But the New York State United Teachers, which represents educators in the Suffolk County school districts, filed suit in Albany Supreme Court this week, claiming SUNY\u2019s approval violated the law.<\/p>\n
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The New York State United Teachers has sued the State University of New York to block the approval of three new charters schools in Long Island. Hans Pennink<\/p>\n
\u201cThis entity has repeatedly ignored state law by dismissing community voices and overriding education experts in order to rubber-stamp charter applications,\u201d NYSUT President Melinda Person claimed in announcing the lawsuit late Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is an abuse of its authority as a charter authorizer and a threat to public schools and the communities they serve,\u201d Person said. \u201cPublic education works best when decisions are made with communities \u2014 not imposed on them \u2014 and that principle is worth defending.\u201d<\/p>\n
Person said the suit highlights the dysfunction created by New York\u2019s dual charter authorizing system. Under state law, charter school applicants can get approved by SUNY\u2019s Charter School Institute, even if state Education Department officials object.<\/p>\n
SUNY charter school regulators said Academy filed solid proposals for the three schools \u2014 and dismissed the union\u2019s lawsuit as nonsense.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really understand it,\u201d Joseph Belluck, chairman of the SUNY charter school committee, said of the NYSUT complaint.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe followed the process under the law,\u201d Belluck said. \u201cWe have a very thorough process we put applicants through. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a strong legal argument [against the charter school authorizations].\u201d<\/p>\n
The applications submitted by Academy also included dozens of letters of support, including from some elected officials.<\/p>\n
The Academy network operates other charter schools with strong academic track records in Hempstead, Uniondale and Wyandach, SUNY officials said in reports approving the applications.<\/p>\n
\u201cSUNY\u2019s application process is lauded nationally for its rigor, and our high standards and strong authorizing practices have cultivated the strongest charter school portfolio in the state and one of the strongest in the country,\u201d said SUNY Charter Schools Institute spokesman Mike Lesczinski. \u201cWe are aware of the lawsuits and will have an opportunity to respond in court.\u201d<\/p>\n