In the aftermath of this week’s failed attempt by the New York State Legislature to strengthen the state’s charter-school law and better compete for millions in federal education funds, a survey of state legislators found that Democrats responsible for killing the expansion of choices in public education were themselves beneficiaries of school choice.

Both houses of the state legislature failed to vote on charter-school legislation needed to make New York’s Race to the Top application more competitive.  Instead, Senate and Assembly Democrats bowed to pressure from the state and city teachers unions and agreed to a series of proposals that would have gutted charter schools.  In the end, a rare rebellion among the ranks saved charter schools from a near-death experience. 

State leaders have reached a consensus on truly competing for Race to the Top funds. The challenge now is to make sure that the effort to assemble the needed votes doesn’t allow any poison pills to slip in — and take down the whole effort.  

With the governor urging action, the New York Legislature is considering lifting the cap on the number of charter schools in the state.  This has presented Michael Mulgrew, the new president of New York City’s teachers union, with a choice: stand with the reformers, straddle the line or go to the mattresses against change. 

Students requiring special-education services are underrepresented in New York’s charter schools.  Check out FERA’s NY Ed Reform Blog for proposals that would create the additional capacity within charter schools to serve more students with special-education needs, encourage the creation and approval of schools that better serve special-education students, and create a mechanism for monitoring progress.