Funding, school choice, the mayoral race: Advocates show their support of charters.

"Families grabbed placards declaring "Every Zip Code Deserves Excellence," "Equity is Access," and "Respect Our Choice," while charter school leaders rallied alongside them. By noon, the crowd - representing more than 200 charter schools - spilled out of the park and onto the Brooklyn Bridge to advocate for the education sector. As it did during the 2013 New York City mayoral election, the charter sector has shifted into offense in recent weeks as Democratic Socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani leads the polls."

"Mamdani is the only mayoral candidate who has criticized charter schools, which he says shouldn't be given space in public school buildings. He has also said he would audit charter finances. "I'm worried about facilities. I am worried about funding - we have inequitable funding. Charter schools get thousands of dollars less. And I'm worried about our freedom," Moskowitz told reporters at a press conference during the rally."

"Charter school supporters say they're a lifeline for Black and brown families who don't have equitable access to quality education. Critics argue that the privately managed but publicly funded schools siphon away resources from public schools. Charter schools educate roughly 150,000 New York City students at nearly 300 schools. More than 40% of the city's charter schools occupy Department of Education buildings, which they often"

Thousands of charter school parents and children gathered at Cadman Plaza Park, picked up placards and marched onto the Brooklyn Bridge to advocate for charter schools. The crowd represented more than 200 charter schools and wore yellow and purple T-shirts. Democratic Socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani has criticized charter schools, said they should not occupy public school building space, and proposed auditing charter finances. Eva Moskowitz warned charters face "existential" threats and expressed concerns about facilities, inequitable funding, and freedom. Charter schools serve roughly 150,000 students at nearly 300 schools, with over 40% using Department of Education buildings. Supporters call charters a lifeline for Black and brown families; critics say they siphon resources from public schools.

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