Here's Peter Murphy on this topic:

New York's public charter schools will be the subject of a high-profile legislative hearing this week chaired by one of their chief critics, state Sen. Bill Perkins.

Oddly, Perkins represents more families with students in charter schools than any other legislator: His Harlem district is home to more than two dozen charters. Yet the senator has been growing more outspoken in his criticism of these innovative public schools.

…Sen. Perkins' hearing this week ought to be an opportunity to learn the facts about charter schools and address any shortcomings. But will he resist the pressure to instead put on an anti-charter circus?

Ironically, Perkins himself gave one the best reasons to raise the charter cap when he acknowledged last month to the state School Boards Association, "Many parents in my district and elsewhere clamor to get their children into charters."

Do right by your community and your constituents, Sen. Perkins: Let charters continue to blossom in New York, so that public educational opportunity can spread further.

Here are links to some other articles about Perkins: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/charter_bashing_pol_ripped_as_teacher_OBYxPFLGei2ymv8kRaAenN and http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/harlem_showdown_nTcNzLds0jj2Q0tm8cerwO

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