In the past couple of months, local education activists have been leading a campaign against a plan from Success Academy to open a new charter school on the Lower East Side. An online petition has been signed by about 1800 people; they want 2,000 signatures. Among other concerns, the organizers object to siting a new charter school in this neighborhood because it would almost certainly be located within an existing public school, where space is already in short supply. No specific location has been announced. This morning, the local Community Education Council put out an email blast announcing that a public hearing will be held on the proposal Jan. 8 at P.S. 20 on Essex Street. The application first submitted to the state indicated that the charter school would be located in District 2, but the Success Academy network made a last minute change, shifting to District 1. Tonight, the education council will ask Community Board 3’s education committee to join the battle against the charter school. The meeting will be held in the community room at The Lee residential building, 133 Pitt St. at 6:30 p.m.
