The Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents represents the superintendents of the 78 public school districts of Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties — school systems that together enroll more than 225,000 students in the Hudson Valley alone. Our organization has been engaged in sustained advocacy to ensure that public school dollars support public schools within their communities, and to advocate for rigorous reforms that ensure any charter school granted under the auspices of the State University of New York adheres to the same high standards and authorization process that our public schools are required to meet. We have worked regionally and with members of the Senate and Assembly toward the legislative reforms described in this statement.

Our statewide organization, the New York State Council of School Superintendents, has issued a formal statement supporting litigation that challenges the State University of New York’s approval of charter schools in Brentwood and Central Islip. The record in that case is instructive. Community opposition was........

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