Charters move closer to new teacher-certification rules, worrying education schools
In May 2015, top officials and lawyers at Success Academy, New York City’s largest charter school network, held a meeting to discuss an existential threat: the growing network was struggling to hire certified teachers, and was out of compliance with state law.
According to an internal document obtained by POLITICO New York, the network had 28 uncertified teachers among three schools, and six of its schools were violating state laws on certification. “Already for next year, we know the problem will get worse than it is right now,” the document reads. According to the document, Success lawyers warned: “people could sue SUNY for failing to oversee us, and force compliance with the law.”
On Thursday, the SUNY Charter Schools Institute, which authorizes Success and the city’s other major charter networks, took the first step towards approving a new set of rules that will help its networks, including Success, solve the enormous challenge of hiring certified teachers. Success’s founder, Eva Moskowitz, has pushed for changes to existing certification laws for years.
The institute voted to consider regulations that would allow charters to create their own alternative pathways to certification, and ultimately allow the schools to hire fewer certified teachers. The regulations, which were first reported by POLITICO New York last month, are likely to be at least partially approved by the institute this fall, following a period of public comment.
The new rules would have a significant impact on the city’s nationally influential Charters move closer to new teacher-certification rules, worrying education schools:
