In a surprising change of course, the Department of Education announced that it will cancel plans to move a charter school into a Bronx vocational high  school. The DOE's decision comes after meetings with representatives from the construction industry, reports the The New York Times.

The New York City Charter High School for Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industries was slated to replace some vocational programs at the Bronx's Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Education High School. The school's building programs are on the chopping block due to low graduation rates.

The DOE will now work with construction industry representatives to develop a new school in the building. Smith's principal René Cassanova told the Times that, while she hasn't spoken to the DOE regarding the plan, she is pleased: “What we want is our industry partners at the table and the programs at Smith."

AECI plans to rent private space for the 2010/2011 school year to house its growing student population. Controversy has plagued the school since founder Richard Izquierdo Arroyo was indicted on charges of embezzlement last summer.

For more information, see articles from the [Daily News](http://www.nydailynews.com/nylocal/education/2010/02/22/2010-02-22charterschoolsmovescrapped.html)_ and The New York Times  online.