The Choice Channel

“The charter school movement is split over the best strategy to deal with state lawmakers resistant to further expansion of the schools. Charter school advocates disagree on whether they should be engaging or attacking their opponents in the Legislature, which is considering lifting the cap on the number of schools above the current limit of 100. Those who support a more aggressive approach say lawmakers won’t act unless they are confronted with outside pressure and negative publicity. Advocates of tougher tactics have launched a statewide ad campaign that identifies by name specific lawmakers who are standing in the way of more schools. The campaign has provoked concern among other leaders in the movement, who contend the attack strategy has failed to get results and has backfired by angering lawmakers. They are claiming that the Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, has threatened to cut off debate on charter schools until the ads stop running.” (05/30/06)