Brentwood parents had the chance to weigh in Tuesday on a proposal to create two new charter schools within Long Island's largest school district.

According to the district, The Academy Charter Schools is applying for an elementary and middle school. The schools would initially serve Kindergarten through second grade and sixth grade in their first years before expanding to Kindergarten through fifth and sixth through eighth after that.

The Academy Charter Schools currently operates nine schools in Hempstead, Uniondale and Wyandanch.

"People should have a choice of where they want to send their kids," Brentwood resident Stuart Cohen said. "Homeschooling, charter schools, public school; everybody should have freedom of choice."

There are some big differences in how charter schools operate compared to standard public schools, despite also being publicly funded.

Public schools are overseen by people elected to the board of education, follow the state-mandated curriculum, are funded through the state and taxes and are open to all students who fall within the district's boundaries.

Charter schools operate independently, offer more flexible instruction, receive funding from public school boards on a per-pupil basis and can set enrollment limits.

During the most recent budget process, several Long Island school districts blamed cuts on rising charter school costs.

"Just the money where it's coming from," Brentwood resident Millard Rogers said. "It's not easy out here."

As of the 2024-25 school year, New York has 351 operating charter schools serving over 180,000 students, according to the state education department. The state currently has a cap on the number of charter schools at 460.

"I believe that it would be advantageous and disadvantageous because it takes away from the schools but yet you're getting a higher education," Brentwood resident Julio Camacho said.

An online petition promoted on the Brentwood school district's web homepage read in part: "The proposed charter schools will take away funding from our public school district, which harms Brentwood UFSD students. Please sign the attached petition in support of Brentwood UFSD."

A spokesperson for The Academy referred us to the same statement sent to News 12 yesterday, regarding a similar proposal in Central Islip.

"Our application reflects The Academy's proven performance at existing campuses of empowering students through rigorous academics, dedicated support and a culture of excellence," it read.

A spokesperson for the State University of New York Charter Schools Institute, which is overseeing the application process, said in a statement: "The Institute's review of submitted proposals is a progressive, comprehensive, holistic, and multi-step process."

The state plans to decide whether to approve or reject the application by this fall, according to a SUNY spokesperson.

In a statement the Superintendent of Schools, Wanda Ortiz-Rivera said "Brentwood is not a district waiting for innovation; this is a district driving innovation. Our students are thriving, our programs are strong, and our community is united. We don’t need outside operators duplicating what we already do with excellence. What we need is continued investment in the success we’ve already built; so that ALL students can continue to succeed."

Parents, teachers, and local elected leaders held a rally ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting to speak out against a proposal to bring a charter school to the district.

Betty Brown-Greene, of Brentwood, says she’s a product of Brentwood schools and says a charter school is the last thing Brentwood needs.

"We are opposed to charter schools,” she said. “Brentwood does a very good job with the resources that they have."

Sheree Sibilly, of Brentwood, has two children in the district who are dyslexic.

She says she worries how a charter school would provide for children with special learning needs.

"They're not going to take our children. They're going to hand pick what child they want to come into their charter school. And I know for a fact that my child is not going to be on that 'pick' list,” she said. "It's not going to happen. My kids are not going to the charter school.”