The Business Council opposes this bill because it both undermines the current successful
charter schools application process and effectively eliminates any increase in or expansion
of existing charter schools.

While this bill purports to increase the number of charter schools that can be approved in
New York State, it changes the current process in such a way as to effectively preclude
the establishment of charter schools that are independent of school districts. This
compromises the entire notion of charter schools as public schools that are free of the
majority of rules, regulations, restrictions and traditions that govern local education
agency run schools.

School districts, with the exception of New York City, oppose the existence of charter
schools – so giving them the authority to charter entities which they oppose simply makes
no sense. In many areas of the state charter schools offer low-income families an
alternative to poorly performing public schools and, in fact a majority of charter schools
are outperforming public schools in their regions on state elementary and middle school
English and math exams. Two charter elementary schools were among the 14 elementary
schools to receive The Business Council’s Pathfinder Award in 2005, and one elementary
charter school is among the 12 winner schools that will receive a Pathfinder Award for
2006.

It’s clear that charter schools are successful public school options for
parents and kids. The current stringent criteria for their establishment and continuance
should be maintained – but there should be no restrictions on how many can be created.
Charter schools all over the state have waiting lists of kids whose parents are desperate to
get them out of failing public schools. The needs of those parents and kids take priority
over the discomfort of school boards and educators, in our view. The Business Council
opposes any legislation that undermines and restricts the creation and expansion of
charter schools.