A Bronx public school is airing their grievances toward the funding aspect of co-location involving charter and public schools sharing a building.  

CS55’s principal Luis Torres says the money his school gets from the Department of Education and donors all goes to shared spaces, but he couldn’t say the same for the funds that Success Academy, the charter school in their building, gets.  

Torres says $23 million has been invested into school projects such as an updated cafeteria, an auditorium with air conditioning and a new soccer field. These are all spaces that both schools use, but Torres claims that the millions of dollars that Success Academy receives just goes to that school.  

Local education advocates, politicians and parents gathered on Friday to speak about the impact of co-location and how public and charter schools can better work together, emphasizing a need for funds to be at the forefront. Torres agrees and says that co-location can be great if everyone does their part, especially in underserved neighborhoods like where his high school stands.  

“I’m here for all children,” said Torres. “I don’t view schools based on titles… that's my stance, that’s what I believe in.”  

Advocates in attendance say that public school students are in desperate need of more resources and that co-location’s current trajectory may not improve this situation. 

With Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed plan to lift the cap on charter schools in New York City, many are up in arms about the diversion of resources away from public school students.