The New York State Board of Regents on Monday rejected plans by four New York City charters to join together and open a new high school. Such a move “appear(ed) to be an attempt to create a new school in potential violation of the NYC charter limits under the Education Law,” the Regents found. Rather than allow these school to break New York City’s charter cap, the Regents sent the applications back to the State University of New York.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew said Chancellor Lester Young, Education Commissioner Betty Rosa and the Board of Regents made the right decision, and stressed that SUNY should follow their lead and also reject the applications.

Mulgrew issued the following statement:

This is a blatant attempt to make an end run around New York City’s charter cap. These applications should not only be rejected, but they should become part of the record about why we need stricter oversight of the charter sector — because charters are always trying to get more than their fair share.