Statement from NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi on the reported pending closure of the New Covenant Charter School in Albany:
"The New Covenant Charter School's abrupt decision to close is a troubling end to the school's troubled seven-year existence. It creates an unhappy and stressful disruption in the lives of several hundred students and their families, as well as the many dedicated educators and staff.
"Now the Albany schools are faced with absorbing the displaced children without reasonable preparation or planning. New Covenant's decision is also a betrayal to City of Albany taxpayers who were required - to the detriment of public schools that serve all children - to foot the bill year after year.
"Coupled with the misinformation that Albany received about charter school funding, taxpayers are now faced with even greater uncertainty. The pending closure of New Covenant demonstrates clearly that real charter school reform is urgently needed. State lawmakers must act now to change the way charter schools are authorized, held accountable and funded.
"Children, teachers and the community deserve answers to the hundreds of questions raised by this closure and by the dysfunctional and burdensome charter school law."
NYSUT represents more than 585,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.
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