Action alert: Don't lift the charter cap!

It isn't too late to register for our Charter Teach-in tonight from 6 to 7 PM! Click here to register now. Hi Ashley, The New York State Governor, Kathy Hochul is pushing for a massive expansion of charter schools in NYC right now through the state budget process. Her proposal would allow for an additional 100 charter schools to open in NYC. NYC cannot afford more charter schools. According to the NYC Mayor, this expansion of charter schools could cost the NYC Department of Education about $1 billion. Currently NYC already spends over $3 billion in rising costs for charter schools. In the 2022-23 school year, NYC received a $348 million increase in state aid, but NYC was required to increase spending on charters by $200 million. Meaning, about 57% of the increase in state aid for NYC went towards charter schools, which educate just 14% of the students. Email your State Legislators and Governor Hochul now, and tell them to make certain that lifting the charter cap and reauthorizing failed "zombie charters," stays out of the state budget. The fact is: We don't need new charters — there are enough schools, public and charter, to go around. Enrollment is down in both New York City's public and charter schools. Keeping the current charter cap means that existing charters will remain open, and will not be affected at all. It also means that public schools will not lose a significant amount of funding to charters. We need to shift our focus from adding more charters, to how we can improve the public school system for all children, sharing the best ideas from successful public and charter schools. The goal — for all of us — should be to preserve our public education system that is available to all, publicly funded, publicly run, and accountable to ensure all children have access to high quality schools in their neighborhoods. Email your State Legislators and Governor Hochul now and tell them to ensure that the enacted budget does not raise the charter cap or reauthorize "zombie charters" that failed! In solidarity, Jasmine Gripper Alliance for Quality Education Sent via ActionNetwork.org. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Alliance for Quality Education, please click here.