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MARGIN NOTES
October 1, 2009
On Day 1, Steiner offers support for a cap on charters
On his first day as Commissioner of the New York State Education Department, David Steiner voiced support for holding onto the state’s charter cap.
“We are many many schools short of the cap,” the newly-minted Commissioner Steiner said after taking his oath of office today. “A cap is a way of saying let’s not just go mindlessly into the future. Let’s be thoughtful about this. Let’s ask ourselves every time whether this is the right decision about the right school in the right place.”
You can listen to the entirety of Steiner’s speech and Q&A here.
At present, there are two caps placed on the Board of Regents and SUNY, preventing them from opening more than a total of 200 charter schools. During a campaign speech yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg called for eliminating the charter ceiling, which many charter advocates predict the state will reach within the next year.
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October 1st, 2009 7:56 pm
Take THAT, Mindless Mike.
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October 1st, 2009 10:08 pm
Let’s hope the Commissioner Steiner is not as cautious about running the education department and improving student learning and achievement as he is on keeping the charter cap. We are much closer to reaching this cap since it’s actually two caps: 100 for SUNY, which has 19 remaining; and 100 for the Regents and school districts, including NYC, which together have only 18 remaining. Since Chancellor Joel Klein has as many as two dozen applications at a given time, this cap is likely to be reached next year. Is Commissioner Steiner afraid of being auspicious on charter school policy, and to what end? President Obama, Secretary Duncan and Mayor Bloomberg (who faces the electorate shortly) display no such reserve because they are proven to be educationally effective for children and remain in high demand by parents. And the teacher unions, historically not in favor of a strong charter climate, are acquiescing to charters as being a legitimate part of the public education system. The charter cap needs to be lifted, and Dr. Steiner should support such as part of his broader agenda as education commissioner. If and when the cap is lifted, Commissioner Steiner, the Regents and SUNY need not be any less “thoughtful” about charters, nor give into temptation of “mindlessly” approving charters just because more become available.
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October 1st, 2009 11:02 pm
About time someone comes to their senses.
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October 2nd, 2009 9:57 am
Charter critics should not misunderstand what Commissioner Steiner actually said. He did not say he is opposed to raising the cap at the appropriate time, nor did he say he opposes charter schools. So comments like “about time” don’t make any sense.
As Peter Murphy points out, the Commissioner may not understand how close the Regents are to hitting their cap for charters, but he has a pretty big portfolio as commissioner and may need some time to get up to speed on this and countless other issues.
As for Steiner’s desire to review each charter application on its merits, that is what the law has always required — hardly news.
So, critics should not assume that he opposes lifting the cap. Although, at the moment, he does not seem supportive of the Mayor’s desire to eliminate the cap entirely.
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October 2nd, 2009 10:21 am
Tom C,
Just yesterday you cautioned against flogging the mother tongue.Methinks you may be over-reacting to the prior comment.
Steiner used the word “mindless” first.
And you mischaracterize TIB’s quip while using it as a springboard to rag on Steiner. Very slick.
In context, “about time” is moving past mindlessness. “All in good time,” or “all in due time,” or “it may take a little time to arrive at a less mindless decision” may be more to our mutual liking.
And if, as PM suggests and with which you clearly agree, the new Commish is clueless, then why begrudge him time to get up to speed? Mindless? Meet PRUDENT.
Then again, maybe you just want the cap lifted. Like yesterday.
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October 2nd, 2009 10:39 am
Yes, I would like the cap lifted.
Yes, I am opposed to mindlessly approving unqualified charters.
No, I do not think the new Commissioner is clueless. He actually possesses a formidable intellect. That does not mean, however, that he was aware when he made his charter comments about the technicality that Peter Murphy pointed out: namely, that the Regents and SUNY each have a separate cap. So, Peter is right that the Regents will run out of charters before SUNY. That will cause the Regents and Commish to have to deal with the cap issue earlier than they might think. That’s all I was saying.
Overall, I was just cautioning people against reading too much into Steiner’s brief comments on charters. Was not looking to “rag” on anyone.
Take a deep breath. We can disagree without being disagreeable.
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October 2nd, 2009 5:14 pm
Tom,
My comment above still stands, characterize me as you like.Lifted or eliminated? How would you determine the appropriate number or ratio?
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