Both of New York’s candidates for governor support increasing the number of charter schools in the state — but even that may not be enough to spur any growth in the sector.

Both Governor Hochul and the Republican candidate, Representative Lee Zeldin, expressed their support for lifting the cap on charter schools during their debate this week. It was the first time Ms. Hochul has endorsed a policy long championed by her opponent.

“The use of charter schools is generating positive results that are increasingly difficult for lawmakers to dispute, and to deny students access to them,” a scholar at the Empire Center, Kenneth Girardin, told the Sun.

Charter schools are public schools operated and maintained by private bodies — getting their names from the operating “charter” they receive from the state. The allocation of these state charters has long been at the center of controversy, with teachers unions and traditional public school advocates fighting to limit them.

By state law, the charter cap limits the number of charter schools in the Empire State to 460, of which New York City can use 290. There are 85 charters still available across the state, but the city has maxed out its charters — despite popular demand for the schools.

More than 130,000 New York City students are currently enrolled in charter schools, with another 50,000 on waitlists to enroll in the oversubscribed programs, according to the New York City Charter School Center. 

Even with the support of New York’s next governor, however, the charter movement could find itself in a bind in the next state government.

A teachers union-supported bill in the state legislature seeks to reduce charter authorization power. Currently, the State University of New York’s Board of Trustees and the state’s Board of Regents can both approve charters. The bill would give the Board of Regents final authorization over charter applications and renewals. 

Traditionally, SUNY has approved more charters than the Board of Regents, so if the bill becomes law it would effectively serve as a limit on charter growth.

“There’s little use in lifting the cap and allowing new charter schools if you’re going to put a hostile body in charge of authorizing them and a [teachers union]-aligned legislature in charge of funding them,” Mr. Girardin of the Empire Center said.

The statewide teachers union, New York State United Teachers, has endorsed the bill and included questions about support for the bill in its questionnaire for candidates seeking its endorsement.

Teachers union-aligned groups criticized Ms. Hochul for her charter support in the debate. The executive director for the Alliance for Quality Education, Jasmine Gripper, called lifting the cap “irresponsible.”

“Public schools are under attack nationwide and serve the vast majority of children, especially students with special needs. We need a leader who is going to protect public education, a key component of a healthy democracy,” Ms. Gripper said in a statement. “Governor Hochul needs to stand up for public education, not dismantle it.”

The executive director of the New York City Charter School Center, James Merriman, praised both candidates for their support.

The candidates’ debate “made one thing clear — there is strong support for finally lifting the arbitrary cap on charter schools and giving parents a choice in their kids’ education,” Mr. Merriman said. “We applaud this commitment to lifting the cap and are grateful for the thousands of families who have made this possible by speaking up and making their voices heard. Creating more good schools is smart politics and sound policy — it’s time to lift the cap.”

Meanwhile, a school choice advocate, Corey DeAngelis, tweeted the clip of Ms. Hochul and Mr. Zeldin both expressing support for charter schools, holding it up as an example of a growing trend of bipartisan support for school choice. 

In Pennsylvania and Illinois, gubernatorial candidates on both sides of the aisle have expressed support for school choice policies. Governor Pritzker of Illinois recently endorsed a tax credit scholarship, a reversal of his previous policy. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania endorsed his state’s Lifeline Scholarship, which provides education savings accounts to students in underperforming school districts.