[BwayDems] Sign to Reject KIPP's Charter Middle School Proposal in District 3

[Pat Almonrode]

*SIGN HERE <http://chng.it/DgVL2PmzPr>*

Community Education Council for District 3 started this petition to Eric
Corngold, Charter School Committee Member, SUNY and 7 others

The Community Education Council for District 3 Opposes KIPP Beyond Charter
School’s Application to Establish a 5th to 8th Grade Charter Middle School
in District 3.

District 3 parents, educators, and community stakeholders worked tirelessly
and collaboratively over the last three years to improve educational
quality and access for all children in our elementary and middle schools,
resulting in the implementation of the *District 3 Middle School Diversity
Plan*
<https://www.schools.nyc.gov/about-us/news/announcements/contentdetails/2018/06/20/chancellor-carranza-announces-district-3-middle-school-diversity-plan>
.

District 3’s Middle School Diversity Plan was developed and deliberated
through a transparent process, and included analysis of:

o  *UNDER-ENROLLMENT* - District 3’s current middle school landscape of *17
public schools *and *5 charter schools* that enroll children in middle
school grades cannot sustain the addition of a *23rd middle school* without
negatively impacting schools that are already competing for a limited pool
of students.

o  *STABILITY OF ENROLLMENT* – The population of children across grades in
elementary and middle school has remained virtually unchanged over the last
five years. CEC 3’s decision to implement an ambitious plan in these
circumstances was contingent on a commitment to *insulate District 3
families and their students from any other policy changes, including the
closing, truncation, or opening of new schools*.

o  *EQUITABLE APPLICATION PROCESS* – The majority of middle schools in
District 3 begin enrollment in the 6th grade.  KIPP’s proposal includes
enrollment of 95 students starting in the 5th grade, circumventing the
application process, *denying families the opportunity to fully evaluate
their options*, and further exacerbating the existing inequity in the
district.

o  *CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION* - For many elementary schools, the
withdrawal of 95 students would have a significant impact on their
curriculum, instruction, and resource allocation.  This is equal to *2x or
even 3x their 5th grade class size*.  The long-term consequences would need
a deeper assessment to fully comprehend the effects, and would include an
exacerbation of the existing inequity in the district.

o  *COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT* - District 3's Middle School Diversity Plan was
implemented in the current cycle for admissions in 2019. Through a
community engagement process that lasted more than three years, protocols
were put in place to offer a quarter of all seats to students with academic
and socio-economic need. In comparison, *KIPP’s community engagement and
outreach was limited in scope and perfunctory*.

o  *DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS* – One of the goals of the District 3’s Middle
School Diversity Plan includes addressing the lack of diversity across the
district. KIPP’s proposal includes a description of an intentionally
integrated, high-achieving student population.  They will accomplish this
because their *model allows them to select students a year ahead* of the
majority of schools in the district, and they will achieve diversity at the
expense of every other student, family, and school in the district.

o  *RESOLVING DISPARITIES IN ACHIEVEMENT* – District 3’s Middle School
Diversity Plan results will not even be available for the first year of
this effort until the next school year. Every single school in the
district, as part of our global effort for integration, has created an
Equity Team that is committed to addressing and improving on disparities in
achievement.  Significant time, resources, and dedication went into
preparing for 2019-2020’s first Middle School Diversity Class; again, *opening
a middle school would undermine the plan before it even had its first year
of results*.

The Community Education Council for District 3 values *transparency,
accountability, and collaboration*.  Our Middle School Diversity Plan was
created with these core principles in mind. Help us send the message that
these are the standards that should be adhered to moving forward *FOR OUR
DISTRICT, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER DISTRICTS*.

We urge you to sign this petition requesting that SUNY Charter Committee
Members, the authorizer for KIPP Beyond Charter School’s Application to
Establish a 5th to 8th Grade Charter Middle School in District 3, *REJECT
THIS APPLICATION*.  If you would like additional details, a letter was sent
to the Chairman of the SUNY Charter School Committee
<https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a806f4_23e1f751ad834a5188bae2b9fb583e8e.pdf>
.

~ Community Education Council for District 3 ~

*SIGN HERE <http://chng.it/DgVL2PmzPr>*
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