New York City Charter School Center

"A Brooklyn-based college tour organization is helping students from second through 12th grade explore higher education opportunities across the country, giving many of them their first exposure to life and education outside New York City.

The organization partners with schools across New York City, including Benjamin Banneker Academy, Achievement First Charter School Network, Rochdale Early Advantage Charter School, Fordham Leadership Academy, Cultural Academy for the Arts and Sciences, Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School, and Bedford Academy."

Brooklyn students explore futures beyond the ‘bubble’ through My College Tours program • Brooklyn Paper My College Tours is helping young people gain exposure to higher education opportunities and envision life beyond the Big Apple by taking students on college

Our very own VP of Advocacy and Government Affairs, Erik Joerss, was recognized by City and State NY as one of NYC's "Tomorrow's Leaders": "up-and-coming individuals who will be taking on more and more responsibility over the next two decades".

Congratulations, Erik! 👏🧡

Read More: https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2026/05/tomorrows-leaders/413358/ #:~:text=The%20charter%20school,per%2Dpupil%20funding

Our very own VP of Advocacy and Government Affairs, Erik Joerss, was recognized by City and State NY as one of NYC's "Tomorrow's Leaders": "up-and-coming individuals who will be taking on more and more responsibility over the next two decades".

"The charter school movement in New York has a behind-the-scenes champion in Erik Joerss. Since joining the New York City Charter School Center in 2012, the former city government staffer has helped shape the education reform agenda by advocating for the state Legislature to raise the cap to allow more charter schools to operate downstate, and urged New York City to add more security guards at private school buildings. His organization has also called for charter schools to receive equitable per-pupil funding."

https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2026/05/tomorrows-leaders/413358/ #:~:text=The%20charter%20school,per%2Dpupil%20funding.

Tomorrow’s Leaders New Yorkers to watch in the coming decades

"That the South Bronx remains afflicted with poverty, and that a majority of its kids are born to single-parent households, mostly black and Hispanic, are not legitimate reasons to expect any less of them as students. The achievement of Classical Charter Schools sets it apart from most traditional public schools: to demand the best of these children and to set expectations high."

Read More: https://www.city-journal.org/article/south-bronx-classical-charter-school

The Charter Center's Policy and Advocacy team was happy to have representatives from Uncommon Schools, KIPP NYC, New Dawn Charter High School, Growing Up Green Charter School, and Academy of the City Charter School join us in Albany last week! Together, we met with elected officials to discuss the great work of NYC's charter schools and recent issues facing the charter sector.

Happy !

For more data about teachers and the NYC charter school sector, check out our NYC Charter School Teachers Fact Sheet:https://nyccharterschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NYCCSC-Teachers-2025-26N.pdf

"In a community lacking adequate educational resources and opportunities, a financial literacy course could help change the trajectory of generational wealth gaps for students and their families, Isaac said.

'If I can show them that hey, I was a student like you in Brooklyn, I graduated from college from one of the best universities, if they can see a role model in their community, they will be able to do and achieve things as well.'"

Uncommon Schools

Money matters: As New York pushes financial literacy, one Brooklyn charter school is already teaching it • Brooklyn Paper Excellence Boys Charter School is among the first New York City charter schools to take the lead in teaching students about a long-neglected topic: financial

CALLING ALL TEACHERS! Check out this year's deals:

Teacher Appreciation Week 2026 deals include freebies, discounts During Teacher Appreciation Week, which is May 4-8, 2026, teachers can get food freebies and catering discounts.

It's currently , but the work of NYC's dedicated, supportive, and above-and-beyond charter school educators deserves to be recognized year-round. (or a few!) in your life today! 🧡

"Jeff Litt, the founding principal and later superintendent of Icahn Charter Schools, passed away last week. Jeff was an exceptional educator and beyond that a New York City icon who we had the great fortune of knowing through his tenure on the Charter Center's Board of Directors. He knew everyone and anyone in his home borough of the Bronx. He was loveable, irascible, larger-than-life and tireless in building the first school and then the network into one of the highest performing set of schools in New York City. Jeff lived a life of service to this city’s children. He will be deeply missed."
— James Merriman, CEO, New York City Charter School Center

In Loving Memory In Loving Memory