Mayor de Blasio on Monday pushed back against Gov. Cuomo’s proposal to lift a regional charter-expansion cap, arguing that there are enough slots already in place.
In testimony to lawmakers on the state budget in Albany, de Blasio said the current number of open charter slots is sufficient and that scrapping the cap is unnecessary.
“The Legislature recently raised the cap, and there are currently 30 charters available for New York City, in addition to 29 schools already approved to open,” de Blasio said. “This is ample, and there is no need to raise the cap at this time.”
De Blasio also questioned other charter-friendly provisions in the budget package, asserting that the state was shifting certain expenditures away from Albany and toward school districts.
“The proposal strips state support away from charter schools and transfers the cost to school districts abruptly and to an exorbitant degree,” he said.
“For New York City alone, this would mean $198.3 million less funding for our schools. If the state chooses to enact this increase in funding for charter schools, then it should cover the costs and fund it separately from our basic school aid, as it has for the past four years.”
Charter backers pounced on the comments, arguing that de Blasio was responsible for “fairly” funding all schools, not just traditional public schools.
“Parents are tired of Mayor de Blasio’s political opposition to charter schools,” said StudentsFirstNY executive director Jenny Sedlis. “It’s not good for kids and it’s not helping solve the city’s education crisis.”
De Blasio has repeatedly stated that his primary concern remains the welfare of the city’s public schools, which still educate roughly 90 percent of students.
Charter backers lobbying for expansion have pointed to stagnant and worsening achievement metrics at traditional public schools in struggling districts.
“It’s deeply disappointing, this many years in, that a mayor who says he is devoted to equity and excellence still treats charter students and families as second-class citizens in their own city,” said James Merman CEO of the New York City Charter School Center.
“Maybe when charter-school students have the political power of the UFT, things will finally change.”