Public education is one of Long Island’s greatest civic strengths. Our public schools aren’t just places of learning; they are pillars of our communities, drivers of local economic stability and pathways of opportunity for families.

Today that foundation is under increasing structural pressure for multiple reasons, a major one being state policies that redirect public-school funding to the for-profit charter school industry. In recent years, this industry has diverted a half-billion taxpayer dollars, directly impacting our classrooms, teachers and students.

Two-thirds of the school districts on Long Island have been infiltrated in this way, and the number is growing.

Make no mistake: Charter schools are privately operated for-profit entities with no public input or accountability.

Across Long Island, we are seeing measurable financial strain. Since I took office in 2019, charter school tuition and transportation costs have steadily increased. In Freeport and Baldwin, substantial funding is already being diverted from the public school districts to support charter schools. Nearly every district in the 21st Assembly District is now facing escalating tuition and transportation expenses tied to charter enrollment. Some of Nassau County’s most financially vulnerable districts, Hempstead, Uniondale and Roosevelt, have been among the hardest hit by charter expansion.

These costs will only continue to rise as additional charter schools are rapidly approved in areas like West Hempstead. Even more districts will be forced to absorb these rising costs, regardless of local opposition. Meanwhile, newly approved charter schools in areas such as Brentwood and Central Islip can draw students from across county lines, meaning that public school funding can be redirected from multiple communities at once.

At its core, this is an issue of accountability and representation. Long Island has roughly 120 public school districts, yet their residents never had the opportunity to vote on whether their tax dollars should fund charter schools. Public schools are democratic institutions – their boards are elected and their budgets are approved by voters. Charter schools are not. All schools receiving public funds should meet the same standards: educational accountability, spending transparency, fiscal oversight, certified teachers, meaningful local representation and community approval. Taxpayer dollars should come with taxpayer-level accountability.

Of further concern is how charter schools are approved. In New York, both the State Education Department and the SUNY Charter Board have authority to approve charter schools. Yet approvals by the Charter Board have moved forward despite strong opposition from local school communities whose residents have legitimate concerns about fiscal and programmatic impact. As the state teachers union has argued in pending litigation, state law requires demonstration of community support and meaningful analysis of financial and educational impact before a charter is approved – standards that must be enforced.

There is also a clear imbalance in financial accountability.

Public school districts operate with strict reserve limits, extensive audits and direct voter oversight, while charter schools can carry significant cash reserves. Any entity receiving public funds, especially in education, must meet consistent standards of transparency, fiscal responsibility and educational quality.

Equity concerns, too, are growing. Most charter models enroll fewer high-needs students, while still siphoning funding from public schools that serve children of all abilities, leaving public-school districts to fund these escalating costs. This is not sustainable fiscal policy. The message I hear from local taxpayers is consistent: They are not opposed to school choice, but they do oppose funding structures that weaken public schools without local consent, transparency or oversight. In fact, many families in my district have chosen nonpublic schools, and the state provides targeted support, but taxpayers are not responsible for fully funding those schools’ operating budgets.

Public schools serve students of every background, circumstance and ability. They are anchors of our communities, stabilizers of property values and drivers of workforce development. We must restore balance between charter expansion and public school stability. This isn’t about limiting school choice; it’s about responsible funding.

It’s about fairness, accountability and protecting the public schools Long Islanders depend on.

I will continue fighting to ensure that our public schools receive the support, equity and vital funding solutions they require to serve their students. If for-profit charter schools are to exist within our education system, they shouldn’t be able to rely on traditional public revenue streams. The State Education Department and the SUNY Charter Board must explore alternative funding structures for these operators while ensuring the highest standards of oversight and accountability.