Teachers’ union-backing NY pols who called for charter school rally probe get civics lesson from fuming officials

Charter school officials have strongly criticized two Democratic New York state lawmakers for calling to investigate a recent pro-charter school rally, accusing them of acting as muscle for the teachers union. State Sens. John Liu and Shelly Mayer, who chair influential committees overseeing New York City schools, raised concerns about the rally attended by 15,000 parents and students, urging state education officials to look into whether the event violated state laws.

The rally, which saw participants march across the Brooklyn Bridge, was described by charter school operators as a fundamental expression of civic life, with families advocating for fairness, equity, and access to quality education. In response to Liu and Mayer’s letter to state education officials, charter school officials defended the rally as pro-charter school advocacy rather than a partisan display.

The lawmakers alleged that some charter schools had coerced families and staff into attending the rally and called for an investigation into whether state rules or laws were violated. However, charter school operators rebuked Liu and Mayer for mischaracterizing the event and accused them of smearing educators and parents who participated in the rally.

Charter schools, which are publicly funded and managed by not-for-profit operators, typically operate on a longer school day and year than traditional public schools. They also have a higher percentage of non-union teachers and often outperform zoned neighborhood public schools on standardized tests.

In a scathing response to Liu and Mayer, charter school officials criticized the lawmakers for targeting charter schools instead of addressing the failures of traditional public schools. They called for investigations into the arbitrary charter cap that limits families’ choices in education, rather than attempting to silence parent voices.

The letter challenging Liu and Mayer’s accusations was signed by prominent figures in the charter school sector, including founders and CEOs of several charter schools in New York City. Despite the backlash from charter school officials, Liu stood by his concerns about the rally, citing the cancellation of classes on a school day and allegations of coercion as reasons for further investigation.

The pro-charter rally took place just weeks before the upcoming general election for mayor, with Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani expressing opposition to lifting the state cap on charter school expansion. The controversy surrounding the rally underscores the ongoing debate over the role of charter schools in New York City’s education system.