ALBANY—Two of the state’s top education leaders say there isn’t an urgent need to raise or eliminate the state’s cap on charter schools since a third of the available charters under the limit have not yet been awarded.
Education commissioner John King and State Senator John Flanagan, a Long Island Republican who chairs the chamber’s education committee, told Capital in separate interviews that they expect policymakers to discuss the charter cap during the coming legislative session, but don’t think immediate action is necessary.
Meanwhile, even as charter groups prepare for an intense push this session for action on the cap, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio hardened his opposition to raising it, arguing during an interview Wednesday that devoting more resources to fixing problems in traditional public schools is more important than allowing an "ever-increasing number of charters."
I have little doubt King wants more charters and I'm a little surprised he didn't echo Tisch's "aggressive" stance from earlier in the week.
Same goes for Flanagan.
Perhaps they're looking to moderate the rhetoric a little bit, so as not to make it look like the whole process is rigged when the inevitable cap increase comes.
As for de Blasio, it's good to hear him oppose a cap increase again and to indicate that he is going to lay down some political capital in the fight.
Will the AFT, UFT and NYSUT back him up or will they be helping their pro-charter school pal Andy Cuomo instead by staying on the sidelines when the showdown over the cap comes?
Probably Tisch and Robotboy r playing good cop bad cop here-and covering for Cuomo at the same time. Robotboy will do as he is programmed to do when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think so. I don't buy the moderate rhetoric.
DeleteIt's gratifying to hear that the Mayor is opposing an increase or lifting of the charter cap, although it remains to be seen how hard he's willing to fight it.
ReplyDeleteAs for King's apparently less aggressive pursuit of raising /eliminating the cap, I'll believe he's a rational, good faith actor when I see demonstrated over time. Until then, I'll continue to believe that we're in a temporary, illusory lull before a tsunami of attacks next year, including charters and co-locations, school closings, increases in ineffective teacher evaluations based on low Common Core exam results, ending LIFO, etc.
Don't be surprised if we see the so-called reformers mount their Final Offensive in the coming two or three years, with our Reptilian Governor cementing his neoliberal bona fides (an oxymoron if there ever was one) and, in his mind, strengthening his competitive position in a run for the Presidency.
I have yet to hear UFT or AFT weigh in on any of this. Had they offered some cover for BdB last spring, that would make me feel better about the showdown coming this legislative session. Alas, I suspect they will be MIA again and Cuomo will run roughshod. And truth is, it doesn't have to happen - but it means UFT/AFT/NYSUT have to fight.
DeleteRun for president on what party? Democrat primary voters won't go for this.
ReplyDeleteCuomo's delusional - perhaps he really thinks this helps him. You and I know he's despised by many Dem primary voters, but we're, you know, not delusional.
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