Cap Attack

Battle is brewing on charter schools

Forty-two charter school applications were submitted across New York by last week's deadline, setting up a potential showdown over the state's decision to limit the number of charter schools. State law allows just 100 charters - public schools operated independently of the local school system - to be set up. Eighty-four already have been granted.

New applications include 18 submitted to Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, who last month called the state cap "irrational and unfair."

One new application - for a high school - came from the city teachers union, which has fought against lifting the cap. The United Federation of Teachers already runs a charter school in Brooklyn.

Joe Williams, NY Daily News