OPINION: Brooklyn parent: Charter school helped my children
Like thousands of other Brooklyn parents this month, I find myself the mother of a proud high school graduate. My daughter is on her way to a bright future in college—the path here hasn’t always been clear, and this road hasn’t been easy—but I am so thankful for the support along her journey to this day.
Ten years ago, my children were attending a district public school, but they were struggling and I wanted to do something to help. Around that time, I found out about public charter schools and Achievement First. My son Carlos was accepted for first grade at AF Crown Heights Elementary. The school didn’t yet have spots for my daughter Tatyana’s grade.
By December that year, Carlos was reading at a third-grade level, and I was amazed at his improvement. However, Tatyana, by then a third-grader, was still reading at a first-grade level. It felt so unfair, and it was awful to know that she wasn’t getting the same chances that he had.