As part of the state budget she will release on Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul will propose reforms that may allow hundreds of new charter schools to establish in New York City, according to information obtained by The Post.
Hochul stated in a statement, “I believe every student deserves a quality education, and we propose to give New York families more options and opportunities to succeed.”
Her proposal maintains a statewide cap of 460 charter schools, but eliminates regional caps to open up 85 additional seats for new charter schools everywhere in the state, including New York City.
Currently, there is a limit of 275 charters for New York City.
Hochul is also advocating for revisions that will allow 11 more charter schools to open in New York City by reallocating slots presently held by “zombie” schools that have closed since the state legislature and former governor Andrew Cuomo approved modifications to state charter rules in 2015. These charters are among the 275 in New York City.
Any modifications to charter rules through the state budget, due on April 1, must be authorized by the state Senate and Assembly, which are controlled by the Democrats.
Some proponents of charter schools expressed concern prior to Hochul’s budget announcement on Wednesday that she may not fulfill a campaign pledge to support additional charter schools in New York City.
Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Suffolk), a backer of charter schools, told The Post on Tuesday, “She will eventually have to stand her ground.” People are waiting to see, excuse my French, if she has the intestinal fortitude to push back against the left.
According to James Merriam of the New York City Charter School Center, it is still uncertain how many new charter schools might desire to launch in New York City, given that the present cap has prevented many potential applicants for years.
“This work is extremely complex and involves months and years of planning. If you want to be successful,” he added, “you must work hard. It is not a mushroom farm.
However, the teachers union, which wields significant influence over the progressive Democratic lawmakers who lead Albany, as well as their activist allies, are expected to oppose the idea of allowing any more charter schools in New York, which, according to them, would divert resources from traditional public schools.
Jasmine Gripper, executive director of the left-leaning advocacy group Alliance for a Quality Education, refutes the notion that everyone is open to charter schools and that they may do whatever they want. Parents have a vested interest in the success of their public schools. And having a system that competes with the existing system makes it difficult to locate resources.”
Hochul’s continued efforts to overhaul controversial criminal justice reforms in the face of rising crime, as well as her stalled efforts to get the New York state Senate to approve Hector LaSalle’s nomination to head the state’s highest court, indicate that Hochul will continue to pivot toward the political center.
Assembly Republican Minority Leader Will Barclay (D-Fulton) stated earlier this month that Hochul’s response to rising crime would be the next test.
Hochul will also explain how she wants Albany Democrats to change a crucial aspect of bail reform that requires judges to release criminal defendants under the “least restrictive conditions” prior to their trials – a standard that critics of bail reform say has hampered the judiciary while allowing repeat offenders to commit additional crimes.
Former three-term Governor George Pataki recently told The Post that Hochul must demonstrate that she, not progressive legislators, is in charge of the political agenda in Albany following a confirmation hearing earlier this month in which lefty senators voted down Hochul’s LaSalle nomination in an unprecedented move.
She stated without elaboration in her State of the State address on January 10 that the “least restrictive” proposal would apply to “serious” transgressions.
Tuesday, the majority leader of the state senate, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, warned that there may not be sufficient data on the consequences of controversial measures passed in 2019 to justify making adjustments this year.
“There are some data, but not a great deal of data,” she remarked during a 10-hour legislative hearing on crime data on Monday. Regarding broader public safety, it is imperative that we continue the dialogue.
Some moderate Democrats and Republicans have expressed support for Hochul’s public safety plans while condemning Hochul’s controversial housing plan, which she claims is vital to address the state’s severe lack of affordable housing.
Suburbanites are particularly outraged by her idea to oblige towns to meet state requirements for the construction of new housing as part of her plan to build 800,000 new homes over the next ten years while mandating denser development near transit hubs.
“We cannot support a one-size-fits-all approach to local zoning, even though we recognize the need to increase the availability of housing, especially affordable housing,” states a recent letter to Hochul from New York Republican members of Congress. “Chaos will ensue if you impose unit quotes on municipalities and provide little to no investment for critical infrastructure upgrades,”
Hochul also faces opposition from the political center and right over his idea to prohibit gas hookups in new, smaller buildings beginning in 2025 and in larger buildings three years later.
New Yorkers have expressed horror at the prospect of practically outlawing gas stoves in future buildings, with restaurants expressing alarm over the possibility of costly upgrades to continue using their preferred heat source.
Hochul spokeswoman Hazel Crampton-Hays stated earlier this month, “This proposal would not apply to existing gas stoves in existing buildings, such as these restaurants, and would mark the beginning of a process to determine appropriate regulations to best protect our planet, our health, and our economy.”
Many of the contents of Hochul’s planned budget will not be made public until she begins delivering her budget speech around noon on Tuesday, but at least one charter backer has already given Hochul high grades.
“This is fantastic news. Tinelle Ramjattan, a parent from Jamaica, Queens, who wants to enroll her 3-year-old son Benjamin in a charter school, said, “It’s a great start.” “The governor is presently attentive. She is attempting to give us a chance.”
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