The New York State Senate has written a budget bill that opens the public coffers to charter schools and guts mayoral control in New York City. If the Republican-controlled Senate has its way, the charters will get more money, will not pay rent, will get new slots for pre-K, and will be protected against any effort by Mayor de Blasio to reverse decisions made by the lame-duck Bloomberg administration.

In the past, Mayor Bloomberg gave the charter operators whatever they wanted. He was also a major funder of Republicans in the State Senate. The very sizable campaign contributions by hedge fund managers (Democrats for Education Reform) to New York politicians are paying off for the charter operators, which enroll 3% of children in New York State and 6% in New York City.

According to the report in the New York Daily News,

“The Senate’s budget proposal expected to be unveiled later in the day would bar Mayor de Blasio from rescinding co-location agreements with charters, boost per pupil funding for charter school students, and prohibit school districts from charging rent to charters that co-locate in an existing public school building, the Daily News has learned.

“The measures are part of a comprehensive seven-point charter school plan expected to be put forward in a one-house budget resolution by the Senate Republicans and five dissident Democrats who control the chamber together, sources briefed on the plan say.

“De Blasio recently rescinded co-location agreements with three charter schools operated by former City Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz. The Senate plan put together by Senate GOP Leader Dean Skelos and his members along with the Independent Democratic Conference led by Sen. Jeffrey Klein would reverse that, sources said.

“Under the proposal, the sources said, any charter school that was approved to co-locate in a public school building prior to Jan. 1, 2014 would be protected. The measure will state that any significant change in school building utilization relating to co-location shall not be authorized without the consent of the charter school.

“Charter schools in New York City receive nearly 30% less in public funding per pupil than traditional public schools. The Senate plan would boost the basic tuition amount the city would transfer per pupil to the charters.

“Charter schools for the first time would also be eligible to receive separate state building aid funding after de Blasio cut $210 million in city capital money earmarked for the charters that build in private locations.

“The plan would also pressure the city to provide public space for charters by creating an additional cost to the city if they don’t. Under the plan, sources said, the city would be required to pay an additional 25% on top of the per pupil money it gives out to charter schools so a charter can go into a private space.

“And in hopes of protecting charter schools from future problems with the city, the Senate would allow them to apply to the SUNY Charter Institute or the state board of Regents to oversee and supervise them, rather than the city.

“The Senate would also authorize charters to provide full-day prekindergarten programs, something Gov. Cuomo has said he would also push.”