Charter school advocates are pushing for a bigger slice of the education pie after Republicans took a larger share of lawmaking power in Albany after last week’s election.
Pro-charter groups who spent millions on advertising, lobbying and campaigns in the fall want favorable treatment from the Legislature and Gov. Cuomo.
They seek to limit Mayor de Blasio’s control of charter schools, expand funding and lift the cap on charter schools in New York, allowing for the creation of more charter schools in the city and across the state.
“The opportunities to change public education are immense,” said Kyle Rosenkrans, CEO of the Northeast Charter Schools Network. “If we don’t raise the cap and fund charters more fairly, it will be all for naught.”
Republicans, who traditionally favor charter schools more than Democrats do, will have a majority in the Senate. Democrats still control the Assembly.
“It’s an opportunity to make sure charters can’t be constrained by mayoral fiat,” said a pro-charter strategist, who asked to remain anonymous.
There are currently 28 slots left for charter schools in New York City and an additional 133 upstate. Charter boosters seek to raise or eliminate those caps.
Charter advocates also want more money for charter schools set aside in the state budget. The state’s current budget leaves out facilities funding for many charter schools.
Pro-charter school groups pumped more than $4 million into a super PAC called New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany that helped the Republicans win the state Senate. Charter advocates also spent millions on lobbying.
On the flip side, New York State United Teachers also spent around $4 million through its super PAC to help Senate Democrats. The teachers union spent millions on lobbying as well.
Cuomo, a Democrat, has come out strongly for charter schools and has received big donations in recent years from their supporters.
But changes to laws governing charter schools will also need approval from the Assembly, led by Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), who has been less enthusiastic about them.
A de Blasio spokesman said the city remains committed to serving all students, charter or no.
