With the deadline for the U.S Census now set for Oct. 16 at 6 a.m., several Bronx public charter schools are encouraging communities throughout the Bronx to ensure they fill out the census and get counted. Across the country, there are attempts to undercount communities of color and the most vulnerable. The future of the Bronx and of New York City depends on an accurate count of its residents, which will determine how much federal support it receives for the next decade.

Now more than ever, the stakes of being counted have never been higher:

• Nearly $1 trillion in federal funding is at stake. Dozens of critical social services in the Bronx – like hospitals, fire departments, schools, and more – depend on the data from the census.
• Government funded programs like Medicaid, Medicare Part B, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and more also depend on the census count.
• In 2016, New York received more than $73 billion through 55 federal spending programs, guided by data derived from the 2010 census.

Lester Long is founder and executive director at Classical Charter Schools. “There is no doubt that we are living in unprecedented times. The futures of our children are at stake if Bronx residents aren’t able to be counted,” he said. “The COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn have impacted our communities the most. We need to make sure we receive the government funding and support that we deserve so that our students and families have the resources needed to survive.”

Meanwhile, David Noah is the founding principal at Comp Sci High. “The importance of this year’s census cannot be overstated. An accurate count ensures our schools have the resources to educate our children, and that our families have the tools needed to thrive,” said Noah. “We can’t allow our communities to be shortchanged for the next decade. This is a chance of us to come together and ensure that we have our say in Washington.”

Today, Bronx charter schools serve more than 30,000 students – or 14 percent of children in the borough – many of whom have been hardest hit by the pandemic.

To learn more, visit www.ThankYouBx.com.