The Latest: Charter school advocates protest enrollment cap

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Latest on activity in the New Mexico Legislature (all times local):12:30 p.m.

Advocates for charter schools in New Mexico are criticizing a bill to increase state educational funding that would place a cap student enrollment at autonomous public schools for one year.

Objections to the limit on charter school growth were raised Monday as a Senate panel took up a proposal to increase state spending by more than $300 million for at-risk students, to extend annual class time and to boost minimum teacher salaries.

The bill would cap charter school enrollment at 27,000 students for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Democratic state Sen.