The Mount Vernon Chapter of The NAACP writes a letter to the New York State Education Department in strong opposition to the expansion of the Amani Charter School in Mount Vernon.
“I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed expansion of the Amani Charter School in Mount Vernon, New York. As a resident and advocate for equitable public education, I am deeply concerned that this expansion contradicts the core principles championed by organizations such as the New York State Conference of the NAACP and undermines the integrity of our public school system,” MV NAACP President Kathie Brewington writes in the letter (see the letter in its entirety below). “Charter schools were initially conceived as experimental spaces to innovate and share best practices with traditional public schools. However, many charter schools, including Armani Charter School, have failed to deliver on these promises. Instead, they divert vital resources from public schools, perpetuate inequities, and lack transparency and accountability.”
Charter School Concerns – 2025-02-17 (1) by BLACK WESTCHESTER MAGAZINE on Scribd
Amani Charter School, located at 60 S 3rd Avenue in Mount Vernon in addition to their existing program in grades 5 through 8, is planning to expand to offer Kindergarten through grade 4. Kindergarten and first grades classes would begin in Fall 2025.
“I hear a lot of talk about the financial impact to the district, and how charter schools are taking dollars from the district. I would ask that the superintendent consider closely what New York State’s charter schools were intended to do. It was intended to give parents an option,” said Charlie Stern, co-founder of the Amani Public Charter School.
The Mount Vernon City School District offices held two public hearings Thursday, February 13th on proposals for change to two of the city’s two charter schools. A proposal at the legally required hearing is to expand student enrollment at Amani Public Charter School from the current grades 5th through 8th, to eventually add grades K through 4th for the coming school year.
“I urge the New York State Education Department to reject the proposed expansion of the Armani Charter
School and instead prioritize investment in Mount Vernon’s public schools. Strengthening public
education is not only a legal and moral obligation but also the most effective way to ensure every child has
access to a quality education. By heeding the NAACP’s call for oversight reform and redirecting resources
to our proven public institutions, you can uphold equity, accountability, and justice for all students,” President Brewington writes in the letter’s closing.
There has been mixed reactions from Mount Vernon residents on the proposed expansion of Amani Charter School.
Final approval of the proposed changes is entirely up to the New York State Department of Education. There was no word on when that might happen
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