How Staten Island charter schools are planning for the 2021-2022 school year
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As New York City begins to emerge from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Staten Island’s charter schools are making plans to bring back students safely for the 2021-2022 school year — with some opting to return all students, while others working to incorporate a remote option.
There are several charter schools across the borough, including: New World Preparatory Charter School in Port Richmond; Bridge Preparatory Charter School in Sunnyside; Hellenic Classical Charter School in Bulls Head; and three Integration Charter Schools (ICS) in Bloomfield — Lavelle Preparatory Charter School, New Ventures Charter School and The Lois & Richard Nicotra Early College Charter School.
Charter schools — which are independent public schools founded by non-profit boards of trustees — operate under a contract of up to five years and are open to all New York City students. Many have unique educational approaches that could include longer school days, a longer school year, or themed programs.
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NEW WORLD PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL
New World Prep is planning for the 2021-2022 school year “to be 100% in-person,” according to a recent letter to parents.
It noted that it’s waiting for guidance from New York State Department of Education (NYSED) to assure that when the school opens it is in compliance in ensuring a healthy and safe school environment.
BRIDGE PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL
Bridge Prep plans to bring everyone back to 100% in-person learning. According to Tim Castanza, executive director at Bridge Prep, the school currently has 80% of students in-person four days a week, and students are thriving.
INTEGRATION CHARTER SCHOOLS
The three Integration Charter Schools will all follow the same protocols for next school year.
According to a spokesperson, if New York State authorizes distance learning, Integration Charter Schools will provide families a remote schooling option for the 2021-2022 academic year. The hope is to continue to accommodate all of its students’ and families’ needs and concerns, according to the spokesperson.
Hellenic Classical Charter School did not immediately respond to a request for information on its plans for next school year.
NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last month that all New York City public school students will return to full in-person learning in September and no remote learning option will be available as the city begins to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.
The mayor pointed to rising vaccination numbers and the recovery efforts ongoing in the city.
“But you can’t have a full recovery without full-strength schools — everyone back sitting in those classrooms, kids learning again — so that’s what we’re going to have in September,” he said.
Safety protocols will continue in September he said, but they could look different as more people get vaccinated, COVID numbers go down, and recommendations change.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Staten Island’s Catholic schools will fully reopen for in-person instruction, five days a week, for all students next September, bringing an end to all remote and blended learning, the Archdiocese of New York announced in April.
The Archdiocese announced the plan to bring all students back to the classroom on a full-time basis next year, so long as health directives from government officials allow for it, and the community’s coronavirus infection rate “remains at an appropriate level.”
Come September 2021, barring any setbacks in the state’s recovery from the pandemic, the borough’s Catholic schools will no longer be offering hybrid or remote learning options, with all students expected to return to the classroom five days a week.
Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York serve nearly 62,000 students from pre-K through 12th grade in 172 schools across 10 counties, including Staten Island.
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