Press Release 6.5

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** JUNE 5, 2015

Contact: Khan Shoieb, [email protected], (646) 650-5503

STUDY: MORE THAN 40% OF ALL CENTRAL BROOKLYN KINDERGARTNERS APPLIED TO CHARTER SCHOOLS THIS YEAR

New Report Shows Charter School Enrollment in Central Brooklyn Tripled Over the Past Five Years as “Renewal School” Attendance Declined by 44%

Findings Add Urgency for Charter Cap Lift in Albany

New York, NY – A new study (attached) by Families for Excellent Schools released Friday finds that more than two out of every five Central Brooklyn kindergartners applied for a charter school seat in 2015-2016, adding momentum to efforts to raise the charter cap in the State Legislature this year. If charter schools were to add no new kindergarten seats next year, 25% of all kindergartner applicants in Central Brooklyn alone would have to be waitlisted, stripping families of their only option outside of struggling district schools.

The demand for charter school seats comes as enrollment declines severely in the neighborhood’s failing district schools. Combined enrollment at the 27 “Renewal Schools” in Central Brooklyn has declined by 44% over the past 5 years. Student achievement outcomes are one reason why: last year, twice as many charter students in Central Brooklyn passed the 2014 state math exam as district school students, while more than one-third (122) of all district schools have a proficiency or college readiness rate of 10% or less.

KEY FINDINGS (Report Here):

A new analysis of Department of Education and charter school data by Families for Excellent Schools shows:

• Applications:
  • More than 2 out of 5 Central Brooklyn families with kindergartners applied to a charter school seat in the 2015-16 school year.
• Enrollment
  • The percentage of Central Brooklyn students in grades k-8 attending charters tripled over the past 5 years; from 8% to 24%.
  • Meanwhile, combined enrollment at the 27 “Renewal Schools” in Central Brooklyn has declined by 44% over the past 5 years.
• Achievement
  • Last year, twice as many charter students in Central Brooklyn passed the 2014 state math exam as district school students.
• Parent Satisfication
  • 72% of Central Brooklyn charter parents “strongly agree” that their schools have “high expectations” for kids versus only 50% of district school parents.

Families for Excellent Schools harnesses the power of families to advance policy and political changes that create and sustain excellent schools.

www.FamiliesForExcellentSchools.org
On Twitter at: @Fam4ExcSchools