Charter schools, still hotly debated, could be expanded in New York
Why it matters: Even a few charters will make big political waves
Fourteen is a small number in a system of about 1,800 schools, and the change wouldn’t change New York City’s educational landscape.
But charter schools remain a hot-button issue. Charter schools use taxpayer money, but are run independently of district schools and are often not unionized. The expansion of charters at a time when district schools are losing students is sure to draw criticism from some families and advocatesWHO have protested against any increases.
The city’s charter leaders praised the news, which would mean a limited victory for the sector. Still, some were disappointed through the negotiations: more than seven times as many new schools could have opened under Ms Hochul’s first proposal.
Background: The resurgence of “Zombie” charters is reviving an old debate
Charters were once a subject of eternal debate in Albany. In the beginning, some charter networks in New York City planned to grow as large as districts like Boston and Atlanta.
But in recent budget cycles, schools have not been a leading issue.
Total charter enrollments increased less than 1 percent this school year, state data shows.
The return of charters as a major bottleneck in the state budget reflected the impact of competitive pressure on Ms. Hochul and lawmakers, including both charter supporters and teachers’ unions who oppose the schools and have the upper hand.
What’s next?
Most interest in new school licensing is expected to be in the Bronx and Brooklyn, although several major networks are in the borough difficulty registering.
It’s unclear whether the city’s established networks would compete for a limited number of licenses: Success Academy, for example, is interested in opening more schools soon, while KIPP is not.
Some charter supporters have presented the proposal as an opportunity for people of color. Claudia Espinosa, who runs a local nonprofit for Latina girls, said she wants to open a small high school in the South Bronx.
“I’ve been thinking about this for years,” Ms. Espinosa said. “Every day we learn more about what these girls need, and not all schools are equipped to handle that.”
Her school is one of eleven allowed to open under one of two state authorizations, if licenses become available. Other possibilities include an all-girls K-8 school in Brooklyn focused on gender justice; the first high school transfer to the west of Queens’ District 30; and a high school in Central Brooklyn with an emphasis on STEM education.