In the US, charter schools are becoming more prevalent. They are mandated and regulated by public school systems, however, they get most of their funding through private donations. Believing that charter schools are getting special treatment and priority over the hundreds of schools that make up the New York Department of Education, both the United Federation of Teachers and the NAACP have filed suit against the district. Their main argument is that charter schools have more resources available to them than traditional public schools, which is leaving pupils at a disadvantage. Parents that are unable to afford private school often opt for charter schools. In some neighborhoods in NYC, there are a plethora of charter schools opening their doors while public schools that have been around for decades are shutting down.
Furthermore, the United Federation of Teachers believe that educators with seniority and special connections are able to get hired at charter schools at a higher rate. Because charter school teachers are often paid more, public schools are filled with teachers that have been disciplined numerous times or otherwise show that they are incapable of teaching at the required standard. The NAACP believes that minority students are not being given the same opportunities. In NYC, students living in Manhattan often have the highest test scores and go on to attend college at higher percentages. Comparatively, students living in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Harlem and Queens are falling behind, unless they live in more affluent areas. The New York Department of Education denies the allegations.
