Why Charters Are Gaining Ground in High Needs Communities

Nobody is going to want to hear this, but some of my best students and alumni of color are being recruited to work in charter schools. Since public schools are not making the same effort to recruit them, I can hardly advise them to turn those positions down. Until the NYC DOE starts actively targeting top students of color to train them for teaching positions, embraces culturally appropriate curriculum, and makes schools like those headed by Luis E Torres, Jamaal Bowman, and Paul Cannon citywide models for wholistic, community centered education, charters will continue to gain ground in communities of color. Public education loses if it just stands still.  Our public schools must actively recruit teachers and administrators of color, have curricula that reflects the diversity of the city’s cultures, have arts and sports as an integral part of the school day, and keep their doors open to 6PM to accommodate working parents. Nothing less will meet the charter challenge in high needs communities