Asian-American parents held a rally outside New York City's Department of Education headquarters sending the message that their children also have the right for the 'best education,' and thus, should have the right as well to choose whether to enroll their children in publicly-funded charter schools or traditional public schools regardless of economic status, race, color of their skin or family background.
The Asian community pushed for school choice following a pro-charter school event that happened outside City Hall participated with 500 predominantly black and Hispanic parents three days prior, according to the New York Post.
'Kids over politics'
"We say, 'Kids over politics.' We pay so many taxes. We have a right as parents and children to the best education, best schools and best academics for all our children,"declared Phil Wong, president of the Chinese American Citizens Council of New York, one of the three groups that organized the pro-charter event.
Wong, also a parent of two public school kids ages 11 and 15, further stated that she feels like their community is "not competitive" enough, with their students learning a lot about politics, sex and other things but cannot do well in math.
President and founder of Asian Wave Alliance Yiatin Chu, who is also a parent of a 12-year-old student, stressed that the public schools are failing them and it would be unacceptable if they do not do anything and continue to be "trapped" in the failing system. She shared that her daughter is receiving a "very mediocre education," despite being part of a talented and good program under a Brooklyn traditional public school.
She also said that their families should have more choices and be given the right to choose charter schools, which have "delivered results."
The rallies came after state Democratic legislators resisted Gov. Kathy Hochul's plan to lift the charter school cap and allied with the United Federation of Teachers, an anti-charter teachers union claiming that charter schools empty funds and draw away students from traditional public schools.
According to Spectrum Local News, Hochul's controversial proposal does not only plan to life NY's cap but also set aside a $227 billion worth of budget to create 85 new charter schools within the city.
Charter schools 'outperform' traditional public school
Currently, 275 charter schools are serving the city, with additional 12 that are set to open next fall, bringing the total to 287 by then. The imposed cap on the city disallows any more charter schools from opening. more sent to open next fall, bringing the total to 287. The state-imposed cap on the city bars any more charters from opening.
NYC charter schools are hugely outperforming traditional public schools in terms of the state's standardized exams in math and English language arts by up to eight percent as of 2021. And, they are doing so at half the school cost, Off The Press reported.
This could be because they have the flexibility in their operations and in creating their own curriculum,
Lester Chang, the newly-elected Republican Assemblyman representing Brooklyn expressed his support to what the parents from the minority groups are fighting for. He stated that his fellow Republicans in the assembly show support as well to Hochul's proposal and invited fellow legislators to do the same and "heed the voice of parents," emphasizing that democracy is all about having the right to choose.
