A Town Hall will be held at on Sunday, March 10, at 4:30 pm at Heritage Homes Community Hall

by Dr. Rosa Rivera-McCutchen

Readers of New RoAR News are no strangers to the racist history of New Rochelle public schools and their failure to do right by students of color. So, it makes sense that the proposed Math, Science, Language & Technology Academy (MSLTA) charter school appeals to a collective desire for a school that does right by Black and Brown children. After all, no one can fault parents of color for wanting to give their children the best possible education. Most family members who haven’t worked in education or are unfamiliar with charter schools may be attracted to what seems to be an innovative solution that has the potential to solve the problems plaguing our educational system. As the  community is asked to weigh in on the proposed charter school, many urge  caution and due diligence.

The first step in considering charter schools is to learn what they are and how they are operated. New RoAR News has provided a basic introduction to charter schools. The New Rochelle City School District website has a useful “FAQ” section that provides more detail.  But beyond learning the basics about charter schools, those interested should be asking what information isn’t being shared? Often a lot can be learned by what is unclear or missing. This is where some have  been focusing their research. For example, a quick search of the internet reveals there is little to no publicly available information about MSLTA, its founders, its proposed curriculum, or its plan for measuring the school’s success.  

Transparency on these key factors in any school is vital and the lack of information is deeply alarming. Critiques of the New Rochelle public schools are valid, but one of the benefits of sending children to traditional public schools is the amount of information that is available on policies dictating minimum teacher qualifications, curriculum, and accountability structures, among other factors, and much of it is carefully monitored by the NYS Education Department. While many might be frustrated with the traditional public school system in New Rochelle, there’s something to be said for having the information to critique available, rather than hidden. 

While a great deal of research has been done to better understand the impact of charter schools, the truth is that it’s really unclear. Much like the research on traditional public schools, the answer to the question “Are charters better than traditional public schools?” tends to fall somewhere along the lines of, “Well…it depends…” For example, one study found that charter schools authorized by the state education departments are typically more successful on national educational measures (NOTE: MTSLA would not be authorized by the NYS Education Department). Another study highlighted that charters are frequently more successful because they “cream” the higher-performing students from traditional public schools (and valuable financial resources from the district), while also “cropping” lower-performing students (including students with disabilities, emergent bilinguals, and others), pushing them out of the charter.

It’s clear that New Rochelle’s schools need to do better. But many people argue that charters are not the solution to the problems the community’s school system has faced; it’s merely a distraction. So, rather than chase after a charter school as the solution, many residents are working to  capitalize on the opportunity that’s  been presented: mobilizing all of the various stakeholders who have voiced their unified opposition to the MTSLA, including the BOE, the Superintendent, the administrators’ and teacher’s unions, and parents, and work to address the root concerns that got us here in the first place. 

To hear more about the proposal for the charter school, there will be a Town Hall held at on Sunday 3/10, 4:30 pm at Heritage Homes Community Hall located at 18-30 Brook St.  Students deserve the community to make a well informed decision on what is best for their education.

Dr. Rivera-McCutchen is Professor of Administration and Supervision, Instructional Leadership, at Hunter College School of Education; the author of the book “Radical Care: Leading for Justice in Urban Schools;” and a parent of New Rochelle’s public school students.