Metro

Gov. Paterson promises to push for more charter schools

ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. David Paterson says he’ll keep pushing legislation to lift the cap on charter schools in New York.

Paterson says the state is close to reaching its limit and there are now 30,000 students enrolled.

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Noting that the Legislature last month didn’t approve his measure to lift the cap, Paterson says he’ll try again either in revisions to his proposed budget legislation or as a separate bill. He says the move would improve New York’s chances of getting $500 million to $700 million in federal “Race to the Top” aid.

He’s still looking at raising the cap from 200 to 460 schools, a benchmark in the application for the federal money.

Paterson spoke Tuesday to a few thousand cheering charter school supporters who came to Albany to lobby and demonstrate.