Charter schools rally draws thousands as teachers union pushes for oversight

Thousands of parents and students from more than 200 charter schools gathered at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn on Thursday, Sept. 18, before marching across the Brooklyn Bridge to demand educational choice and excellence for New York City families. Organizers described attendance as about 15,000, with participants waving signs and chanting slogans in support of charters as a more affordable option for urban families. The march concluded with a crossing of the Brooklyn Bridge, a symbolic route often used in demonstrations about school policy.

In the days following the rally, attention shifted to how charter schools are regulated and funded. The event was described by organizers as issue-focused, with organizers telling political candidates not to attend in order to keep the emphasis on education policy rather than electoral campaigning. Some coverage noted the presence of members of the United Federation of Teachers, who were observed at the protest wearing Mamdani-themed apparel and distributing materials that criticized charter operators.

In a separate development tied to the rally, Democratic state Sens. John Liu of Queens and Sandy Mayer of Westchester sent letters to the state’s charter-school oversight agencies requesting an investigation into charter operators for alleged coercion, misuse of public funds and students missing school. The letters, reported by The New York Post, mirror a broader partisan tension over accountability and funding in New York City’s charter sector.

The response from charter advocates was swift. The Black, Latinx, Asian Charter Collaborative issued a letter slamming the two senators for what it characterized as a partisan attack on parents and leaders who have chosen charters as a pathway to opportunity. In its missive, the collaborative asked: "Where are your hearings into the systemic failures that rob children of opportunity every single day in DOE schools?" and urged lawmakers to "join us in expanding opportunity, equalizing funding and removing restrictions on excellence and charter growth." The exchange underscored a persistent battle lines around who should oversee schools and how alternatives to traditional public schools should be funded.

Debate over school policy in New York has long centered on the role of charter schools versus district-run public schools. Supporters argue charters provide innovative approaches and greater parental choice, often pointing to a different calendar structure; critics contend that charters divert scarce public funds away from traditional public schools and are insufficiently subject to accountability measures. Advocates for charters note that many charter schools in New York City run longer instructional days than the state minimum of 180 days, while the city Department of Education schools have faced reductions in instructional days in some years; supporters describe charters as offering an affordable option for families seeking alternatives to traditional public schooling.

The organizers behind the Brooklyn rally framed educational choice as a fundamental issue for families, particularly low-income, immigrant and minority communities seeking high-quality schooling options. Opponents of charter expansion have contended that oversight and accountability are essential to ensure that public funds are used effectively and that all students receive a solid education. The current moment places these debates in a highly visible public setting as both sides seek to shape policy through public demonstrations, legislative letters, and coalition-building.

The event and the ensuing exchange illustrate how U.S. politics at the state and local level continue to shape education policy in major urban centers like New York City. As families weigh options for their children and lawmakers consider oversight and funding structures, the conversation surrounding educational choice remains a central political issue in 2025.