• Contact Us
  • Login
Subscribe
LittleAfrica News
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
    • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Editions
  • Education
  • Metro
  • Africa
  • Caribbean
  • U.S.
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
    • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Editions
  • Education
  • Metro
  • Africa
  • Caribbean
  • U.S.
No Result
View All Result
LittleAfrica News
No Result
View All Result
Home Education

Kevin Zhao: The Cap Must be Lifted on Charter Schools

Kevin Zhao by Kevin Zhao
March 15, 2023
in Education, Opinion
Kevin Zhao:  The Cap Must be Lifted on Charter Schools

Kevin Zhao, Parents Group New York Photo credit: jasminephoto.com

34
SHARES
847
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

I am one of over 6,000 parents in the Parent Group New York, a WeChat parent collective that I founded in 2020. The group came about from desperation when COVID policies turned NYC school admissions into an unpredictable, anxiety-filled process that left many Chinese parents in the dark. The Parent Group New York WeChat groups, organized by grade bands, is where New York City public school parents share information and support each other. I want to share what I’ve been hearing among these parents about charter schools.

One thing that Chinese newspapers cover frequently and thoroughly is education. It is well publicized that the quality of public schools have been declining. The ELA and Math proficiency rates have been below 50 percent for years, with no signs of improvement. Even worse, the report card grading is becoming increasingly generous while the curriculum has gotten easier. In 2022, math proficiency rates dropped to a historical low of 38% — meaning that two-thirds of students cannot do grade-level math. Parents cannot see how more challenging educational goals, such as critical thinking and STEM, can be achieved when students cannot read and do basic math properly. In contrast, charter schools manage to outperform public schools, even with less funding per pupil.  In 2022, students in charter schools scored higher in ELA and Math proficiency rates than their peers in public schools, 55% vs 49% and 46% vs 38% respectively (see graphic).

To many parents in our group, charter schools are NOT just an alternative, but the ONLY alternative. These parents are first generation immigrants, unable to speak English, and struggle financially to make ends meet. To them, moving out of New York City is not an option nor are private schools that cost $15-70K a year.  Public charter schools, which are free for their children to attend, are the only other choice.  Last month alone (Feb 2023), over 100 parents inquired about charter schools in the Parents Group New York WeChat groups.  

Unfortunately there are so few charter schools in the city now, and nonexistent in the growing Asian neighborhoods. As such, few parents even know about charter schools and many know little about how they admit students (by lottery), what grades they have (K-12) and what services they provide (IEP, ELL). Many do not know that they offer schedules that are more friendly to working families and that they have robust afterschool programs. The small but growing number of Asian families who have discovered charter schools are making sacrifices for this option. Three parents I know drive one hour each way to send their children from south Brooklyn to charter schools in Manhattan.

It is wrong to force children from ordinary New York City families to remain in public schools that are NOT providing an adequate education for their children’s future. This is common sense. 

There are always challenges to opening more schools and I’ve come to understand that the barriers to opening more charter schools are even greater. We must honor what families want and what our city needs for future generations. I urge our elected officials and our education leaders to work on solutions and make better choices possible for NYC families. They can start with lifting the cap on charter schools.

Read our newspaper online here.

Related

Previous Post

Student Shot in Shooting Outside High School Campus on the Upper West Side

Next Post

Mayor Eric L. Adams: Crime Continues to Go Down in NYC

Kevin Zhao

Kevin Zhao

Related Posts

Metro

Mayor Eric L. Adams: Thinking Outside the Box on Affordable Housing

by Mayor Eric L. Adams
March 21, 2023
765
NYC Public Schools Serving Record Number of Migrant Students
Metro

NYC Public Schools Serving Record Number of Migrant Students

by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
March 21, 2023
801
Education

Chancellor Banks: New York City’s Public Schools Facing Declining Enrollment

by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
March 21, 2023
836
Metro

City Report Shows Reduction In School Safety Agents

by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
March 21, 2023
798
Metro

Mayor Eric L. Adams: Crime Continues to Go Down in NYC

by Mayor Eric L. Adams
March 16, 2023
302
Next Post

Mayor Eric L. Adams: Crime Continues to Go Down in NYC

Translate

en English
sw Swahiliyo Yorubazu Zuluso Somalisu Sudanesesn Shonaht Haitian Creolefr Frenchpt Portuguesenl Dutchen Englishes Spanishde Germanru Russianar Arabicaf Afrikaanssq Albanianam Amharicbn Bengalizh-CN Chinese (Simplified)da Danishtl Filipinofi Finnishel Greekha Hausaiw Hebrewhi Hindiis Icelandicig Igboit Italianja Japaneseko Koreanlb Luxembourgishms Malaymi Maorino Norwegianfa Persiansv Swedishtr Turkish
LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 14-February 20, 2023
Metro

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 14-February 20, 2023

Local, National, and International News for the Diaspora LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 14 — February 20, 2023

February 14, 2023
LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 7-February 13, 2023
Metro

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 7-February 13, 2023

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 7 — February 13, 2023

February 6, 2023
Newspaper Digital Editions
Metro

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : January 31-February 6

Local, National, and International News for the Diaspora LittleAfrica News Newspaper : January 31 — February6, 2023

January 30, 2023
LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 7-March 13
Print Newspaper Edition

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 7-March 13

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 7 — March 13, 2023

March 6, 2023
LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 14-March 20
Print Newspaper Edition

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 14-March 20

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 14 — March 20, 2023

March 13, 2023

Local, National, and International News for the Diaspora

BOMESI - Black Owned Media Equity and Sustainability Institute

Recent Posts

  • Mayor Eric Adams Signs Executive Order Changing and Streamlining Leadership Structure
  • Officials Warn of Flesh-Eating Drug in New York City
  • NYC Still Dealing With High Number of Teenage Violence Incidents
  • Vice President Kamala Harris Embarks on First Official Visit to Africa
  • New York City Comptroller Brad Lander Accused Of Exploiting City’s Migrant Crisis to Raise Campaign Funds

Menu

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
    • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Editions
  • Education
  • Metro
  • Africa
  • Caribbean
  • U.S.

© 2022 LittleAfrica News. A Project of Social Impact Strategies. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 1 – March 15
  • LittleAfrica News Newspaper Print Edition : February 16 – February 28
  • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
  • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Digital Editions
  • Pricing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2022 LittleAfrica News. A Project of Social Impact Strategies. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?