I have to get more details on this, as I read it Charter schools will be getting seperate funding? The unions don’t want any money coming from the Public school system even though students will not be attending?

Give me more details……

Spitzer proposal could lead to more charter schools

ALBANY - Gov. Eliot Spitzer may have cleared the way for approval of more charter schools by proposing to compensate school districts for potential financial losses, lawmakers said yesterday.

The Democrat said he wants to increase the number of publicly financed but privately run charter schools. But he said the state should ensure that school districts that lose students to charters don’t lose the state aid that goes with them.

“I think it’s a great initiative that the governor has advanced, and I want the details of it, but certainly this has the potential for me to change my vote on the issue,” said Assemblyman Ronald Canestrari, D-Cohoes, Albany County, who has opposed adding more charter schools because of the financial impact on host school districts.

The Legislature launched charter schools in 1998, but limited it to 100 across New York. That cap was reached a year ago. Former Gov. George Pataki, a Republican, and the GOP-led Senate wanted to add more last year, but the Democrat-controlled Assembly blocked them. That could change with the backing of a Democratic governor.

“The chances of this becoming a reality are significantly increased by Eliot Spitzer proposing it as opposed to the previous administration,” said Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, a proponent of more charter schools.

The extra funding for school districts with a high concentration of charter schools, including Buffalo and Albany, is an important component of the legislation, he said.

Spitzer laid out several other education proposals in his State of the State address this week. They are:

- Use a new school-funding formula that dramatically increases state aid over four years. Schools must use the money for programs proven to work, such as smaller class sizes and longer school days. There should be consequences for failure to improve and rewards for success.

- Form a commission on public higher education to recommend a policy for improving academics, ensuring access and contributing to the state’s work force and economic development.

- Make prekindergarten available to every 4-year-old within four years.

“It’s marvelous. We are so optimistic and so hopeful,” Karen Schimke of the nonprofit Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy said of the pre-K plan.

The state added $50 million last year to its preschool program for 4-year-olds. The Board of Regents, which sets education policy in New York, is asking for an additional $108 million in 2007-08, for a total of $409 million.

There are about 250,000 4-year-olds in the state, and about 70,000 are in public preschool programs, Schimke said. The additional $108 million could bring that up to 100,000 children. About 80 percent of families would be expected to enroll their children in programs, if offered, she said.

The Spitzer administration has not released specifics on the preschool and other proposals, but the figures are expected to be released around the time he proposes a state budget in a few weeks, spokeswoman Christine Anderson said in an e-mail.

About 90 of the 100 charter schools approved in New York are operating, according to the New York Charter Schools Association. Several closed, never opened or are scheduled to open by the fall.

An additional six charter schools were converted from traditional public schools and do not count toward the 100.

Legislators passed the charter-school law eight years ago in exchange for Pataki’s agreement to raise their pay.

New York State United Teachers lobbied strongly last year against Pataki’s proposal to allow an additional 150 charter schools statewide. The influential union said it wanted protections for the local districts, such as a say in whether a charter is approved, and money to make up for students who transfer to charter schools and take school funding with them. Most charter schools are not unionized.

The School Administrators Association of New York State said in a statement that it opposes allowing more charter schools “as the charter school experiment has yet to produce the positive results necessary to validate such an expansion.” The group said it is “encouraged” by the proposal to provide transition aid for affected school districts.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, said his committee endorsed a bill last year to increase the number of charter schools and give local districts a say in the approval process. It was later amended to include transition aid for affected districts, but the bill died. He is reintroducing the legislation this year, he said.

As for Spitzer’s proposal, “I think it strikes a reasonable balance between two extremes on this particular issue,” Saland said.

Peter Murphy of the Charter Schools Association said his group supports the governor on charter schools.

“This means more opportunity for children and parents across the state. And we have no problem at all with addressing the school districts’ concerns on funding,” he said.