Scot Lehigh trashes Gov. Patrick.

DURING THE 2006 gubernatorial campaign, Deval Patrick said he favored raising the cap on charter schools once the funding formula was reworked to ease tensions between traditional schools and charters.

Here's how candidate Patrick explained his stand in an Oct. 19, 2006, gubernatorial debate: "I think we can lift the cap . . . when we fix the funding formula, and it's broken right now . . . [T]he state has to step up and provide the kind of funding that makes both charter schools and district schools flourish."

Given that the state reimburses the traditional public schools for some share of educational costs for three years after a student leaves for a charter - and that the funding formula was retooled to address district concerns in 2004 - Patrick's assertion that the formula was broken was always more political than analytical.

Still, the public had a right to expect that, if elected, Patrick would propose a new formula and support more Commonwealth charters. But it has now become crystal clear that the governor, elected with the support of the teachers unions, has put that campaign stand into suspended animation.

This week, administration officials are touting Patrick's plan for "readiness schools." But here's an equally telling headline: The governor's signature education initiative - the so-called Readiness Project - will not include any attempt to address the charter-school stalemate.

UPDATE: More from Todd Feinburg, the Globe, the AP and Holly Robichaud.

SECOND UPDATE: More from Red Mass Group, the Globe and Herald.