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Strengthening NY's Educational System: Senate Passes Legislation To Increase Number of Charter Schools & Enact New Accountability Standards

As part of its efforts to enhance New York's ability to receive federal funding in Phase II of the Race to the Top competition, the State Senate passed legislation (S.7678) to increase the charter school cap and strengthen educational reforms through greater transparency, accountability and educational opportunities for special needs students.

(Media-Newswire.com) - As part of its efforts to enhance New York’s ability to receive federal funding in Phase II of the Race to the Top competition, the State Senate passed legislation ( S.7678 ) to increase the charter school cap and strengthen educational reforms through greater transparency, accountability and educational opportunities for special needs students. The Senate’s legislation raises the cap on charter schools in the state from 200 to 460, shared between the State University of New York, the Board of Regents and local school districts, and provides that revoked charter schools will no longer count against the cap. The increased oversight of charter school facilities applies to their financial, operational and management programs. Additionally, the legislation encourages their most successful practices be shared and replicated, with the Board of Regents responsible for recommending these practices within public school districts. “Nothing is more important than investing in our children’s education and our future. We need to improve our score for Race to the Top, just as we need to increase accountability for charter schools and expand educational opportunities for all of our children,” said Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson. “Few things incite such passion as the education of our children,” Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm A. Smith said. “ Raising the charter school cap will put New York in a more competitive position to receive the much needed $700 million in federal Race to the Top funding. This legislation gives us the unique opportunity to offer parents educational opportunities for their children they might not otherwise have.”