Those were there words of James Merriman, executive director of the SUNY Charter School Institute, after the final charter schools were approved yesterday under the stifling cap that was included in the original state charter law. Without a change in the Legislature, no more high-quality charter schools will be allowed to open in the state. See Times Union story here.

Plenty of folks are working to lift the cap, however. Lawmakers from both major parties and from all over the state held a press conference in Albany to urge common sense in lifting the cap:

"There should be no cap on charter schools. That's not taking anything away from public schools. That's competition," said Sen. Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx. Diaz was joined by a host of other politicians, many of whom are backing a bill to remove the cap entirely (Gov. Pataki has proposed pushing up the number of charters allowed from 100 to 250.)

Assemblymen: Sam Hoyt - D, Buffalo; Ruben Diaz Jr. - D, Bronx; Adriano Espaillatt - D, Washington Heights; Roger Green - D, Brooklyn; and Michael Benjamin - D, Bronx.

Senators: Marty Golden - R, Brooklyn; Jim Alesi - R, Rochester; Ray Meier, R, Utica; and Malcolm Smith, D, Queens.



Reporter Rick Karlin notes that the urgent push for more charter schools is coming from "black and Hispanic lawmakers and activists, who note that kids in their districts and neighborhoods disproportionately go to poor-performing public schools. They say such students should have options to switch schools that may offer alternatives." They have teamed up with Republicans who like the idea of school choice. Opposition is coming from educrats who want more cash for their troughs and teachers unions.

UPDATE: These guys aren't engaging in competition, they are draining public schools of badly-needed funds. Children Last.

UPDATE II: The UpstateBlog writes up this "future of school choice" in NY issue as well, and is particularly impressed with True North Rochester Preparatory Charter School trustee James Gleason's comments about finding new schooling alternatives so that student performance in urban areas will start to show some signs of life. The Democrat and Chronicle story on True North is here.

UPDATE III: Note in the Times Union story that a few pols like Assemblyman Ron Canestrari want a cap on the number of charter schools in Albany. This is extremely good news for kids who like to torment their teachers by grabbing their wigs and throwing them around the room.
Parents and teachers who think schools should be better than that should fugheddaboutit.