Proposed budget would slash funds to SUNY charter authorizer
The state organization commonly cited as a national model for approving and overseeing charter schools is facing quietly proposed cuts that would slash its budget by nearly 70 percent.
The State University of New York’s Charter School Institute (CSI), which oversees charter schools from the union-run UFT School to the popular KIPP schools, is slated to lose $1.7 million of its $2.4 million budget under budgets proposed by both the Assembly and the Senate.
CSI is one of the groups that are the prime oversight bodies for the state’s charter schools. Known as “authorizers,” the groups are responsible for reviewing proposals for new charter schools, monitoring the schools they approve, and closing charters they deem under-performing. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has praised CSI for its rigor and willingness to shutter schools that don’t live up to high expectations.
“All of that takes real human resources,” said Jonas Chartock, the agency’s executive director.
The cuts are a serious threat but far from a done deal. The institute has historically been a target of politicalefforts, often supported by the teachers union, to weaken its authority to open charter schools. But the union is not supporting these cuts. Rather, the proposals appear to be more prompted by the state’s financial duress.
The legislature frequently proposes drastic cuts to agencies in initial budget proposals that are later reduced a
City schools official arrested for not paying taxes
The State University of New York’s Charter School Institute (CSI), which oversees charter schools from the union-run UFT School to the popular KIPP schools, is slated to lose $1.7 million of its $2.4 million budget under budgets proposed by both the Assembly and the Senate.
CSI is one of the groups that are the prime oversight bodies for the state’s charter schools. Known as “authorizers,” the groups are responsible for reviewing proposals for new charter schools, monitoring the schools they approve, and closing charters they deem under-performing. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has praised CSI for its rigor and willingness to shutter schools that don’t live up to high expectations.
“All of that takes real human resources,” said Jonas Chartock, the agency’s executive director.
The cuts are a serious threat but far from a done deal. The institute has historically been a target of politicalefforts, often supported by the teachers union, to weaken its authority to open charter schools. But the union is not supporting these cuts. Rather, the proposals appear to be more prompted by the state’s financial duress.
The legislature frequently proposes drastic cuts to agencies in initial budget proposals that are later reduced a
City schools official arrested for not paying taxes
A city schools employee who worked in human resources was arrested today for failing to pay his state income taxes, according to the city’s Department of Investigation.
Richard Brescia, 54, the Department of Education’s Director of Performance Management and Talent Development, has been suspended without pay pending the investigation’s outcome, said DOE spokesman David Cantor.
“Stunningly, this schools official ignored his basic civic duty to file tax returns and compounded that crime by concealing it in City disclosure filings, according to the charges,” said DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn in a statement.
“If true, the allegations constitute a breach of public trust that would be especially troubling given the Department of Education’s commitment to children,” Cantor said.
Richard Brescia, 54, the Department of Education’s Director of Performance Management and Talent Development, has been suspended without pay pending the investigation’s outcome, said DOE spokesman David Cantor.
“Stunningly, this schools official ignored his basic civic duty to file tax returns and compounded that crime by concealing it in City disclosure filings, according to the charges,” said DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn in a statement.
“If true, the allegations constitute a breach of public trust that would be especially troubling given the Department of Education’s commitment to children,” Cantor said.
DOI STATEMENT ON ARREST OF DOE OFFICIAL ON TAX FRAUD AND FALSE FILING CHARGES
ROSE GILL HEARN, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (”DOI”),