Public education system vs charter school

1. Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York said today that he would allocate more money to the state's public education system in his 2008 budget proposal, but he said the increased spending would be tied to better results from schools, educators and students.

Is this public education system owned by the "state" and free for all?

2. He also said he wanted to increase the number of charter school, capped by law at 100, to 250.

Is charter school private and expensive?