The NY Post reports that 3,00 img_0075.JPG0 parents attended the third annual Harlem Education Fair, held Feb. 28 at the 369th Harlem Armory on 143rd Street. That's far short of the 10,000 parents event organizers  predicted would turn out to  learn about dozens of  charter, parochial, private, and public schools in the area, or last year's throng, estimated at 5,000.

The snow may have deterred some, but the parents who slogged through the slush, often with children in tow, were determined to explore all their school options. Many questioned the assertion by Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and Archdiocese Schools Superintendent Tim McNiff, proclaiming  Harlem the "Parent Choice Capital of America."

Parents we spoke with understood that the chances of actually getting your child into the school of your choice -- particularly some of the more popular charter schools, which assign seats by lottery -- are discouragingly slim.  One parent, who said her child is not being challenged at her neighborhood public school, PS 160, planned to apply to every charter school in order "to get my child the education she needs at the price I can afford."

PS 241, an unzoned school that was one of a handful of public schools participating, got a lot of attention from a handwritten sign on its table saying "ALL are Welcome - NO LOTTERIES!"  A teacher at the school, which shares its building with two charter schools and earned an "A" on its school report card last year after nearly being closed, pointed proudly at colorful new promotional postcards.

The fair was  sponsored by the Success Charter Network, which operates a string of charter schools in Harlem and East Harlem and whose CEO is Eva Moskowitz, former chairperson of the City Council's education committee. The fair took place  in the midst of the kindergarten registration season -- public school kindergarten applications are due by March 12.  Most charter school applications are due by April 1.

We'd like to hear from parents who were at the fair and from those who live in the community. Is Harlem the "parent choice capital of America?"

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