At the education forum at Hunter College earlier this week, Chancellor Tisch echoed Education Commissioner Steiner's earlier comment on raising the charter cap; this is, the state should take a "thoughtful" approach, as reported by Gotham Schools.

Okay. We agree.

So, can we move on from this "thoughtful" descriptor for expanding charters? It's taken New York State a decade to open only about 150 charter schools, of which fewer than a dozen were closed. This chartering and oversight process has been very "thoughtful" for a decade and continues to be "thoughtful" and has been constantly adjusted as a result of being "thoughtful."

No one is suggesting--not the most ardent charter advocate--that we be thoughtless, which means we don't need reminders that we should be "thoughtful" since we have been "thoughtful" from the beginning.

A cap lift will make us no less "thoughtful." You know, I think it will make us even more "thoughtful" going forward!