The head of the city's teachers union says his members are not to blame for Albany's failure to pass a bill that could have helped the state win $700 million in federal aid.
Gov. David Paterson wanted to more than double the current limit of 200 charter schools allowed under state law, in order to help the state's chances in a federal competition for education reform called Race to the Top.
But the application deadline was today. And lawmakers couldn't agree on a bill.
United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew says his union wanted more oversight of charter schools to ensure they take enough special education students.
"We asked for fairness for all students and to increase transparency for charter operations and to basically force people who are making profits out of this," Mulgrew says.
But charter school advocates claim the union helped water down the governor's bill out of self interest, because charter schools don't have to hire unionized teachers.
New York delivered its application anyway. If it doesn't win, it can apply for the next round of Race to the Top funds in June. Forty one states applied in the first round of the competition.
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