Two Success Academy schools file lawsuit to force city to provide prekindergarten space
The suit says that state law requires the city to provide classrooms for new or expanding charter schools — and that rule should apply to pre-K programs as well.
BY BEN CHAPMAN
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Saturday, January 24, 2015, 12:49 AM
- A
- A
- A
RICHARD HARBUS/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWSTwo Success Academy charter schools filed suit Friday to force the city to provide the schools with space for prekindergarten classes.
Two Success Academy charter schools, along with eight parent petitioners, filed suit Friday to force the city to provide the schools with space for prekindergarten classes.
The suit says that state law requires the city to provide classrooms for new or expanding charter schools — and that rule should apply to pre-K programs as well.
A spokeswoman for the city Education Department said the city has not declined any application or request for pre-K space from any pre-K provider, including Success Academy.
But Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz said that the city isn’t moving fast enough to keep pace with her rapidly growing network of 32 city charter schools.
RICHARD HARBUS/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWSA spokeswoman for the city Education Department said the city has not declined any application or request for pre-K space from any pre-K provider, including Success Academy.
“Parents want more high-quality pre-K classrooms,” said Moskowitz, a former city councilwoman and longtime political foe of Mayor de Blasio. “Instead of encouraging growth, the city just throws up bureaucratic roadblocks.”
Education Department spokeswoman Devora Kaye said the suit is premature because the city is still in the midst of reviewing applications for pre-K programs.
