In an interview with NY1′s Erin Billups earlier today, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver called the charter schools legislation passed by his house in the wee hours of the morning a “good bill” that will enable the state to make a strong application for Round II of “Race to the Top” funding by June 1.

Silver noted the measure has support from Mayor Bloomberg, the SUNY chancellor and the governor, who said today he would sign it “10 minutes after it passes” if both houses of the Legislature play ball. (The Senate has yet to do so, but hope springs eternal on that side of the Capitol).

When Billups noted the bill isn’t universally supported by the teachers unions, Silver, who is a close ally of NYSUT and the UFT, replied:

“This is not about support from teachers unions. Some unions are in support. Some are opposed. This was done for children in the classrooms of New York to make that environment better.

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