Joseph H. Reich, Charter School Pioneer, Dies at 89
Published On Oct 11, 2024, 5:19 PM
Joseph H. Reich, a financier and philanthropist, passed away at the age of 89. He, along with his wife Carol, established the Beginning With Children school in Brooklyn, which was one of New York City’s pioneering independently run public schools. This school opened in 1992 with a mission to provide better educational opportunities for impoverished children, leading to significant academic improvements. Their efforts were critical to kick-starting the charter school movement in New York, which now includes 281 charter schools enrolling 15% of the city’s schoolchildren. The legacy of their work reflects ongoing debates about school choice and equity in education funding.