You can pay via PayPal or write a check and leave in the PTA mailbox in main office (address to Friends of BNS).
Friends of Brooklyn New School is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit fundraising organization run by parents in support of The Brooklyn New School (BNS) and the BNS PTA. BNS is an un-zoned public school serving students in Pre-K through 5th grade. Our inquiry-based curriculum empowers children to creatively solve problems and effect positive change. Within our diverse, inclusive community, children gain a strong sense of responsibility for themselves, each other, and our environment.
Government funding to NYC public schools is not enough to cover basic costs such as school supplies, science, arts education, and even teacher salaries. Schools rely on their PTAs to fundraise from families to cover costs, which reinforces education inequality and segregation, as schools serving higher-income communities operate on a vastly higher budget than schools serving communities with fewer resources.
In 2016 BNS joined with a group of like-minded schools to pilot a DOE admissions policy intended to combat the trend toward school segregation and inequality. Students eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch (FRL) have priority for Pre-K and Kindergarten admission. Today, 55.5% of Pre-K and 41% of our Kindergarten students qualify for FRL, compared with 33% school-wide. We provide school bus service throughout Brooklyn, and actively outreach to lower-income neighborhoods. Our student population identifies as 42% white, 21% percent Hispanic, 20% black, 12% multi-racial, and 5% Asian.
We anticipate a continued shift toward serving a majority of low-income students in our school. As the percentage of low-income students increases, we cannot rely solely on fundraising from families to support our enriched curriculum. Friends of Brooklyn New School is continually finding new ways to fund inspired education accessible for all.
Your financial support will provide 723 Brooklyn children with academically rigorous, hands-on educational experiences that kindle their innate curiosity, teach them to continue asking questions, and inspire lifelong learning. Your funding will go directly to supporting:
