Res. No. 188
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to oppose Governor Pataki’s proposal to lift the cap on charter schools in New York State and place a moratorium on the creation of additional charter schools until the existing New York City public schools are adequately funded.
By Council Members Jackson, Recchia, Jr., Gonzalez, Fidler, Avella, Barron, Brewer, Foster, Nelson, Vann and Liu
Whereas, There are 1.1 million school children in the New York City public school system; and
Whereas, All students who attend these schools should have an opportunity for a quality education; and
Whereas, In January 2001, the State Supreme Court issued a ruling in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity Lawsuit, which stated that the education afforded to the children of New York City was so inadequate that it fell far below Constitutional requirements; and
Whereas, In June of 2003, the Court of Appeals upheld the Supreme Court’s ruling, and ordered the State to develop a method to properly finance the education of New York City public school children; and
Whereas, Despite the court order, New York State did not develop a financial plan, leaving the Court to appoint judicial referees to determine an appropriate financial plan; and
Whereas, The referees recommended, among other things, that the City of New York receive an additional $14.08 billion, phased in over four years, in operating funds, and an additional $9.179 billion over five years for capital needs; and
Whereas, As of March 2006, the State has not provided the City of New York with the additional funding, failing to provide New York City school children with a sound basic education; and
Whereas, The Governor of the State of New York has, however, proposed to lift the State limit on the number of charter schools that may be authorized in New York State from 100 to 250; and
Whereas, According to the New York City Department of Education’s Charter Schools Application Packet, charter schools are independent and autonomous public schools that have the “ability to establish their own policies, design their own educational program, and manage their human and financial resources”; and
Whereas, The New York City Department of Education indicates that there are currently forty-seven (47) charter schools operating in New York City, serving approximately 12,000 school children, with thirteen (13) more charter schools scheduled to open in September 2006; and
Whereas, Critics of charter schools state maintain that the creation of such schools shift much needed resources away from existing public schools; and
Whereas, All attention should be placed on providing needed funding and quality instruction for the public schools that the majority of our children attend; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to oppose Governor Pataki’s proposal to lift the cap on Charter Schools in New York State and place a moratorium on the creation of additional charter schools until existing New York City public schools are adequately funded.
JC/LS# 539/ 3/16/06, 12:02pm