New York State United Teachers, alongside education and community partners, has filed a lawsuit in Albany County Supreme Court to hold the State University of New York accountable for its decision to authorize new charter schools in Brentwood and Central Islip, despite rejection by the State Education Department and clear opposition from local communities.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include NYSUT and Melinda Person, as NYSUT’s president, along with concerned educators and parents who are proud members of two of NYSUT’s local unions, the Brentwood Teachers Association and the Central Islip Teachers Association.
Recognizing the importance of this action, the New York State Board of Regents and the New York State Parent Teacher Association have filed affirmations in support of NYSUT’s litigation.
The lawsuit challenges SUNY, its board of trustees and its Charter Schools Institute for approving charter school applications that do not appear to meet fundamental requirements under New York law, including demonstrated community support and evidence of likely educational benefit.
In both Brentwood and Central Islip, parents, educators, and local leaders raised serious concerns about the impact of additional charter schools on already-strained public school districts. SED considered those concerns and rejected the applications. SUNY did not.
“SUNY Charter Schools Institute’s actions left us no alternative,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “This entity has repeatedly ignored state law by dismissing community voices and overriding education experts in order to rubber-stamp charter applications. That is an abuse of its authority as a charter authorizer and a threat to public schools and the communities they serve. Public education works best when decisions are made with communities — not imposed on them — and that principle is worth defending.”
These actions from SUNY Charter Schools Institute represent a larger pattern: approving schools with little evidence of community need or support, and at times those with clear opposition. It also highlights the dysfunction created by New York’s dual charter authorizing system — which allows rejected applicants to shop their applications to SUNY Charter Schools Institute for likely approval without addressing concerns raised by state education department experts.
This legal action seeks to restore accountability, enforce the law as written, and protect the rights of local communities to have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape the future of their public schools.
View the legal filings here: nysut.cc/sunylawsuitdocs
Watch the video of SUNY’s initial approval, SED’s rejection and SUNY’s second approval here: nysut.cc/sunylawsuitvideo