72% of NY Charter Schools Exclude ELL Students; 15% Show Minimal Commitment

December 18, 2006

When done the right way, charter schools help communities deliver improved academic results while expanding access to quality educational options for all students.

But what happens when exclusionary practices seep into the picture and authorizers look the other way?

In an unprecedented departure from a key public education principle (as well as federal law), many of New York's charter schools are failing to enroll ELL/immigrant children. Of the 61 charter schools with 2004/05 school report cards, 44, or 72% enrolled ZERO ELL students.

New York has 200,000 ELL students--70% of which are Latino.

ELL (English Language Learners) is a designation for public school students evaluated as needing of intensive English language instruction by virtual of their immigrant/migrant status and lack of basic English skills.
I've graded the schools on their demonstrated commitment to equal opportunity for ELL students. Schools with high rates of ELL student participation received As and Bs, while those with little to no ELL participation received Ds and Fs.
A (Schools open to ELLs and enrolling a larger share than the district.)
• Global Concepts 12.2% (Lackawanna 4.3%)
• Ark 12.7% (Troy 1.7%)
• Eugenio Maria de Hostos 11.4% (Rochester 7.5%)
B (Schools open to ELLs and enrolling students on par with the district.)
• Family Life 21% (Bronx 22%)
C (Schools demonstrating a commitment to ELLs but falling short on enrollment.)
• KIPP Academy 6.8% (Bronx 12.5%)
• Beginning With Children 6.5% (Brooklyn 9%)
• Bronx CS for the Arts 5.4% (Bronx 12%)
• Our World 5.0% (Queens 22%)
• Science & Tech 4.4% (Rochester 7.5%)
• Riverhead 3.3% (Riverhead 6.3%)
• New Covenant 1.4% (Albany 2.7%)
D (Schools demonstrating minimal commitment to ELLs.)
• Renaissance 3.2% (Queens 22%)
• Readnet 2.7% (Bronx 22%)
• Harriet Tubman 0.9% (Bronx 22%)
• Grand Concourse 0.6% (Bronx 22%)
• Pinnacle 0.4% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• Applied Tech 0.3% (Buffalo 6.8%)
F (Schools that exclude ELLs.)
• Brighter Choice/Boys 0% (Albany 2.7%)
• Brighter Choice/Girls 0% (Albany 2.7%)
• Bronx CS Better Learning 0% (Bronx 22%)
• Bronx CS For Children 0% (Bronx 12.5%)
• Bronx CS For Excellence 0% (Bronx 22%)
• Bronx Lighthouse 0% (Bronx 22%)
• Bronx Preparatory 0% (Bronx 22%)
• Brooklyn 0% (Brooklyn 9%)
• Brooklyn Excelsior 0% (Brooklyn 9%)
• Academy Of Science 0% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• Buffalo United 0% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• Carl C. Icahn 0% (Bronx 22%)
• CS Math & Science 0% (Syracuse 3.7%)
• Child Development Center 0% (East Hampton 11.9%)
• Community 0% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• Community Partnership 0% (Brooklyn 9%)
• Enterprise 0% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• Excellence CS Of Bedford Stuyvesant 0% (Brooklyn 9%)
• Explore 0% (Brooklyn 7%)
• Genesee 0% (Rochester 7.5%)
• Harbor 0% (Manhattan 12.5%)
• Harlem Children's Zone 0% (Manhattan 22%)
• Harlem Day 0% (Manhattan 12.5%)
• Harlem Village 0% (Manhattan 12.5%)
• International 0% (Schenectady 3.7%)
• John A. Reisenbach 0% (Manhattan 22%)
• Wildcat 0% (Manhattan 12.5%)
• King 0% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• KIPP Sankofa 0% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• KIPP STAR 0% (Manhattan 22%)
• Merrick 0% (Queens 11%)
• Opportunity 0% (Manhattan 22%)
• Peninsula 0% (Queens 11%)
• Rochester Leadership 0% (Rochester 7.5%)
• Roosevelt 0% (Roosevelt 11.7%)
• Sisulu-Walker 0% (Manhattan 22%)
• South Buffalo 0% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• Southside 0% (Syracuse 7.0%)
• Stepping Stone 0% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• Academy Of Science 0% (Syracuse 7.0%)
• Tapestry 0% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• New York Maritime 0% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• Westminster 0% (Buffalo 6.8%)
• Williamsburg 0% (Brooklyn 9%)

(Note: NYC charter schools compared to host Region.)

Posted by USTaino at 4:38 PM