Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Hochul, NY lawmakers near deal to reopen 14 NYC charter schools
By
Jon Campbell
and
Jessica Gould
Published Apr 27, 2023
Modified Apr 27, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
By
Jon Campbell
and
Jessica Gould
Published Apr 27, 2023
Modified Apr 27, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers are nearing a deal that would allow 14 new charter schools to open in New York City, potentially clearing a final hurdle for a state budget agreement that is now 27 days late, according to three people with knowledge of the negotiations.
Under a proposal presented to Democratic senators late Wednesday, the state would be allowed to reassign 14 so-called “zombie charters” — licenses that were awarded to privately run, publicly funded schools that have since gone dormant, according to the sources who were not authorized to speak publicly about the closed-door talks.
The Assembly’s Democratic majority met for hours Thursday to discuss the proposal and other budget issues. They left Albany without resolution, set to return for another closed-door meeting Sunday night. If they sign off, it could help clear the way for a final agreement on a state budget that will exceed $225 billion.
As part of the emerging agreement, New York state would cover the cost of paying rent for the schools in an effort to keep them from "co-locating" with public schools, according to state Sen. John Liu, a Queens Democrat who chairs the Senate's New York City education committee.
"There was a very strong desire to not have any further co-locations," Liu said.
If approved, the measure would mark a significant compromise by Hochul, who had originally proposed allowing more than 100 new charters in New York City in large part by removing the city’s regional cap. Under current law, the city can only have a maximum of 275 charters open, a cap it's already reached. The rest of the state remains well below its limit.
Hochul had argued the public supports new charter schools, saying parents should have more choice when it comes to where to send their children for education.
But Democrats lawmakers and the state and city teachers unions balked at any expansion, citing their long-held position that charter schools bleed enrollment — and funding — from traditional public schools.
While total enrollment at city-run schools has fallen in recent years, charter school enrollment overall is up slightly. The overall increase at charters is largely due to schools that have added grades. Many individual charters have actually seen enrollment decrease, similar to city-run schools, Chartbeat New York has reported.
Charter schools in the city now serve just under 140,000 students, compared to more than 900,000 in traditional public schools.
But the battle over charter schools has intensified in recent months, with a series of proposed Success Academy co-locations prompting protests and a lawsuit from the teachers union.
By Tuesday, Hochul acknowledged most of her recent negotiations with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) had focused more on the zombie charter issue, rather than the regional cap.
“I'm trying hard to overcome the objections, but this is a very challenging issue because of the emotions on both sides of the debate,” Hochul told reporters at the Capitol.
After news of the emerging agreement broke this morning, the city-based United Federation of Teachers issued a statement thanking lawmakers for fighting off Hochul's push to raise the regional cap. The union criticized Hochul for pushing the zombie charter issue.
"Now it’s time for the governor to listen to New York parents who want accountability and transparency from the charter sector and an end to loopholes that benefit corporate charters at the expense of our public schools," the union's statement reads.
Multiple charter school organizations praised the deal, including the New York City Charter School School Center, whose CEO, James Merriman, called it a "win for families and their children."
"For years, leaders, including many of color, have been on hold to open innovative new schools in New York City communities," Merriman said. "This deal will finally allow 14 of them to open their doors.”
Tagged
news
Kathy Hochul
Politics
budget
Jon Campbell
Jon Campbell covers the New York State Capitol for WNYC and Gothamist. Prior to that, he covered the Capitol for more than a decade for the USA TODAY Network. He has twice earned the Walter T. Brown Memorial Award, an honor given annually by the Legislative Correspondents Association alumni for outstanding state government coverage. Jon grew up in the Buffalo area and graduated from the University at Albany. Got a tip? Email Jon at [email protected] or Signal at JonCampbellNY.90.
Read more
Jessica Gould
Jessica is the education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jessica reported on the shutdown and reopening of the nation’s largest school system, highlighting the unprecedented impacts on learning, health and mental health for students, staff and families. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .