On March 31, Community Board 12-Manhattan (CB12M) held its first public hearing of 2026, focused on charter schools in the district. The hearing comes at a time when 11 charter schools are operating in Washington Heights and Inwood.
The hearing was hosted by the Youth & Education Committee, chaired by Second Vice Chair Tanesha Grant. Its purpose was to gather community perspectives on the current charter-school landscape — highlighting both successes and ongoing challenges.
“It was great to see so many community members attend and participate,” said Grant. “We look forward to continuing to support our school families in both charter and traditional public schools.”
The board also invited representatives from local elected officials to provide remarks. Johanna Garcia, Chief of Staff to State Senator Robert Jackson, addressed attendees, along with a representative from Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos’s office.
More than 100 community members attended the hearing, with many offering public testimony throughout the session. Opinions were mixed: some speakers expressed strong support for charter schools, while others emphasized the need for increased funding and resources for traditional public schools.
Stephen De Jesus, a CB12M member serving on the Youth & Education Committee, expressed appreciation for the strong turnout. “I was encouraged to see dozens of community members — parents, students, teachers, and school staff — engaged in a productive dialogue about charter schools in our district,” he said.
Many speakers shared personal experiences in support of the charter schools their children attend, with much of the commentary centered on a single school.
“Although there are 17 charter schools in [Community School District 6], the pro-charter public commentary was largely dominated by anecdotal praise from just one school,” noted Al Kurland, a Public Member of the Youth & Education Committee. “While such perspectives are valuable, they are not a substitute for broader discussions about policy implementation, funding concerns, or the diversion of resources that can negatively impact traditional public schools.”
CB12M plans to continue discussions on charter schools throughout the year during Youth & Education Committee meetings and potentially through additional public hearings.
“This is just the beginning,” De Jesus added. “I look forward to continuing these conversations and taking action to ensure all youth have access to high-quality education.”