Charter Schools Provide Another Option For Ditmas Park Parents

As an alternative to public schools, the charter schools process is becoming easier for parents to navigate and Ditmas Park has two nearby that parents can apply to for the upcoming school year: Explore and Brooklyn Dreams.

Founded in 2002, Explore Charter School located at 655 Parkside Ave., offers a K-8 curriculum that provides the students with critical thinking and academic skills to be successful post secondary school.

“In general charter schools, trade more flexibility for more accountability," said Allison Jones, External Affairs Manager for Explore. "Charter schools are like snowflakes: because of the flexibility they are afforded, charter schools may vary considerably in terms of their academics, structure, etc."

Explore Schools Network is a New York-based non-profit that creates and supports high-performing charter schools in Brooklyn.

“Our mission is to provide our students with the academic skills and critical-thinking abilities they need to succeed in a college preparatory high school,” said Jones.

The Explore Schools serves over 1,000 students with branches in other neighborhoods including Crown Heights and Canarsie. A fourth school is slated to open in Prospect Heights this August.

"All schools have an extended school day and year, rigorous and balanced academic program, support for all students, including those with special needs.With an emphasis placed on language arts and math, students are also enriched in music, art and gym," Jones said.

The process for applying has become much easier as parents can now gain access to an online application which is available in all five boroughs. The application is available in English, Spanish, Haitian/Creole and French.

Applications for Explore Charter School are due April 2 at 5 p.m.

“We are reaching out to the Black and Hispanic communites with special focus on English language learners and special education students," said Valerie Babb, director of Charter Parent Action Network (CPAN). Along with the initiative to attract students with these backgrounds, there will also be a town hall meeting that will be aired on 98.7 Kiss FM from the Bronx Prepatory Charter School, where parents can learn more about the educational option.

“Folks are pretty much happy about engaging parents about the schools and the application process. When we build charter schools parents are partners in the educational process” said Babb.  

At Brooklyn Dreams Charter School, the students have a different way of starting off the school day.

“Each scholar arrives daily either by car, bus or walking and we have at least eight staff members positioned along the route welcoming them with a handshake and  greeting them by name,” said Yvette Wilds, the school's principal.

Along with establishing this family-like relationship, the scholars and staff hold "a moral assembly" where collectively students share news, song, poems or acknowledgement.

“We have a moral focused based curriculum that develops character and makes sure each child is challenged through academic success,” said Wilds. Each student's progress is tracked to show growth and the idea is to move them closer toward academic proficiency making sure each child has an equal opportunity with their education.

A goal of the school is to give students the tools for success not only in the classroom but outside of it as well. “At Brooklyn Dreams we embrace a different character virtue for each month. One month we may focus on respect, then integrity, courage, or something that is unique to our school,” Wilds said.

Located at 259 Parkville Ave., and founded in 2010, the school has an enrollment of about 250 students.

Applications for Brooklyn Dreams are due April 1.

For parents who want to learn more about the school there are upcoming events at Brooklyn Dreams including an Open Group Tour which will be held on April 20. For more information about Brooklyn Dreams visit their website.