Education group seeks probe into claims that Success Academy charter schools pushed out difficult students
Amid accusations that Success Academy charter schools have used harsh discipline to weed out difficult students, a group of school activists is calling for a federal investigation into the practices.
The teachers union-backed Alliance for Quality Education made their demand with a petition with nearly 35,000 signatures delivered to the U.S Department of Education Thursday.
Success Academy is the city’s largest charter school network, and its students perenially score well on state exams. But the allegations suggest a system that excludes many problem students.
Alliance for Quality Education Advocacy Director Zakiyah Ansari said those allegations should be investigated by the U.S Department of Education’s office of Civil Rights.
“There’s too much evidence that Success Academy is and will continue to push students out,” Ansari said. “If Success Academy is to receive public funding they should not be able to pick and choose which students they want.”
Ansari was joined by reps from a number of the progressive groups, including Million Hoodies for Justice, Justice League NYC, and The Black Institute. Launched on the activist website, Color of Change, the petition was also endorsed by several civil rights and education advocacy groups across the country.
But Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz, a longtime foe of the teachers union, has denied allegations of pushing students out. She said the petition is a sham.
“Instead of addressing the city’s massive educational failure perpetuated by union-run schools, the Alliance for Quality Education is spending resources on a bogus petition that aims to deny children of color access to some of the best schools in New York,” Moskowitz said.Demands made for probe into Success Academy charter schools - NY Daily News:
