Grant Worth $1M To UFT 'Charter'

Close to Parity on Funding

Grant Worth $1M To UFT 'Charter' 

By HOWARD MEGDAL

The fledgling United Federation of Teachers charter school got a boost from The Broad Foundation Nov. 17 in the form of a $1 million grant.

The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James A HELPING HAND: With United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten looking on, philanthropist Eli Broad announces his intention to donate $1 million over four years to the new UFT charter school in Brooklyn. "I am so grateful for The Broad Foundation's support of this critical initiative," UFT President Randi Weingarten said during a press conference at the union's lower Broadway offices.

Just the Beginning

The charter school opened in September at a middle school building in the East New York section of Brooklyn with 150 students in kindergarten and first grade, split into 25 students and two Teachers in each of six classes. The UFT plans to add a grade a year until the school serves kindergarten through 5th grade. A secondary school is planned to launch in September 2006.

The funding is part of a $3.4 million initiative by the UFT to raise enough money to bring the charter school to financial parity with other city schools.

"Right now, we operate financially at about 90 percent of other public schools," said Ms. Weingarten. "We want to make sure our staff and our students have at least as much as other public schools."

Eli Broad, founder of The Broad Foundation, explained why his foundation, which normally gives to larger umbrella groups, chose to support the UFT school.

'A Natural Opportunity'

"These charter schools are a unique and natural opportunity for [the] UFT," Mr. Broad said. "We believe many educators, charter school supporters, unions and others around the nation will be watching this school. I believe it will succeed."

Mr. Broad's foundation will disburse the $1 million grant over four years, at $250,000 each year.

The grant will also help Ms. Weingarten in achieving another goal - reinforcing the idea that Teacher unions are an aid, not a detriment, to the education of the city's children.

"Our schools will show real, quantifiable student achievement and with those results, finally dispel the misguided and simplistic notion that the union contract is an impediment to success," the UFT leader said.