Transportation hurdles limit options for low-income families - Denver Post

An interesting (and timely) piece about a new study that found that transportation issues limit low-income families' ability to choose the best school for their children.  The study was conducted in Washington, D.C., and Denver.

http://www.denverpost.com/education/ci_12863938

Charter school bus service curtailed - Buffalo News

The June article that announced BPS' decision to limit all city charter schools' transportation and to cut it off completely to CSAT.  Said the article: "Wednesday’s 7-0 vote was done without any public discussion of the issue."

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/713960.html

Who's Waiting for NYS Senate to Act? - WGRZ-TV

A piece by WGRZ-TV's Kristin Donnelly about important legislative actions that are just waiting for state senators to get back to work, including charter school restoration funds.  CSAT's Director of P.R. Tom Lucia asks for a "white knight" to step up to help charter students.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=67932&catid=13

Senate Stalemate Imperils Local Funding - Buffalo News

This article points to the many projects, programs and institutions caught in the crossfire by the leadership crisis in Albany.

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/706997.html

Get Back to Work! - Buffalo News Editorial

This editorial by the staff at the Buffalo News urges state legislators to stop bickering and get back to doing what they are elected and paid to do - work in the best interest of our community!

http://www.buffalonews.com/149/story/705878.html

Charter Schools Cheered by $30 Million in State Funding - Buffalo News

This Buffalo News article talks briefly about the funding restoration and its impact on two (CSAT is one) of 16 local charter schools.

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/652992.html

NYCSA Press Release Announcing the Funding Restoration

This is the press release, from the New York Charter School Association, announcing the restoration of $30 million to the state's charter school.  With the move, some Charter Schoold will will still face financial cuts next year although not as deep.

http://www.nycsa.org/Communications/News_2009/N042009/PR_30Mill_Restored_042309.pdf

The Union War on Charter Schools - Wall Street Journal

A thoughtful piece that ran in the April 16, 2009, Wall Street Journal about unions' role in the recent attacks on charter schools.  Editorialist Jay Greene wonders why charter schools should be penalized even though "the highest quality studies have consistently shown that students learn more in charter schools." 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123985052084823887.html

Buffalo School Budget Offers Program Enhancements - Buffalo News

While higher-performing charter schools deal with politically motivated budget cuts, the Buffalo Public Schools will be offering "program enhancements" next year thanks to nearly $19 million in federal money and $9 million of charter-school money resulting from the state's charter-funding freeze.

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/641322.html

Charter School Advocates Press for Federal Stimulus Money to Stave Off State Funding Freeze - N.Y. Daily News

The New York-based Center for Charter School Excellence is taking Pres. Barack Obama up on his word to support charter schools by pushing to allow charters to access federal stimulus money in the wake of the state budget cuts.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2009/04/15/2009-04-15_charter_school_advocates_press_for_federal_stimulus_money_to_stave_off_state_fun.html

Union's Actions Louder Than Words - Buffalo News

This Letter to the Editor from CSAT Board Chair Fred Saia responds to a piece submitted to the Buffalo News  by NYSUT's Richard Iannuzzi that praised the union's work on education reform.  Days after his letter ran in the paper, Mr. Iannuzzi admitted to the News that NYSUT sought the charter school funding cap. 

http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/everybodyscolumn/story/636597.html

Local Charter Schools Face Layoffs and Cuts - Buffalo News

This piece that ran in the Buffalo News on April 7, 2009, details how local charter schools (including CSAT) will deal with the anticipated cuts - with layoffs, program cutbacks, and the scrapping/scaling back of construction plans.  Also in the article, Mr. Richard Iannuzzi of NYSUT admits that his union, which represents hundreds of charter school teachers statewide (including dozens at CSAT), actively campaigned FOR the funding cap and, thus, AGAINST some of NYSUT's own members. 

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/632242.html

Charter School Funding Cut in Budget - WGRZ-TV

A story by Kristin Donnelly that ran on Channel 2 News on April 6 and again on April 7, 2009, detailing the charter school funding cap and how it will affect two local charters, CSAT and Community Charter School.  Video is at the right of the page.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=65631&catid=37

Local Charter School Upset with Governor's Budget - WBFO Radio

A short piece that ran on WBFO Radio on April 1, 2009, that contains CSAT's initial outcry over what was then a proposed budget.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1488215

Schools Get a Reprieve Thanks to Stimulus Funding - Buffalo News

A Buffalo News article dated Feb. 27, 2009, that details the "rosy" financial picture that is being projected at traditional public school districts thanks to a $1.25 billion increase in funding.

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/niagaracounty/story/591927.html

Charter School Payments by School District

This is the New York State Education Department's listing of each school district's per-pupil payment to charter schools. 

https://stateaid.nysed.gov/charter/html_docs/charter_0910_final_033109.htm

LEGISLATIVE ALERT:  Education Funding Cuts Loom – Charter Schools Potential Targets; Contact Governor and State Legislators

Legislative Update:  Education Funding Cuts Loom – Charter Schools Potential Targets;   Contact Governor and State Legislators

The state Legislature resumed session this week to grapple with the state’s current year budget gap.  We again urge the charter school community to contact their legislators (if you have not yet done so) to remind them of what’s already been done to charters and specifically to your school, and to oppose further cuts than the $50 million already taken last April.