At 11th Hour, N.Y. Approves 'Strong' New Charter Law

By Caroline Hendrie

After a fractious initiation rite, New York has joined the fraternity of states that authorize the independent breed of public schools known as charter schools.

The starting point for the new charter law was a proposal unveiled last spring by Republican Gov. George E. Pataki that prompted strong opposition from such quarters as the state school boards' association, Schools Chancellor Rudolph F. Crew of New York City, and the state and city teachers' unions.

The legislation languished until last month, when the governor signaled that he would veto a hefty pay raise for legislators unless they addressed issues high on his agenda, charter...