(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) have revealed new polling data concerning charter school issues that shows New York voters overwhelmingly oppose any expansion of charter schools and instead want elected officials to focus on programs that strengthen local public schools.

NYSUT President Andy Pallotta and UFT President Michael Mulgrew were joined by Hart Research Associates President Geoff Garin, whose group conducted the poll, in presenting its detailed findings.

“We’ve seen immediate and broad pushback to the charter school proposal in the executive budget," Pallotta said. "Concerned citizens’ groups and lawmakers are rallying to oppose this move.  And, as this poll now shows, it’s incredibly unpopular with New York voters.”

Mulgrew said: “It’s clear that parents and communities really don’t want an expansion of charters.  They understand that the resources are being drained from public schools.  This is about corporate charter chains.  They’re all about real estate and making profit.  We never need that in education.  Public schools take all children with open arms.  That’s what we do.  This is what public education is supposed to be about.”

Key takeaways from the poll include:

79% of voters say they oppose plans to increase the number of charter schools in New York and shift funding away from regular local public schools.  Opposition was overwhelming - and consistent - among region, party affiliation and across racial groups.  Among the findings, 85% of Democrats, 68% of Republicans, 77% of unaffiliated voters, 77% of Black voters; 81% of Hispanic voters and 79% of New York City voters reject expanding charters and siphoning money from their own local neighborhood public schools.

When asked about their top education priorities, 94% of voters want to see expanded literacy programs for struggling students, 92% want more access to career and technical programs that prepare students for jobs, and 88% would urge elected leaders to address shortages of Teachers, Counselors and Nurses in public schools.  Just 7% of voters listed expanding charters as one of their top two priorities.

By a vote of 79%-to-20%, voters say “strengthening regular local public schools and making sure that every neighborhood has a good local public school” is more important than “giving parents more choices … by increasing the number of charter schools.”  Public school parents oppose charter expansion by a margin of 80-20.

NYSUT - which represents more than 600,000 Members in Education, Human Services and Health Care, is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA) and the AFL-CIO.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: NYSUT & UFT host press briefing on poll showing voters oppose charter school expansion; favor strengthening local public schools

Click Here For The Poll Results (PDF)