Bed-Stuy Charter School Wants to Open Another Campus in the Neighborhood

BED-STUY, NY — Yet another charter school operator wants to open a new campus within Bed-Stuy's Community Education District 16, the school district encompassing the western half of the neighborhood, according to the district's Community Education Council.

The applicant, Teaching Firms of America Charter School, already runs a K-6 school at 616 Quincy St.

Now, school officials say they want to open seats for 515 more students in grades 7 through 12, at a new campus called Ember Charter School — "an innovative, holistic and comprehensive secondary community of learning, practice and thought leadership in Bedford Stuyvesant-Central Brooklyn." You can review their full application here.

State law says city education officials must hold a public hearing to hear from the community within 30 days of receiving a charter school proposal. The hearing on Ember will be held Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the charter's existing campus at 616 Quincy St.

Community Education Council 16 wrote a letter in January to the city's Department of Education warning that Bed-Stuy was about to reach a "tipping point," with 44 percent of its students enrolled in charter schools.

"Please understand that District 16 is in the midst of significant transition due to shifting demographics," the letter said, "and increasing charter school placements at this time could hinder the good work of improving enrollment at traditional public schools that is now underway."

Council members said they weren't unequivocally opposed to charter schools in the neighborhood. However, they said any new charter schools would have to present goals and programs with Bed-Stuy's specific needs in mind — such as homeless and special-ed students.

If you wish to speak at the public hearing on Ember Charter School, arrive at 5:30 p.m. to sign up. Presentations, questions and comments start at 6 p.m.

Written comments will also be collected at the hearing, or can be submitted via email to charterschools@schools.nyc.gov within 48 hours of the hearing.

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