Your independent guide to NYC public schools

Parents who are dissatisfied with their child’s school placement for this year may have a shot at a charter school. Insideschools has found a handful of charters - most of them new ones -  that still have seats available for fall 2011.

• Broome Street Academy: An alternative high school for at risk teens in lower Manhattan has seats for 9th grade. Contact: www.broomestreetacademy.org/student-admissions or call (212) 453-0295 .
• Believe Northside & Believe Southside: Two charter high schools, located in the same building in Brooklyn have openings for 9th, 10th, and a few 11th-graders. Call (347) 390 1275
• Innovate Manhattan: A new middle school opening in the Tweed building in Lower Manhattan has room for 6th and 7th grade students. Contact: www.innovatemanhattancharterschool.org or call: (212) 374-2301
• Academy of the City Charter School: Seats may open for the 1st grade class in Long Island City as there is only one child on the waitlist.  Contact the principal's secretary at (877) 277-6858.

While most charters are filled and many have long waiting lists, it doesn’t hurt to call and find out if any slots have become available. There may even be openings into September as registered students change plans.

Your best chance for openings may be at one of the 31 new charter schools opening this year. Check the list and give them a call. One exception is the Harlem Success Network schools. They are all full with have long waitlists.

Know of other schools with open slots? Please post a comment below. We'll update the list if we get more information.

Update Sept. 2: Summit Academy Charter School in Brooklyn has openings for 25-30 6th graders and 25-30 7th graders, according to the charter office at the Department of Education. Contact the school for more information at (718) 875-1403

This month the Department of Education is calling for public school parents to run for a seat on the citywide and community district parent councils. Applications will be available on March 23, according to the Office of Family Information and Action (OFIA).

In 2009 I answered such a call and served as a member of a Bronx district council.  I did this first and foremost for my son who was in middle school. Knowing there is a lack of information available to parents in my community, I hoped that my years as a PTA president, School Leadership Team chair, and Insideschools.org reviewer would be an asset.

I believed that parents had the power to make real change within the community council structure, that despite flaws in the system, we could still offer support, resources, and information to families and schools in our community.  I was fortunate to work with strong team members in District 10, and a very engaged district family advocate and superintendent. Unlike many other education councils, we had no internal squabbles and usually had enough members to make a quorum at meetings.

However, it became clear to me very soon that parents had lost their faith in the councils' ability to address their concerns or to effect change. Attendance at the meetings was consistently low. At the orientation and trainings for council members, it became apparent by the grumbling that they were increasingly frustrated with the lack of power. Officials at OFIA were usually gracious and patient as members expressed their irritation, but they could not provide direct solutions.

What do the CDECs do?

Due to the various restructurings at the DOE over the past eight years, parents and administrators alike seem genuinely confused about the role of the CDEC. “What do the CDEC’s do?” was the question posed to me again and again as I made contact with the principals in my group of 10 schools.  They wanted to know: “What exactly can you do for us now?”  “What power do you have to stop or push through a proposal?”

I could only tell them, “We are liaisons who can convey and share information with the superintendent, board members, and community.  We can become aware of facility needs and help the school submit a grant.”  The principals shared with us their many pressing social and financial needs, but we could only nod and listen. We were powerless to directly intervene for the parents or schools who came to us for aid.

Despite all of  this, I was willing to fulfill my term, assisting whereever I could. As a freelancer for Insideschools.org I agreed not to write school profiles or submit comments about schools in my district when I was elected. This was extremely frustrating as all council members visit schools and have access to information that would benefit parents. Eventually I had to step down due to “conflict of interest.”

I am glad to see that changes have been made to the nominating system and PA and PTA members can now nominate themselves for a council position. That’s a good thing.  But, even if the most involved and aware parents join the councils, they will find there are too few opportunities to make an impact.

I honor those who continue to work on the community and citywide councils and I would never discourage anyone from serving.  Our schools, communities and parents need you.

Considering joining a council? Here are my suggestions:

• Sit in on a few monthly meetings
• Talk to current board members about their initiatives
• Consider your intended role and what you can offer
• Talk to your district superintendent about what she would like to accomplish
• Learn about your district’s challenges
• Ask questions of your child's school to find out how they have interacted with the CDEC.
• Get to know your district’s family advocate

These simple steps will help you realize how well your council might function and whether or not you have what it takes to dig in and help out.

Applications will be accepted from March 25 to April 9. The organization Power to the Parents once again will be handling the elections. Check their site for information later this month.