New York Governor Reverses Position and Calls for Charter Cap to be Raised

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/gov_supports_raising_cap_on_charter_C4oK6H3JSaccv8mxOeNoGM

In a dramatic reversal, Governor Paterson called on New York state lawmakers in mid-December to raise the cap on public charter schools and to implement a host of other education changes needed to compete for federal Race to the Top funds. "I support it (raising the cap)," he said. "There is a potential $400 to $700 million that can come into this state to help pay some of these bills. Seven hundred million would be very helpful right now." The governor credited a November 19 conversation with U.S. Secretary Arne Duncan with helping him decide the state needed to take action. "I can appreciate that people have ideological differences with some of the plans, but this is the plan that President Obama and Secretary of Education Duncan have put before us," Paterson said. "And the question is do we want to compete? Are we racing to the top, or are we racing to the middle? Because, if you're in the middle, you're not going to get funding."

Source: New York Post
Date: 12/26/2009