With Approval from the New York State Department of Education, Amani Public Charter Will Expand to Grades K-4
Mt. Vernon, NY – On Monday, May 5, the Board of Regents’ P-12 Education Committee voted to approve the expansion of Amani Public Charter to include kindergarten through 4th grade. This is in addition to the school’s existing grade 5 through 8 configuration. The first class of kindergartners and first-graders will begin in Fall 2025.
There were mixed reactions from Mount Vernon residents when they heard about the proposed expansion of Amani Charter School. Kathie Brewington, President of the Mount Vernon Chapter of the NAACP, wrote a letter to the New York State Education Department in strong opposition to the expansion. The Mount Vernon City School District offices held two public hearings on 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. Debra Stern, Executive Director and Founder of Amani Public Charter School, even appeared on the February 23rd episode of People Before Politics Radio to address the proposed expansion and take questions from the audience.
Final approval of the proposed changes was entirely up to the New York State Department of Education. Residents were waiting to hear what the NYS Dept of Ed would decide. Well, the wait is over; last week, they voted to approve the expansion.
According to a statement sent to Black Westchester, this decision guarantees that even more deserving young children in Mount Vernon will access the high-quality, holistic educational and extracurricular program offered at Amani. Debra Stern, Executive Director and Founder of Amani Public Charter School, issued the following statement following news of the approved expansion:
“Since our founding 15 years ago, Amani’s mission has been rooted in one simple truth: every student, regardless of their zip code, deserves access to free, quality education that fosters their whole being and puts them on a path to success. By expanding our school to K-4, we will create even more opportunities for the youngest generation of scholars in our community. We are deeply grateful to the Board of Regents for approving our expansion, and we look forward to working in close collaboration.
Since Amani’s first graduating class in 2011, the school has served over 1,000 students, creating avenues for exploration in academics, athletics, and the arts for each young scholar that comes through our doors. By offering our curriculum alternatives beginning in kindergarten, Amani will provide a unique opportunity to address achievement gaps in Mt. Vernon youth and build a stronger academic foundation.
Parents or guardians in Mt. Vernon who are interested in having their student attend Amani should visit the school, go online at www.amanicharter.org/apply, or attend a registration event to secure your child’s enrollment at Amani Public Charter School.
Registration Event Dates:
- May 14, 2025 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- May 22, 2025 4:00 pm -5:30 pm
- June 14, 2025 Noon – 2:00 pm
Founded in 2010 by Dr. Debra Stern and Charles Stern, Amani Public Charter School is a transformative educational institution serving grades 5-8 in Mount Vernon, New York. The name “Amani” – meaning “peace” in Swahili – reflects our commitment to creating a nurturing environment where students can thrive academically and personally. They believe in providing robust opportunities for all students, creating a school where chess classes coexist with basketball, where rigorous academic preparation aligns with music and the arts.. Their “Amani Family” culture empowers students to take academic risks and pursue excellence.
