partner reporter

RALLY
For Parent/Family Rights in Public School Education

PLEASE JOIN & SUPPORT THE BRONX EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY (B.E.C.A.) COMMUNITY IN THE UPCOMING RALLY AGAINST THE SITE DECISION PROCESS TAKEN BY THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

DATE: Friday, May 1, 2009
TIME: 2:00 PM
PLACE: City Hall Park (Fountain South)

As B.E.C.A. strives to achieve success in higher education as part of the Early College Initiative program at CUNY, Lehman College, we have been faced with the challenge of misleading conduct throughout the site process by the Department of Education. As a result, B.E.C.A. is being relocated to a site that does not meet the requirements for the overall success of our children’s educational future.

Bronx Early College Academy (MS 324) Mission Statement

“Preparing ALL students for college success”

The mission of Bronx Early College Academy is to prepare ALL students to be successful college graduates who positively impact their local and global communities. BECA is a collaborative learning community highlighting academic rigor and challenging enrichment programming. Our college partnership with Lehman College equips students with the tools and skills necessary for them to work towards earning up to TWO years of college credits.

We are thankful for your support in this initiative for our students to successfully achieve our mission in the Early College Initiative Program.

* For additional information, please contact Ibrahim Bah at (646) 228-1025 or
Annabelle Wright at (917) 496-3757

Press Release
April 24, 2009
NYC School Affected By the D.O.E.’s Poor Planning And Misleading Conduct
Parents Of Students At The Bronx Early College Academy Rejects “Proposed” Future Site


Funded by the Gates’ Foundation, The Bronx Early College Academy (BECA.), an Early College Initiative school partnered with the City University of New York, Lehman College began operations in September, 2006. Prior to the school opening, parents were promised that BECA would be situated at a temporary site in the Riverdale community for the 1st year and then moved to a permanent site on or close to Lehman College. In July 2008, prior to the school’s 3rd year at the temporary site, the Department of Education established an in-school site committee to include parents in the site evaluation process. With a site process marked with ongoing misleading communication to parents, a site decision was made without inclusion of the in-school site committee that may adversely impact the ultimate success of BECA as part of the Early College Initiative program.
At the presentation at Lehman College, held the summer of 2006, parents were promised that BECA would be situated in a temporary site in the Riverdale community for one year, after which a permanent site to house the school growing one grade each year until it reaches grade 12, would be located on or close to partner college, Lehman.
After the first year at Riverdale and the first Principal change, when parents asked CUNY representative Ms. Cass Conrad where the school will be moved, they were told that the plan was to stay in the current location for one more year 2007/2008 school year before a permanent site is found. Parents accepted this new change and with the arrival of a new principal, Ms. Sharon Freedman for the 2007/2008 school year hoped that things will move towards the right direction. She was unable to steer the program in the right direction and after an outcry from parents was replaced in June, 2008.
During the summer of 2008, Parents’ received a letter from the Department of Education’s Office of Portfolio Development dated June 24, 2008 stating that ‘due to space requirements of housing a 6 – 12 in one facility, it is unlikely that a permanent site will be found at this point. As a result the committee needs to review other options. Some of these options could mean that BECA will not grow to include a 9th grade in the 2008/2009 school year.
This led to parents’ outcry that brought the Office of Portfolio Development, CUNY and Parents to the table and the beginning of the site committee meetings to find a permanent site for BECA in July 2008. Parents were promised that they will be involved when the list of available sites is finalized and all options will be presented to the committee before a final decision is made.
On March 14, 2009, the Office of Portfolio Development arranged a walkthrough of the “proposed” future site for BECA at 250 E 164 Street. At this time, the DOE representative Ms. Natasha Howard revealed to parents for that this was the permanent location for BECA.
Parents are outraged that the DOE did not involve them as promised in the final decision making. The major concerns are:
1. Overall impact to the success of BECA as an Early College Initiative School

2. Loss of critical instructional time that will be used for traveling to and from Lehman
3. Limited and reduced access to valuable Lehman College resources
4. Impact to parent/student partnership with CUNY/Lehman College
5. Shared site with 5 schools, including a failing school and suspension site
6. Safety of our children in the neighborhood of the site
As part of the Early College Initiative program to foster collaboration, parents and families are included in school decision making. The Department of Education has not respected the parents and families of B.E.C.A. by not including us in this critical decision.
The program and mission of the school cannot be compromised by the poor planning and misleading conduct of the DOE.
Parents, families and supporters of BECA’s mission and parents’ rights in education are coming together to rally the rejection of the site and the decision process taken by the Department of Education’s Portfolio Development Office.
The rally will be held at the City Hall Park on May 1st at 2:00pm. Please join us in support of this initiative. Together, we can make a difference.
For additional information, please contact Ibrahim Bah at 646-228-1025 or Annabelle Wright at 917-496-3757

Mission of the Bronx Early College Academy (MS 324)
“Preparing ALL students for college success”
The mission of Bronx Early College Academy is to prepare ALL students to be successful college graduates who positively impact their local and global communities. BECA is a collaborative learning community highlighting academic rigor and challenging enrichment programming. Our college partnership with CUNY equips students with the tools and skills necessary for them to work towards earning up to TWO years of college credits.