Teachers Lining Up for UFT Charter Spots

Teachers Lining Up for UFT Charter Spots

By HOWARD MEGDAL

Demand for spots as both students and Teachers in the United Federation of Teachers' East New York charter schools reached a high pitch last week, with more than 1,500 applicants for 27 teaching positions, and more than 600 aspiring students bidding for 125 spots in the secondary school's lottery.

RANDI WEINGARTEN: 'We're filling a need.' At the UFT elementary charter school, which will add second grade to kindergarten and first grade classes that existed in its inaugural year, more than 800 sought 12 positions. The secondary school, which will open with sixth grade this fall, got 761 applications for 15 spots. "What this says is that good educators are really unhappy with the way they are treated by the school system," UFT President Randi Weingarten said in a statement. "I think Teachers see that we're trying to have high standards and a collaborative and respectful relationship with staff and parents."

Parents also flocked to the UFT schools for the lottery held May 18.

High Demand

The Department of Education declined to comment, but a source at DOE noted that demand for charter schools was high across the city. For instance, Eva Moskowitz's Harlem Success charter school, which will open to kindergarten and first grade this fall, had 440 applicants for 155 spots selected at a March lottery. Ms. Moskowitz is a former City Council Education Committee chair who had a tense relationship with the UFT.

Ms. Weingarten said that the UFT schools' priorities were the key to the large interest.

"It's about making tough budgetary choices," Ms. Weingarten said of the school's philosophy. "We're putting more into the classroom by cutting the layers of bureaucracy and letting Teachers teach. And, as reflected by the astonishing number of applicants, there is a demand in East New York - and across the city - for the kind of high-quality education our charter schools provide."

The secondary school is on Van Siclen Ave., while the elementary school is on Wyona Street. Each school plans to add an additional grade per year until the elementary school has grades K-5 and the secondary school encompasses grades 6-12.