March 6, 2015

Speaker Carl Heastie

New York State Assembly
LOB 932
Albany, NY 12248
Speaker@assembly.state.ny.us
Dear Speaker Heastie,
Im writing on behalf of the Northeast
Charter Schools Network (formerly the
New York Charter Schools Association),
the membership organization for the
states charter schools. Recently there
has been heated debate over the
performance of charter schools, and the
role these schools should play as we
work to improve education.

This letter is meant to provide context

and a response to the allegations made
in a recent letter sent to you from some
of your Assembly colleagues.
We respectfully take exception to the
overall intent of the letter and the
allegations painting the dedicated
educators working in charter schools as
seeking to somehow shirk the
responsibility of serving all students.
First, the letter effectively moves the
goal posts for what charter schools
must do to achieve true equity.
Initially, charter schools were criticized
for not serving enough poor families and
children with special needs. Today, the
citys charter schools serve a near-equal
amount of both poor and special needs
children when compared to the NYC
DOE schools. This fact was never
mentioned in the letter you received.

The recent letter suggests that the real

measure is the number of children in
temporary housing and the number of
children with certain types of disabilities.
Clearly, this is a rigged game and
charter detractors will never settle on a
measure if it means that charters are
succeeding. Charter schools strive to
serve all students, no matter their
background, and will continue that effort
through robust recruitment and retention
efforts and a continuing commitment to
conduct blind enrollment lotteries that
are open to all children.
Second, the letter ignores very real
problems in the NYC DOE special
education programs by tacitly
suggesting that charters should
mirror that system. A recent analysis
by Advocates for Children notes the
dysfunction facing the NYC DOEs
special education programs. The

analysis specifically notes the research

showing that children of color are
routinely over-classified into special
education and lifetime of low
expectations.[1] That is not a practice
charters should emulate. Many charter
schools believe in holding high
academic expectations for all students,
including the nearly 94% of our students
who are children of color. Moreover, a
recent study also shows that charter
schools are effectively educating special
education students so that they no
longer need additional servicesa great
win for kids and savings to the taxpayer.
[2] There is always room to improve, but
the limited information in the letter
certainly appears to intentionally skew
the story against charter schools.
Third, the letter ignores the realities
underlying school discipline issues.
Yes, it is true that strict student discipline

is more common at charter schools, but

that is precisely the reason why many
parents choose these schools.
Compared to the chaos and failure at
many city schools, charters often
provide an oasis of structure and a
learning-friendly environment where
student expectations are clear. I stress
that there are almost 200 charter
schools in New York City, each with their
own unique approach to student
discipline. Some prefer a restorative
justice model in lieu of suspensions.
Some take a no excuses approach. Its
up to parents to decide what school
works best for them. Thats the hallmark
of parent choice and integral to
chartering.
Fourth, the letter unfairly suggests
that charters are excluding ELL
students. There is no evidence
suggesting that charters are somehow

excluding eligible students from

applying. As you know, charters are
required to accept all applicants and
must abide by a lottery when
applications exceed available seats. In
fact, all charters use blind lotteries and a
state-mandated application form in
multiple languages, and they conduct
required community outreach targeting
ELL students for recruitment. Many
charters provide preferences to ELL
students to encourage ELL student
enrollment.
Moreover, the statistical comparisons
between charter schools and their entire
host district mask real inequities in the
NYC DOE system. For example, a
recent report shows that the district
often warehouses ELL students in a
handful of schools, which in turn, boosts
the districts overall average.[3] Lastly,
Ill note that our colleagues at the NYC

Charter School Center have recently

launched a citywide campaign to
encourage enrollment of ELL students at
the citys charter schoolswith multilanguage bus and subway ads, palm
cards, as well radio ads.[4]
Rest assured that the states charter
schools are committed to serving every
child and providing a world-class
education to families in need of better
options.
Governor Cuomo has rightfully made
improving public education a top priority
for Albany lawmakers this year. You and
your colleagues will make difficult
decisions that will have a tremendous
impact on children for the rest of their
lives. We respectfully ask that you look
beyond manipulated statistical
smokescreens and half-truths and
understand the whole truthnamely

that, by any measure, charter schools

are a lifeline for children that our society
has otherwise written off.
Thank you for your consideration and if
you have any additional questions about
New Yorks charter schools we always
are available to assist you.
Respectfully,
Kyle Rosenkrans
CC:
Assembly Member Mosley
Assembly Member Robinson
Assembly Member Wright
Assembly Member Barron
Assembly Member Abinati
Assembly Member Benedetto
Assembly Member Brindisi
Assembly Member Brook-Krasny

Assembly Member Cook

Assembly Member Davila
Assembly Member Gottfried
Assembly Member Jaffee
Assembly Member Kim
Assembly Member Miller
Assembly Member Moya
Assembly Member Perry
Assembly Member Persaud
Assembly Member Pretlow
Assembly Member Ramos
Assembly Member Scarborough
Assembly Member Skoufis
Assembly Member Titus
Assembly Member Weprin
Assembly Member Pichardo