THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:

The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents

FROM:

James A. Kadamus

COMMITTEE:

EMSC-VESID

TITLE OF ITEM:

Charter School Applications

DATE OF SUBMISSION:

November 22, 2004

PROPOSED HANDLING:

Approval

RATIONALE FOR ITEM:

Statutory Authority to Act on Charter Schools Applications

STRATEGIC GOAL:

Goals 1 and 2

AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

Under the New York Charter Schools Act of 1998, the Board of Regents is authorized to approve or deny charter applications it receives directly as a charter entity.  We have received two such applications that will be presented to you at your December meeting.  The applications are for the following:

 

·        Niagara Charter School, Niagara-Wheatfield CSD

·        Urban Choice Charter School, Rochester

 

Complete copies of the applications are available for your review by contacting James R. Butterworth at 518-474-4817.

 

The following table summarizes the number of new charters that may still be issued by charter entities in New York:

 

SUNY Trustees

All Other Charter Entities

12

20

 

 

VOTED: That the Board of Regents approve the proposed charters for the following charter schools based upon the information contained in the attachments and upon a finding by the Board of Regents that (1) the charter schools described in the proposed charters meet the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the applicants can demonstrate the ability to operate the schools in an educationally and fiscally-sound manner; and (3) granting the proposed charters is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of Article 56 of the Education Law:

 

·        Niagara Charter School, Niagara-Wheatfield CSD

·        Urban Choice Charter School, Rochester

 

The Trustees of the State University of New York resubmitted its proposed charter for the Albany Achievement Academy Charter School, on November 5, 2004, without any changes from the previous version. The Board of Regents voted at its September 2004 meeting to return the proposed charter to the Trustees due to their unwillingness to respond to questions raised by Department staff during the review process.  As a result and pursuant to §2852(5-b) of the Education Law, this proposed charter became effective via operation of law on December 7, 2004.

 

Attachment

 

 

 

 


New York State Education Department

 

Summary of Charter School Review

 

Summary of Applicant Information

 

 

 

Name of Proposed Charter School:  Niagara Charter School

 

Address:  6929 Williams Road, Wheatfield, New York 14304

 

Applicant(s):  Richard D. Hague, Jr.

 

Anticipated Opening Date: August 15, 2005

 

District of Location: Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District                   

 

Charter Entity:  Board of Regents

 

Institutional Partner(s):     Expeditionary Learning-Outward Bound

Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo

Learning Disabilities Association of Western New York

 

Management Partner(s): None

 

Grades Served: K-4 (K-8)                         Projected Enrollment: 240 (432)

 

 

 

 

Application Highlights

 

 

Applicant

 

            Rev. Hague is the pastor of the Mt. Erie Baptist Church in Niagara Falls, New York.

           

 

Institutional/Management Partner

 

            Expeditionary Learning-Outward Bound (ELOB) is a comprehensive school reform model that stresses project-based learning, the application of theory in practical situations, character development, community, and stewardship.  ELOB will provide on-site and on-going professional development, technical assistance, and materials and texts for the professional development.

 

            The Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo is interested in expanding its geographic reach by working with the Niagara Charter School (NCS) to offer services to children such as alcohol and drug prevention programs, the arts, health, the environment, and athletics.

 

The Learning Disabilities Association is a parent-sponsored, non-profit agency that will provide services such as recreation, latchkey programs, family support and parent training, information and referral services, and crisis intervention.

 

Curriculum/Assessment/Instruction

 

Governance

 

Students

Year 1: K-4, 240 students

Year 2: K-5, 288 students

Year 3: K-6, 336 students

Year 4: K-7, 384 students

Year 5: K-8, 432 students

 

Budget/Facilities

·        The proposed start-up year budget (2004-05) shows revenues of $125,000 and expenditures of $124,948, for a surplus of $52.

·        The school has also received a line of credit from the HSBC Bank in the amount of $100,000 for the acquisition of the facility.

·        Upon approval of the charter, the school will be eligible to receive up to $525,000 in start-up funds from the federal Public Charter School Program grant.

·        The proposed charter school will lease space in the Summit Park Mall on Williams Road in Wheatfield, New York.

·        The school will lease 40,000 square feet on two floors in the first three years and expand to 75,000 square feet by Year Five of the charter.

·        The building is ADA compliant and includes a working elevator.

 

Fiscal Impact

·        The projected fiscal impact is shown in the attached tables.

 

Personnel

 

 

Recommendation

 

Approve the application.

 

Reason for Recommendation

 

1) The charter school described in the application meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the applicants can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; and (3) granting the application is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of Article 56 of the Education Law.

 


Percent of District Students at or Above Level 3 on State Assessments

2003-04

 

District

Gr. 4 ELA

Gr. 4 Math

Gr. 8 ELA

Gr. 8 Math

Niagara-Wheatfield

74.1

94.3

51.8

63.0

Niagara Falls

57.0

86.9

35.2

56.0

N. Tonawanda

66.8

88.0

59.6

65.0

Tonawanda

75.3

93.3

49.2

70.0

Sweet Home

72.1

84.5

55.3

68.0

Lewiston-Porter

80.8

95.4

53.9

69.0

Starpoint

76.5

88.6

54.9

75.0

 

 

Projected Fiscal Impact of the Niagara Charter School

2005-06

 

District

Projected Enrollment*

AOE

Expected Revenue

District Budget

Percent Impact

Niagara-Wheatfield

22

$8,540

$187,880

$46,736,734

0.40

Niagara Falls

155

$7,815

$1,211,325

$115,137,000

1.10

North Tonawanda

25

$7,800

$195,000

$51,042,680

0.38

Tonawanda

17

$7,189

$122,213

$23,847,096

0.51

Sweet Home

8

$8,751

$70,008

$45,446,744

0.15

Lewiston-Porter

5

$9,065

$45,325

$28,359,552

0.16

Starpoint

8

$6,871

$54,968

$26,581,920

0.21

Totals

240

NA

$1,886,719

NA

NA

*Actual enrollment may vary.

 

Projected Fiscal Impact of the Niagara Charter School

2006-07

 

District

Projected Enrollment*

AOE**

Expected Revenue

District Budget***

Percent Impact

Niagara-Wheatfield

30

$8,796

$263,880

$48,606,203

0.54

Niagara Falls

180

$8,049

$1,448,820

$119,742,480

1.21

North Tonawanda

26

$8,034

$208,884

$53,084,387

0.39

Tonawanda

20

$7,405

$148,100

$24,800,980

0.60

Sweet Home

13

$9,014

$117,182

$47,264,614

0.25

Lewiston-Porter

8

$9,337

$74,696

$29,493,934

0.25

Starpoint

11

$7,077

$77,847

$27,645,197

0.28

Totals

288

NA

$2,339,409

NA

NA

*Actual enrollment may vary.

**Assumes a 3% increase in AOE; actual AOE may increase by more, or even decrease.

***Assumes a 4% increase in budget; actual increase may be more.


Projected Fiscal Impact of the Niagara Charter School

2007-08

 

District

Projected Enrollment*

AOE**

Expected Revenue

District Budget***

Percent Impact

Niagara-Wheatfield

32

$9,060

$289,920

$50,550,451

0.57

Niagara Falls

212

$8,290

$1,757,480

$124,532,179

1.41

North Tonawanda

26

$8,275

$215,150

$55,207,762

0.39

Tonawanda

26

$7,627

$198,302

$25,793,019

0.77

Sweet Home

16

$9,284

$148,544

$49,155,199

0.30

Lewiston-Porter

8

$9,617

$76,936

$30,673,691

0.25

Starpoint

16

$7,289

$116,624

$28,751,005

0.40

Totals

336

NA

$3,200,980

NA

NA

*Actual enrollment may vary.

**Assumes a 3% increase in AOE; actual AOE may increase by more, or even decrease.

***Assumes a 4% increase in budget; actual increase may be more.

 

Projected Fiscal Impact of the Niagara Charter School

2008-09

 

District

Projected Enrollment*

AOE**

Expected Revenue

District Budget***

Percent Impact

Niagara-Wheatfield

34

$9,332

$317,288

$52,572,469

0.60

Niagara Falls

241

$8,539

$2,057,899

$129,513,466

1.59

North Tonawanda

32

$8,523

$272,736

$57,416,072

0.48

Tonawanda

30

$7,856

$235,680

$26,824,740

0.88

Sweet Home

19

$9,563

$181,697

$51,121,407

0.36

Lewiston-Porter

9

$9,906

$89,154

$31,900,639

0.28

Starpoint

19

$7,508

$142,652

$29,901,045

0.48

Totals

384

NA

$3,297,106

NA

NA

*Actual enrollment may vary.

**Assumes a 3% increase in AOE; actual AOE may increase by more, or even decrease.

***Assumes a 4% increase in budget; actual increase may be more.

 

 

 

 


Projected Fiscal Impact of the Niagara Charter School

2009-10

 

District

Projected Enrollment

AOE

Expected Revenue

District Budget

Percent Impact

Niagara-Wheatfield

39

$9,612

$374,868

$54,675,368

0.69

Niagara Falls

269

$8,795

$2,365,855

$143,694,005

1.65

North Tonawanda

39

$8,779

$342,381

$59,712,715

0.57

Tonawanda

33

$8,092

$267,036

$27,897,730

0.96

Sweet Home

21

$9,850

$206,850

$53,167,463

0.39

Lewiston-Porter

10

$10,204

$102,040

$33,176,665

0.31

Starpoint

21

$7,733

$162,393

$31,097,087

0.52

Totals

432

NA

$3,821,423

NA

NA

*Actual enrollment may vary.

**Assumes a 3% increase in AOE; actual AOE may increase by more, or even decrease.

***Assumes a 4% increase in budget; actual increase may be more.

 

 

 


New York State Education Department

 

Summary of Charter School Review

 

Summary of Applicant Information

 

 

 

Name of Proposed Charter School:  Urban Choice Charter School

 

Address:  TBD

 

Applicant(s):  John Bliss, Richard Grybos, and Brandan Keavney

 

Anticipated Opening Date: September 7, 2005

 

District of Location: Rochester City School District                 

 

Charter Entity:  Board of Regents

 

Institutional Partner(s): The University of Rochester

 

Management Partner(s): None

 

Grades Served:      K-4 (K-8)                    Projected Enrollment: 220 (404)

 

 

 

 

Application Highlights

 

 

 

Applicants

 

            Mr. Bliss is a former teacher in the Rochester City School District and is a director of after-school programs, a summer camp director, and an adult education instructor.

 

            Mr. Grybos is the former Director of Special Education Services for the Rochester City School District.

 

            Mr. Keaveny is an elementary special education teacher in the Rochester City School District.

           

 

 

Institutional/Management Partner

 

            The University of Rochester will provide pediatricians affiliated with the Department of Family Medicine as volunteers at the proposed charter school.  Also, the University’s Pediatric/Family Medicine Links to the Community program requires pediatricians to do a two-week rotation in a variety of community organizations; they are also required to engage in a two-year, community-based longitudinal project during their residency.  The proposed charter school will be a destination for these pediatricians.

           

Curriculum/Assessment/Instruction

 

Governance

 

Students

Year 1: K-4, 220 students

Year 2: K-5, 266 students

Year 3: K-6, 312 students

Year 4: K-7, 358 students

Year 5: K-8, 404 students

 

 

Budget/Facilities

·        In Year 1, the application presumes revenues in the amount of $1,799,820 and expenditures in the amount of $1,778,941, with an end-of-year surplus in the amount of $20,879.

·        By Year 5, the application presumes revenues in the amount of $3,239,676 and expenditures in the amount of $3,212,091, with an end-of-year surplus of $27,585.

·        Upon approval of the charter, the school will be eligible to receive up to $525,000 in start-up funds from the federal Public Charter School Program grant.

·        All budget projections appear to be sound

·        The applicants are in negotiations for a permanent site.

 

Fiscal Impact

·        See attached charts.

 

Personnel

 

 

Recommendation

 

Approve the application.

 

Reason for Recommendation

 

1) The charter school described in the application meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the applicants can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; and (3) granting the application is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of Article 56 of the Education Law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Grade 4 State Assessment Results 2003-04

Percent At or Above Level 3

 

School

ELA

Math

CS for Science and Technology

17.3

41.6

Eugenio Maria de Hostos CS

42.1

80.0

Genesee Community CS

74.0

88.4

Rochester Leadership Academy CS

27.9

42.4

Rochester City School District

42.4

64.1

 

 

Grade 8 State Assessment Results 2003-04

Percent At or Above Level 3

 

School

ELA

Math

CS for Science and Technology

17.7

18.0

Rochester Leadership Academy CS

20.0

11.1

Rochester City School District

18.5

19.0


Potential Fiscal Impact of the Urban Choice Charter School

On the Rochester City School District

 

Year

# of Students

AOE*

Revenue

District Budget**

Percent Impact

2005-06

220

$8,715

$1,917,300

$473,819,840

0.40

2006-07

266

$8,976

$2,387,616

$492,772,634

0.48

2007-08

312

$9,245

$2,884,440

$512,483,539

0.56

2008-09

358

$9,522

$3,408,876

$532,982,881

0.64

2009-10

404

$9,808

$3,962,432

$554,302,196

0.71

*Assumes a 3% increase in AOE; actual AOE may increase by more, or even decrease.

**Assumes a 4% increase in budget; actual increase may be more.

 

 

Potential Cumulative Fiscal Impact of All Charter Schools

On the Rochester City School District

2005-06

 

Charter School

# of Students*

Revenue

Percent Impact

CS for Science and Technology

1,100

$9,586,500

2.02

Eugenio Maria de Hostos CS

300

$2,614,500

0.55

Genesee Community CS

200

$1,743,000

0.37

Rochester Leadership Academy CS

650

$5,664,750

1.20

Urban Choice CS

220

$1,917,300

0.40

Totals

2,470

$21,526,050

4.54

*Estimated beyond 2004-05; assumes all schools will still be open and will have a second five-year charter term.

 

Potential Cumulative Fiscal Impact of All Charter Schools

On the Rochester City School District

2006-07

 

Charter School

# of Students*

Revenue

Percent Impact

CS for Science and Technology

1,100

$9,873,600

2.00

Eugenio Maria de Hostos CS

320

$2,872,320

0.58

Genesee Community CS

200

$1,795,200

0.36

Rochester Leadership Academy CS

650

$5,834,400

1.18

Urban Choice CS

266

$2,387,616

0.48

Totals

2,536

$22,763,136

4.62

*Estimated beyond 2004-05; assumes all schools will still be open and will have a second five-year charter term.


Potential Cumulative Fiscal Impact of All Charter Schools

On the Rochester City School District

2007-08

 

Charter School

# of Students*

Revenue

Percent Impact

CS for Science and Technology

1,100

$10,169,500

1.98

Eugenio Maria de Hostos CS

340

$3,143,300

0.61

Genesee Community CS

200

$1,849,000

0.36

Rochester Leadership Academy CS

650

$6,009,250

1.17

Urban Choice CS

312

$2,884,440

0.56

Totals

2,602

$24,055,490

4.69

*Estimated beyond 2004-05; assumes all schools will still be open and will have a second five-year charter term.

 

Potential Cumulative Fiscal Impact of All Charter Schools

On the Rochester City School District

2008-09

 

Charter School

# of Students*

Revenue

Percent Impact

CS for Science and Technology

1,100

$10,474,200

1.97

Eugenio Maria de Hostos CS

360

$3,427,920

0.64

Genesee Community CS

200

$1,904,400

0.36

Rochester Leadership Academy CS

650

$6,189,300

1.16

Urban Choice CS

358

$3,408,876

0.64

Totals

2,668

$25,404,696

4.77

*Estimated beyond 2004-05; assumes all schools will still be open and will have a second five-year charter term.

 

Potential Cumulative Fiscal Impact of All Charter Schools

On the Rochester City School District

2009-10

 

Charter School

# of Students*

Revenue

Percent Impact

CS for Science and Technology

1,100

$10,788,800

1.95

Eugenio Maria de Hostos CS

380

$3,727,040

0.67

Genesee Community CS

200

$1,961,600

0.35

Rochester Leadership Academy CS

650

$6,375,200

1.15

Urban Choice CS

404

$3,962,432

0.71

Totals

2,734

$26,815,072

4.84

*Estimated beyond 2004-05; assumes all schools will still be open and will have a second five-year charter term.