Last week was a banner one for news coverage of charter schools. The Daily News reported that nepotism and conflicts of interest were rampant at some charters schools, while their oversight was the topic of a contentious hearing headed by State Senator Senator Perkins.

Two intrepid reporters at Gothamschools live-bloggedthe full-day hearing, while the New York Post waged a week-long news blitzon charter schools, reserving a heaping amount ofcriticismfor Perkins and the oversight hearing. Finally, despite a lawsuit filed by Advocates for Children, the Panel for Educational Policy voted to extendthe controversial co-locationof Pave AcademyandPS 15for three more years.

All these developments should weigh heavily in the minds of legislators as New York gears up for the second round of Race to the Top (RttT), havinglostits first round bid, in part, because of its charter school cap. Some states are considering sitting outthe second round, but not New York. Facing a nine billion dollar deficit, Governor Paterson is pressing New York legislators to change the law before Race to the Top's second round application deadline on June 1.

Supporters of raising the charter cap, including Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch, say doing so is critical to winning roughly 700 million dollars in RttT aid. Skeptics, like State Senator Bill Perkins and Teachers Union President, Michael Mulgrew charge that charter schools need better oversight before there's any discussion of raising the cap.

Meanwhile residents of East Harlem are excited about the opening of a new charter high school in their neighborhood; the Renaissance Charter High School of Innovation is the subject of a Daily News series.

We want to know what you think. Should New York lift the charter cap? Yes? No? Not sure?

Take our poll at left and comment below.