There’s a physical border in the form of a massive cliff cutting off Hudson Heights from the rest of Washington Heights, but it’s the metaphorical barrier that truly divides. There are well-documented socioeconomic and ethnic differences that fall along this division. I am hopeful that we — Success Academy staff, faculty, and parents — are raising these citizens of the world that know how to embrace diversity and create positive change. Together, we’re shaping future leaders who will shatter metaphorical cliffs.

Last week, hundreds of charter school parents gathered in Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza to advocate for educational equality across the city. Cynthia Cummings, a parent at Success Academy Bed Stuy 1 and Success Academy Bed Stuy Middle School, shared her story at the event.

With 112 chronically underutilized school buildings and a total of 65,000 empty seats available — parents are asking why is the city taking so long to find space for Success Academy middle schoolers. District families know what their middle school options are — why are Success parents treated differently?

Last year, I did something I had never done before: I wrote a petition and put it on Change.org. I did this because my daughter’s pre-kindergarten class, where she had grown and learned so much, was being forced to shut down.

The New York Times ran a story by Kate Taylor on January 24 with the headline “Harlem Schools Are Left to Fail as Those Not Far Away Thrive.” The article correctly points out that many Harlem families are leaving district schools in District 3 and enrolling their children in higher-performing charters.

On Wednesday, dedicated parents, teachers, and scholars from SA Far Rockaway, SA Flatbush, and SA Bushwick joined more than 1,000 other NYC charter advocates in Albany to urge state legislators to stand with charter families and ensure our scholars get equal funding and access to facilities.

The city’s proposal to temporarily house Success Academy middle school students from five Brooklyn elementary schools in just two locations is not “reasonable, adequate, or comparable.”

The NAACP, arguably the nation’s most influential and long standing civil rights organization, approved a moratorium on public charter schools.

On September 28, 2016, 25,000 parents, scholars, educators, and city leaders came together in Prospect Park to take a stand on high-quality public education and ending the racial achievement gap.

Last month, parents at my daughter’s school, SA Washington Heights, gathered in the auditorium to hear Ms. DePalo explain why Success Academy and other charter schools are marching in Prospect Park on September 28.

Charter schools are publicly created, publicly regulated, and publicly funded. All children eligible for admission to a district school can apply to a charter school.

This year, public charter school families and staff will again come together to march and make our voices heard on Wednesday, September 28.

My name is Wayne Jackson, and I am the proud father of a scholar at SA Bronx 2.

Feel prepared to interview at Success? Whether you’re interested in teaching or in a position with the recruitment, marketing, or finance teams, we encourage you to apply for an opportunity that is right for you!

But thanks to the red tape you have rolled out to prevent Success from doing its work, we learned today that the organization has been forced to cancel its pre-k classes, costing our kids the opportunity to have a strong education foundation.

I chose charter schools because where we live in the South Bronx, they are the best educational option for my children. Charters are giving my daughters opportunities they would never have in our neighborhood district schools.

It is a thrill to have the opportunity to collaborate with individuals who make children’s success their life’s work, and I know—even if I’m not inside the classroom—that my designs help change kids’ lives.

I have been troubled by the recent negative news stories involving our schools.

In the past few weeks, Success Academy parents have shown amazing support and appreciation for our schools, as they have defended us publicly in the press and privately to friends and staff.

We believe in teaching our scholars to be self-advocates, to respectfully but forcefully stand up for what is right and fair. That’s why it was so important for me and my fellow principals and other Success Academy leaders and parents to respond to false claims by the Alliance for Quality Education and other union-backed agitators last week.

At Success Academy, new teachers — known as associate teachers — receive constant coaching and support from experienced teachers and leaders. We asked former associate teachers to reflect on their first year teaching alongside a lead teacher — an experienced educator — and to share what they learned that helped them improve and become strong lead teachers this year.

Tomorrow, I will be rallying with hundreds of New York City educators to stand up for school equality for all children.

At Success Academy, every employee strives to show ETHOS: excellence, team, humor, ownership, scholars (putting kids first). These five principles drive everything we do as an organization and fuel our success.

My tears were from joy and relief. After months on the waitlist, my daughters could now attend the school I wanted for them.