State Senate Chooses Charter Over Public Schools

The 2015 state budget has nearly $150 billion for spending in the upcoming year. Within the budget, $25 million was to be set aside for the senate to spend. The State Senate was able to spend this money for any additional school aid, public institutions or non-profit organizations. State Senate leaders have decided that the $25 million of the Budget will go to charter schools instead of public schools.

 In the beginning of the school year in 2014, there were over 70,700 applicants to NYC Charter Schools, with only 21,000 seats available. In New York City, there is about 200-charter schools, a majority residing in Brooklyn. Charter schools consist of different minority groups but the schools help a lot of kids who are economically disadvantaged.

Charter schools are at a constant battle with public schools, fighting over whom

deserves to receive more money from the state and the taxpayers. Charter schools are publicly financed but run privately. Issues with charter school funding claim that they pull money away from public schools, while charter schools argue that they receive less money but do the same if not more work that public schools to help students. In NYC charter schools receive roughly $13,777 per student for one school year.

With this type of spending that is set aside in the state budget, it can be very unclear at times to where this money is being spent. Yes, the spending is going towards charter schools, but what are they using the money for? School aid in the budget can’t account for every school but can target schools that really need it.