Email from Peter Murphy, NY Charter Schools Association, on Assembly bill A.4307-B

From: Peter Murphy [mailto:petermurphy@nycsa.org]
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 7:50 PM
To: WTilson@TilsonFunds.com
Subject: LEGISLATIVE ALERT! Assembly’s Proposed Budget Assaults Charter Schools

Dear Charter School Friend:

The following was sent to each charter school leader and to those trustees for whom we have email addresses. Each school also was sent the contact information of their respective state senators and assembly-members (not included here). We ask that you, as a friend and supporter of charter schools, join directly in this effort to defeat the Assembly’s anti-charter school proposals, and support Gov. Spitzer’s effort to raise the cap on charters, along with other pro-charter provisions we are advancing.

If you have any questions on the Assembly’s proposals, how you can help, legislative contact information, or any other issues of concern, please contact me at the Association at (518) 694-3110 ext. 104.

Time is of the essence as the State Budget is due by April 1.

Thank you for your help!

-Peter Murphy
Policy Director
-----------------------------
New York Charter Schools Association

LEGISLATIVE ALERT!

Assembly’s Proposed Budget Assaults Charter Schools

--Monday, March 12, 2007--

Dear Charter School Colleagues:

This is not a drill.

The State Assembly has proposed a string of anti-charter school proposals that threaten the funding and operation of existing schools and will prevent serious charter expansion in the future.

The Assembly’s charter provisions, proposed in bill number A.4307-B, would:

- sharply reduce annual funding growth for existing charter schools; this, despite over $1.4 billion in additional aid for traditional district schools;

- require unionization of all employees (without employee input) with limited exceptions;

- limit management’s ability to discipline underperforming employees;

- eliminate entirely SUNY-CSI’s role as a charter authorizer, with the State Education Department assuming SUNY’s current role.

Details on these and the other anti-charter proposals contained in the Assembly’s budget can be found in the first attachment to this email. The Association also can answer any questions you may have by calling 1-888-465-4401 ext.104.

As we mentioned late last week, each House of the legislature (Assembly and Senate) was going to issue its own budget proposals early this week. On the positive side, the Senate budget proposal will not directly impact your school, but mirror Gov. Spitzer’s proposal to increase the number of charter schools authorized by raising the cap. By contrast, the Assembly’s budget presents significant funding and operational limitations on your school, and demands a response – from all of us.

CALL TO ACTION!

The final State budget is due by April 1st – fewer than three weeks from now. Time is short and it is therefore crucial for charter schools to get directly involved. We ask that all charter schools mobilize parents, trustees and supporters to contact their state legislators, particularly their Assembly representatives, to oppose these anti-charter school measures that clearly threaten the educational and financial viability of your school. In so doing, parents should demand funding equity, greater charter school opportunities, and the operational freedom for charter schools to educate their children.

Attached we also included a simple message in letter form for parents to deliver to their Assembly Members and Senators and contact information for your charter school’s Assembly Member and Senator also is attached.

Contacting state legislators to oppose the Assembly’s anti-charter provisions in Assembly bill A.4307-B can be done using one or more of the following means:

- calling legislative district and Albany offices, using the attached draft letter as guidance to talk from (contact information is attached);

- visiting legislators’ district offices -- unscheduled, if necessary (NYCSA can assist in arranging meeting);

- faxing or emailing the attached letter (feel free to make stylistic changes).

NYCSA and the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence also will be working with any charter schools that wish to send representatives directly to Albany while legislators are in session.

PRO-CHARTER AGENDA

In addition to opposing the Assembly’s bill, parents and other charter school stakeholders should go on the offensive by demanding pro-charter actions, including:

- Raise the Charter Cap: Support the Governor’s proposed cap-lift; and

- Increase Funding: Increase the size of the State Stimulus Fund to enable charter schools to get funding for building needs;

Finally, it should be noted that legislators may not appreciate being pressured this way, and may claim that the Assembly’s anti-charter proposals are merely a negotiating position. But only by direct, grassroots pressure from charter parents and other supporters can we be certain to kill any of these proposals from being enacted in the final state budget, which is due by April 1st -- fewer than three weeks from today!

SO PLEASE HAVE YOUR PARENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS AT LEAST CONTACT ASSEMBLY-MEMBER ______________ AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! (Contact information and letter is attached.)

Again, please do not hesitate to contact us at the New York Charter Schools Association at 1-888-465-4401 or the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence at 212-437-8300 for further details and assistance in making contact with state legislators.

The stakes are high -- the viability of your school is threatened.

PETER MURPHY
Policy Director/COO
NY Charter Schools Association
120 Broadway
Albany, New York 12204-2703
Ofc.: (518) 694-3110 (ext. 104)
Fax: (518) 694-3115
Cell: (518) 369-1154
e-mail: PeterMurphy@NYCSA.org