How a Trump Presidency Could Affect NYC Schools

President-elect Donald Trump takes office in less than a month, and his education policies may impact New York City over the next four years.

It starts with Trump's pick for secretary of education. Betsy DeVos, a longtime school reform advocate, is known for helping pass Michigan's first charter laws in the 90s. New York's own Eva Moskowitz, who heads the city's largest charter network Success Academy, had once been in the running for the position. Although she said in November she wouldn't serve, she added that she would work with Trump on the issue of school choice.

James Merriman, CEO of the New York City Charter School Center, said DeVos' appointment could be good news for the city's less privileged students. He hopes it will mean more high-quality charter schools will be able to open in the city.

"... The schools that are most accessible... that have a high a number of minority, poor students, that are... achieving results with a high number of students at proficiency are charter schools," Merriman said.

He concedes that every charter is not perfect and they require some regulation to ensure quality is maintained, but he said those that work, work very well. According to reading and math scores released by the New York City's Department of Education for the 2015-2016 school year, 19 of the top 50-scoring schools were charters. An analysis from the pro-charter organization Families for Excellent Schools said this is triple the number of top-scoring charters in 2013.

But Zakiyah Ansari of the Alliance for Quality Education said improving the public school system should be the first priority. Her and other pro-public school organizations are urging the Senate to reject DeVos' appointment as secretary of education. Ansari fears that Title I funding, which are given to schools with students from low-income families, could be rolled back if she is appointed. Ansari also worries that the implication of voucher programs, which DeVos supports and Trump has promised to dedicate a $20 billion block grant to, will take away funding that could be going to public schools.

But Ansari is also hopeful. She said DeVos' appointment would act as a catalyst for public school advocates to organize and effect change. Ansari said it should shed more light on the shortcomings of charter schools, like mismanagement. She pointed to an audit recently published by Comptroller Scott Stringer that found "serious concerns" in the financial management of Success Academy Charter Schools. Ansari said she hopes this will lead to a greater focus on public schools.

"And I think there's real belief in public schools. The question then becomes, are we ready to invest in that the way we should be? And we haven't done that in New York City or New York State," Ansari said.

Overall, the role of the federal government in public education is relatively minimal. Ultimately, the decisions on what and how to fund comes down to state and city legislators. As of now, DeVos has said she will not comment on her plans as secretary of education until after her confirmation hearing on January 11. 

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