Gov. Eliot Spitzer, in his first State of the State address, called today for the Legislature to lift the cap on the number of new public charter schools in exchange for transitional aid for districts (like Buffalo and Albany) that are quickly bleeding students to competing charter schools.

"Not only must we invest in what we know works today, we must continuously experiment with new approaches," Spitzer said. "Charter schools can play a critical role here."

The lifting of the charter cap (his call for which was greeted by both boo's and applause from legislators) was part of a 3-point education plan pushed in the "let's reform the heck out of the corrupt Empire State" agenda. In addition to more charter schools, Spitzer called for:

-- An increased focus from the state on birth through age 5 education programs. Spitzer called for making pre-K available to every 4-year-old in the state. Spitzer noted that this has long been a priority for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and the Assembly, setting up the possibility of a deal with the more charter-friendly senate of more charter schools in exchange for greater investment in early childhood ed.

-- Making the state's higher ed system the "best in America." Not sure any electeds were opposed to that one, just a thrown bone to the higher ed establishment.

Earlier in the speech, paying a nod to the pending Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit, Spitzer said he would develop a more transparent school funding formula that increases cash distributed statewide - but targeted where we need it the most. (Decide for yourself what that means...) In exchange for new money, districts must show where it is going and whether it is getting results. Also some talk about "consequences for failure and rewards for success."

"The debate will no longer be about money, but about performance," Spitzer said. "The debate will no longer be about adequacy, but about excellence."

Spitzer said new state money should be invested in "proven programs," and added that he believed smaller classes matter, especially for younger students. The governor also highlighted the importance of teacher quality (especially in schools serving the neediest children,) greater school access to Internet libraries (which didn't seem to arouse legislators much,) and more time in school through longer days, longer years, and afterschool programs.

I'll add more if he says anything interesting about education later in the speech.

UPDATES: 1) Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, in his response, says its all about cooperation, bi-partisanship, good vibes, etc. these days in Albany. There's a lot of love up there.

2.) NYCSA President Bill Phillips' statement on Spitzer's speech can be found here. He liked it. He could dance to it. He gave it an 8.