NY’S NEW CHARTER COURSE

Kat budget blessing

Flush with cash from the feds and previous tax hikes on the wealthy, Gov. Hochul proposed boosting funding for Big Apple charter schools by 4.7% and extending Mayor Adams’ authority to control the New York City public education system for the duration of his first term.

The boost will increase aid to charter schools to $17,633 per student, up from $16,844, according to the New York City Charter School Center. Two years ago, aid to charter schools was frozen.

The increase, however, is below the overall increase of 7.1% for all K-12 schools.

“This will allow charter schools to continue to innovate, recruit high-quality teachers and staff, and provide strong educational options for New York’s families and students,” Hochul said in the briefing book outlining her mammoth $216 billion budget.

Adams endorsement

Hochul’s recommended fouryear extension for mayoral control of the schools is a gift to Adams. The law giving him such control is set to expire in June.

During former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s first term, he received only a one- or two-year extension from Albany to oversee the city school system, when antagonist Andrew Cuomo was governor and Republicans controlled one house of the Legislature.

It wasn’t until 2019, when more friendly Democrats ruled the Senate, that lawmakers gave him a three-year extension of school control for the remainder of his second term.

Charter school advocates praised the increase in aid, but said there is another pressing issue the governor and the Legislature have failed to address: approving a law to lift the cap that has blocked charter school expansion in the city.

‘Fight to lift the cap’

“We are pleased to see that Governor Hochul’s proposed budget recognizes the need to increase funding for K-12 education even as we continue to fight for truly equitable public funding for New York City’s public charter schools. New York City parents who are choosing charter schools deserve no less,” said James Merriman, CEO of the Charter School Center.

“At the same time, we will continue our fight to lift the cap on charter schools, so that parents have the options they want.”

There are about 180,000 students attending 331 charter schools in New York state. The overwhelming majority of students — 145,000 — attend 272 charter schools serving New York City.

In total, Hochul’s executive spending provides schools $31.3 billion in state aid for fiscal year 2023.