NY Charter School Families, Educators Unite and Thank Senate for Supporting Charter Schools in Budget Proposal

Albany, NY – Charter school families, educators, and supporters from across the state today thanked the State Senate for budget proposals that would add considerable support to their schools and called on lawmakers for continued leadership throughout the next two weeks of budget negotiations.

The Senate’s “Brighter Future” budget proposal includes three major boosts to charter schools:

· Access to the state building aid program. Right now, half of the state’s charter schools, including 40 percent of the charter schools in New York City, are denied public support for a facility. They are the only public schools in the state that are denied this state aid. The Senate proposal would be a tremendous boost to charter schools located in private space.

· An increase in per-pupil funding. The Senate budget includes a per-pupil increase of $150 over the Governor's proposed $75 increase. This amounts to a proposed total per-pupil increase of $225.

· Lifting of the charter school cap. The chamber’s one-house budget also includes the Governor's proposal to lift the charter school cap by 100 for a total of 560 schools.

The charter school teachers and families were joined by the Northeast Charter Schools Network and the New York City Charter Center.

Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) stated, "I have and will continue to stand as a leading advocate of the issues facing our charter schools in an effort to improve the education our students receive. As we move along in the New York State budget process and this legislative session, I look forward to attaining real results that teachers, parents and our students can be proud of."