Charter school funding increases statewide; Assembly’s harmful proposal blocked
(Long Island, NY) The Northeast Charter Schools Network today thanked Governor Cuomo and state leaders for ensuring that 118,000 charter school students statewide were victorious in this year’s state budget – despite intense political pressure from charter foes. Throughout budget season, schools statewide held days of action asking for lawmakers to remember them in this year’s budget; lawmakers delivered.
- Charter school children – from Buffalo to New York City – will receive a boost in funding, estimated at $430 per student, totaling more than $54 million.
- The terrible poison-pill anti-charter school provisions contained in the Assembly’s one-house budget resolution were rejected in the final budget.
- For schools eligible for facilities aid in New York City, the planned switch to lease aid from rental aid was eliminated. While a technical change, this is a big win for these schools.
Northeast Charter Schools Network CEO Kyle Rosenkrans said, “Cooler heads prevailed and public school students – both charter and district — are the winners of this year’s budget. We thank Senate Majority Leader Flanagan, Governor Cuomo, Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Klein, and Assembly Speaker Heastie for protecting charters from ruthless attacks by the ‘edu-stablishment’.
“In a year of record increases in public education funding, every charter student in the state also got a much-needed boost of about $430, for a total of more than $54 million. While this is not as large as the 6.5% increase to school aid, and will not remedy the fundamental district-charter inequity, it is real progress. It is our sincere hope that this boost in funding will strengthen teaching and learning in all public schools.
“Charter schools are fortunate to have real champions fighting for them. More than half of the Senate Republicans have charter families in their districts, and members like Senator Rich Funke of Rochester fought to ensure that this aid went equally to every charter student in the state–including the thousands of families in his district.
“But there is still much work to do. If New York will truly become the progressive leader in economic justice that Governor Cuomo discussed last night, it must address the fundamental inequities faced by children in charter public schools. That means equitable funding, access to building aid and protections for a parent’s fundamental right to choose a public school that works for his or her child.”
