BRONX CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR BETTER LEARNING: Meeting students where they are
The Bronx Charter Schools for Better Learning (BBL) are educational leaders in advancing equity and access for all children, particularly students of color.
We know that all children are born with remarkable powers to learn. The founders created Bronx Better Learning to provide formative experiences that foster children’s inherent capabilities. We get out of the student’s way and follow their lead. In doing so we ensure they leave BBL Schools ready and able to take on the world.
The Better Learning Approach
We empower learners with learning-centered teaching that is firmly rooted in knowing that every child grows by developing their own understanding. We use materials and techniques designed precisely to illuminate each child’s path to mastering academic subjects. Our students are confident in their capacity to pursue solutions and meet academic challenges.
Better Learning teachers are adept and nimble. Our objective is not to elicit predetermined answers from children or mold them to satisfy expectations. Instead, we meet students where they are in the moment and adjust our teaching according to their learning. Understanding that each student meets challenges in their own way, our teachers tailor their approaches to each student.
Mistakes are welcome. They are part of the learning process and indicators of what needs attention. We know that students are extremely capable, so we honor the process
they use to arrive at answers, and we recognize that worthwhile learning is not likely to follow a straight line. This encourages the best from our students. This is Better Learning.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Addressing historic and systemic inequities since 2003, the culture of Better Learning leads students, teachers, and staff to successful outcomes, evident in student performance and professional staff advancement.
Our students and staff are primarily Black and Latinx. 85% of students identify as Black and nine percent as Latinx. Our
Schools reflect diversity in race, ethnicity, culture and socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientation, gender identity, age and language. 78% of our staff identifies as Black, Latinx or Asian, and we leverage this diversity to meet students’ needs.
Student Expectations
We have the highest expectations of our students. Our focus is not on the average student’s performance but on each student’s aspirations and goals. We raise the bar, presenting them with increasingly more significant academic challenges. As they realize their capabilities, their confidence grows and their willingness to raise the bar for themselves increases. The opportunity to discover and fulfill one’s potential is a right of all children, so we foster an environment that honors this right.
Again, our teachers are empowered to adjust lesson plans to accommodate the learning process for each student. Teachers attend carefully to what students say and do, welcoming their mistakes as guideposts to tailor and adjust their instructional strategies. Through this unique approach combined with our dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion, our Schools have been home to learning triumphs since 2003.
Parent Engagement
Parents are our partners. We fully embrace the roles of parents and caretakers in their children’s learning. We support families through ongoing seminars, workshops and open communication to engage their active participation in their children’s education.
The Bronx Charter Schools for Better Learning (Bronx Better Learning) are educational leaders advancing equity and access for all children. Our teachers recognize the innate brilliance in our students and, through our distinct pedagogy, inspire joy and confidence in learning — not just for the next lesson or test — but for a lifetime. We primarily serve students of color who on average score among the highest across New York State in both math and language arts. Better Learning operates two K-5 schools, BBL 1 and BBL 2. To learn more, visit: