New York Teachers’ Unions Sue to Block New Charter Schools

The influential teachers’ unions in New York state have initiated legal action to prevent the establishment of three new charter schools on Long Island. They argue that these schools pose a “threat” to the integrity of public education.

The State University of New York (SUNY) has recently green-lighted the Academy Charter School Network’s proposal to open an elementary and middle school in Brentwood, as well as a high school in Central Islip.

In response, the New York State United Teachers Association, which represents educators in the Suffolk County School District, filed a lawsuit in Albany Supreme Court this week. They contend that SUNY’s approval contravenes existing laws.

NYSUT President Melinda Parson announced the lawsuit late Tuesday, claiming that “this organization has repeatedly flouted state law by ignoring community voices and education experts to rubber-stamp its charter applications.”

“This is an abuse of their power as charter authorizers and a threat to public schools and the communities they educate,” Parson stated. “Public education is most effective when decisions are made with the community, not imposed, and that principle is worth defending.”

Parson pointed out that this lawsuit underscores the issues generated by New York’s dual charter licensing system. State law allows charter school applicants to gain approval from the SUNY Charter School Institute, even if officials from the state Education Department express objections.

The SUNY Charter School Regulatory Authority defended the proposed academies as robust and dismissed the unions’ lawsuit as unfounded.

“I don’t understand,” remarked Joseph Bellack, chair of the SUNY Charter Schools Commission, regarding NYSUT’s grievances.

“We followed the legal process,” Bellack continued. “We go through a very thorough process with applicants. I don’t think there is a strong legal argument against the charter school authorizations.”

The application from the academy included a substantial number of letters of support, some from elected officials.

According to NYSUT officials, the Academy Network already manages other charter schools in Hempstead, Uniondale, and Wyandanch, all of which have demonstrated strong academic performance.

“SUNY’s application process is nationally praised for its rigor, and our high standards and strong accreditation practices have fostered one of the strongest charter school portfolios in the state and one of the strongest charter schools in the nation,” said Mike Lezinski, a spokesperson for the SUNY Charter School Institute. “We are aware of the lawsuit and will have an opportunity to respond in court.”

Various elected officials, including U.S. Representative Phil Ramos, have aligned with members of the Brentwood and Central Islip school districts in their opposition to the new charter schools.

Officials from the Brentwood School District raised concerns that charter schools enroll a smaller number of economically disadvantaged and at-risk students compared to traditional public schools, arguing they divert essential public funds away from local schools.

Charter schools are privately operated and publicly funded, often featuring longer school days and frequently achieving better outcomes on state English and math assessments than neighboring district schools.

It’s worth noting that unlike traditional public schools, many charter schools employ non-union staff.

In total, there are over 350 charter schools operating within the state, with 285 located in New York City.