Charter Schools Top the Lobbying Chart in Albany

The annual state report on lobbying is out, and it finds that $226 million dollars was spent on influencing government leaders in 2014, with the largest amount from education groups.

This degree of spending isn't surprising, given education's high profile with the controversy over new Common Core learning standards and tests. But last year, the charter lobby spent more than teachers unions, which have a much longer record in politics.

The group Families for Excellent Schools spent $9.6 million on advertising and events, including a rally last year in Albany after clashing with Mayor Bill de Blasio. The group recently organized another rally at the Capitol of thousands of charter school students, to advocate for more charters.

The second largest lobbyist was the teachers union, at just over $3.2 million. Teachers oppose additional state spending on charters, which are privately managed and don't have to hire unionized employees. The teachers ran advertisements but held more low-tech rallies, with instructors coming after the school day to protest at the Capitol.

Blair Horner, with the New York Public Interest Research Group, said the spending disparity was striking.

“An infusion of cash that really is unusual and rare in Albany is driving the opponents of the teacher’s union,” he said. “Whether or not it’s for the betterment of school children, who knows? But it really has become a battle of two very powerful groups, and the outcome is uncertain.”

So far, the groups have achieved only partial victories in the legislature for their investment.

The teachers union unsuccessfully opposed new performance reviews included in the state budget which will be linked more closely to students' standardized test scores.  But the charter groups did not win an expansion of schools despite support from Gov. Andrew Cuomo. This proposal to raise the charter school cap is expected to come up before the end of the legislative session in June. 

A group advocating for an education tax credit that would benefit private schools, and help public schools pay for additional programs, was also among the top 10 lobbyists, spending over $1.2 million. The tax credit has not yet been approved.