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One of the foundational principles that Americans cherish is that every child should have the opportunity and freedom to learn, grow, and achieve their full potential. In New York, taxpayers invest more in public education than in any other state in the country, yet many children remain trapped in failing schools.
As most of the state’s business is done through the annual budget process, education reforms must be at the forefront of the state-budget debate this year.
Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget proposal includes a record $34.5 billion in school financing, fully funding Foundation Aid at $24.1 billion, and providing unprecedented support to economically distressed school districts.
Despite these efforts, the governor’s plan has received fierce criticism from her colleagues on the left, primarily due to her proposal to modify the state cap on charter schools.
Hochul aims to eliminate regional caps and add more slots for students in high-demand areas like New York City.
Although the state’s public school system is receiving the highest level of funding in New York history, opponents of charter schools claim these institutions take millions of dollars away from public schools.
This, however, is a flat-out lie as competition from charter schools has either no effect or a positive effect on traditional public schools.
Charter schools have successfully raised scores for students in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, including inner cities. State Education Department data reveal that 80% of New York City charter-school students are economically disadvantaged yet they score higher in math and English than district averages and statewide averages.
Lifting the cap on charter schools is the most important thing the state can do to provide hundreds of thousands of young people with better education and opportunities for the rest of their lives.
The Republican leader of the New York state Senate, Rob Ortt, urges the governor’s Democratic allies in the Legislature to stand for the parents and children rather than far-left activists who have too much power over the Democrats’ political campaigns. Empowering parents, not special interests, is the key to fixing the broken education system and making it work for children.
Education decisions must be restored to teachers and parents. Ortt’s Senate Republican conference has proposed a comprehensive “Rescue New York” agenda to lift the cap on New York City charter schools, allowing those already approved to open as planned without sacrificing the state’s historic financial commitment to public education.
New York politicians must not dictate how teachers teach and students learn.
Children are the most special interest and deserve attention and decisive action to ensure a brighter future. Ortt calls on New York to take this chance now to work bipartisanly and do what is right.
»Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget proposal includes a record $34.5 billion in school financing«
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