school days and a longer school year, and they tend to be
smaller, providing a more intimate atmosphere for learning.
Most importantly, charter schools have
enrollment structures that are different from district schools. The following
information will help clarify the admissions process.
1. All students must fill out an application.
Since charter schools are independently managed,
parents must fill out an application for each charter school to which their
child applies. Parents should contact each school to inquire about their
admissions’ process. Each school sets its own application deadline—a majority of
charter schools require that applications be in before April 1 for placement in
August/September. Keep in mind that there may not be a
charter school in your area, and if there is, it may not serve your child’s
grade.
2. Charter schools run lotteries for admission.
The lottery is an admissions process required by
New York State law that is held when
there are more student applications to a charter school than seats available.
Students who are not selected in the lottery will be placed on a waiting list
for spaces that may become available in the future.
Students who are
accepted through a lottery will be enrolled in the school and be able to remain
there in future years. Parents cannot transfer their child from one charter
school to another without going through the application process for the school
that they would wish to move to. However,
if a school provides elementary grades at one site and middle school grades at
another site, that child will have the right to move to the middle school from
the elementary school.
3. Charter schools are required to give preferences in their
lotteries.
The law requires charter schools in NYC to give
preference to returning students, siblings of students already enrolled in the
school and students who reside in the Community School District in which the charter
school is located. (Visit nyccharterschools.org/school-search to identify your
CSD.) In addition, charter schools are permitted to give preference to students
at risk of academic failure.
4. There are several ways to apply to charter schools.
There are typically several ways in which
families can acquire an application. Visit the school’s website and download an
application. Or call the school and ask them to mail you an application.
Otherwise, visit the Charter Center’s website, nyccharterschools.org, to search for schools and
apply online through a common charter school application offered in multiple
languages.
To
learn more
about charter schools’ accomplishments, you can view their report cards from
the state at schools.nyc.gov.
