Charter school supporters sent a letter today to state lawmakers, urging them to pass a a host of education reform initiatives – including lifting the charter cap – to improve the state’s chances in Round II of “Race to the Top” funding, arguing the city’s threat to fire thousands of teachers adds a new sense of urgency to their request.

“If Albany moves forward with the school aid cuts proposed by the Governor, New York City may have to lay off 6,400 teachers—the first teacher layoffs in New York City since the 1970s,” the letter reads.

“It is nearly a certainty that our students will lose beloved teachers and programs vital to their ongoing success. Race to the Top requires that we adopt innovative, achievable strategies boosting student achievement. Our failed application is a sign our educational standards don’t go far enough.”

New York made it into the finals in Round I of RttP, but then finished second-to-last. The next deadline is June 1.

The signers – a diverse group that ranges from the Rev. Calvin Butts (a longtime ally and suopporter of charter champion Mayor Bloomberg) to Sister Paulette LoMonaco to Phillip Banks, Jr. – are seeking reforms that actually surpass what was in the controversial bill passed Monday by the Senate, including:

1) Substantially raising (or eliminating) the cap on charter schools (without adding provisions that would make it more difficult for new charters to be authorized or find locations);

2) Allowing districts to use student performance data as one component in teacher evaluations and decisions to grant tenure; and

3) Allowing school districts to use more comprehensive metrics than simply seniority when making decisions about teacher retention.

RTTT_05-07-2010

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