CHARTER SCHOOL TO PUT PUPIL PERFORMANCE 1ST New York Daily News; New York, N.Y.; Dec 10, 2002; JENNIFER WEIL DAILY NEWS WRITER; Abstract: Founded by Kristin Kearns Jordan, Bronx Prep was chartered by the state in April 2000 and opened that August in a former parochial school at E. 171st St. and Webster Ave. "Keep on keeping on," Secretary of State Randy Daniels told the students, noting that Bronx Prep is the best-performing charter school in the state, with grade-level test scores that have risen from the 33rd national percentile to the 77th. MICHAEL SCHWARTZ KEYS TO SUCCESS Bronx Prep students, seen here in music class, will get new school at E. 172nd St. and Third Ave. Full Text: Copyright Daily News, L.P. Dec 10, 2002 With a turn of some shovelfuls of dirt, Mayor Bloomberg and other officials charted a new course yesterday for the education of Bronx students. It was groundbreaking day for the future home of the Bronx Preparatory Charter School, part of the new trend to provide alternatives to the city's failing public schools. The mayor and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein also took the opportunity to announce a centralized public school transfer process for eligible children. Under the federal No Child Left Behind law, all students who attend failing schools will have the option to transfer to better- performing ones. The new 67,000-square-foot Bronx facility, in Bathgate, will have 32 classrooms. There also will be music rooms, computer rooms, two science labs, a gym, a library and a playground. "This is your shot and you should use it," Klein told the students gathered in the frigid weather at what is now a vacant lot at E. 172nd St. and Third Ave. "We don't want excuses, we want performance, and what they are doing for you here is going to give you that opportunity." Also giving the students an opportunity is Merrill Lynch. The Wall Street brokerage firm is putting up $1 million toward the $12.5 million total first phase of construction, expected to be completed by spring 2004, with classes beginning that summer. Phase 2 - additional construction work at a cost of $5.5 million - will begin once funds are secured. Enrollment to increase Upon completion, Bronx Prep's current enrollment of 200 students in grades 5 to 8 will increase to 800 students in grades 5 to 12. "At my old school, I was doing very poor in reading," said eighth- grade Prep student Eric Sanchez. "When I got here, the school helped me bring out my strongest potential in reading. I never knew that I could come up like the way I am doing now. My reading skills have improved dramatically, and I am very proud of that." Founded by Kristin Kearns Jordan, Bronx Prep was chartered by the state in April 2000 and opened that August in a former parochial school at E. 171st St. and Webster Ave. The school enjoys greater autonomy than traditional public schools, in exchange for greater accountability for student learning. Charter schools receive 80% of the per pupil operating funds public schools get, but no provision is made for facilities. There are now 40 charter schools in the state, six of them in the Bronx. "Keep on keeping on," Secretary of State Randy Daniels told the students, noting that Bronx Prep is the best-performing charter school in the state, with grade-level test scores that have risen from the 33rd national percentile to the 77th. "You are a model of what can happen when people who are creative and innovative and who care and are dedicated can get together and be supported by a broad range of community and governmental interests," said Daniels.