Charter school advocates in New York are criticizing the state Department of Education for what they see as discriminatory treatment towards charter schools. The advocates feel that charter schools, which are public schools, are being unfairly treated by the state. They argue that the funding disparity between traditional public schools and charter schools is preventing students of color in communities of need from receiving the same level of education.
The $37.6 billion budget for New York City public schools includes $3 billion in state-mandated payments to charter schools, but charter advocates believe that bias against charter schools has led to an effort to stifle innovation and creativity. They claim that by excluding charter schools from state and federal funding, the DOE is making an arbitrary distinction between traditional public schools and charters. The advocates argue that charter schools are just as public as traditional public schools and deserve equitable funding.
State Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo expressed his support for charter schools, emphasizing their importance and the successes they have had compared to traditional public schools. He believes that charter schools have been instrumental in saving lives and improving educational outcomes for students. With around 182,000 students enrolled in 343 charter schools across the state, charter advocates are calling for fair treatment and equal funding to ensure that students have access to quality education.
Charter schools in New York City have a high percentage of black and Hispanic students, many of whom come from low-income families and have special needs. Despite facing challenges, students in charter schools have often outperformed their public school peers in English language arts and math. The parents of charter school students are joining the advocates in demanding justice and advocating for equitable funding for charter schools. They believe that every student in New York State has a right to a quality public school education.
Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget proposal for charter schools includes $185 million for supplemental tuition aid and $120 million for facilities improvements. Despite this, there are concerns that the proposed changes to the education funding formula for public schools could impact charter schools. Lawmakers are currently focused on doubling security grants for non-public schools, which could impact charter schools as well. With ongoing budget negotiations, charter school advocates are pushing for fair treatment and equal funding to ensure that all students have access to quality education regardless of the type of school they attend.
Overall, charter school advocates in New York are calling for equitable funding and fair treatment from the state Department of Education. They believe that charter schools are just as public as traditional public schools and should receive the same level of funding to ensure that all students have access to quality education. With ongoing budget negotiations and proposed changes to the education funding formula, charter schools are hoping to secure the funding they need to continue providing innovative and successful education to students in need.
