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:

Renewal of Existing Charters

DATE OF SUBMISSION:

December 3, 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 act upon the renewal applications it receives directly as a charter entity.  We have received two such applications for renewal from:

 

·        Genesee Community Charter School at the Rochester Museum and Science Center, Rochester; and

·        Harriet Tubman Charter School, NYC CSD#9.

 

§2853(4) of the Education Law provides for the renewal of charters.  The statute states that charters may be renewed for a period of up to five years, and renewal applications must include the following:

 

1.      a report of the progress of the charter school in achieving the educational objectives set forth in the charter;

2.      a detailed financial statement that discloses the cost of administration, instruction and other spending categories for the charter school;

3.      copies of each of the annual reports of the charter school, including the charter school report cards and the certified financial statements; and

4.      indications of parent and student satisfaction.

 

§8.1 of the charter agreement (renewal applications) provides that “No later than the first of July in the year prior to expiration of the charter, the charter school may provide to the Regents an application to renew the Charter in accordance with subdivision 2851(4) of the Act (the "renewal application").”  Both charter schools submitted timely renewal applications, requesting 5-year extensions, with all required information.  Additional information was provided as requested, and staff made a comprehensive site visit to each school to verify the information presented in the renewal application as well as to gather any additional information that was necessary.

 

Complete copies of the applications are available for your review by contacting James R. Butterworth at 518-474-4817 and Shelia Evans-Tranumn at 718-722-2796.

 

VOTED:  That the Board of Regents approve the proposed renewal to the charter of the following charter school, and extend its charter and provisional charter for five years, based upon the information contained in the attachments and upon a finding by the Board of Regents that:  (1) the charter school meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the charter school has operated in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; and (3) granting the extension 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:

 

·        Genesee Community Charter School at the Rochester Museum and Science Center, Rochester

 

VOTED: That the Board of Regents approve the proposed renewed charter for the following charter school, and extend its provisional charter for two years, based upon the information contained in the attachments and upon a finding by the Board of Regents that:  (1) the charter school meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the charter school has operated in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; and (3) granting the extension 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:

 

·        Harriet Tubman Charter School, NYC CSD#9

 

 

 

Attachment

 

 

 

 

 


New York State Education Department

 

Summary of Charter School Renewal Information

 

Summary of Applicant Information

 

 

 

Name of Proposed Renewed Charter School:  Genesee Community Charter School

 

Address:  657 East Avenue, Rochester, New York 14607-2177

 

Board of Trustees President: William Colby

 

Renewal Period: 2005 - 2010

 

District of Location: Rochester City School District                 

 

Charter Entity:  Board of Regents

 

Institutional Partner(s): Rochester Museum and Science Center; Expeditionary Learning-Outward Bound

 

Management Partner(s): None

 

Grades Served per Year:              K-6                             

 

Projected Enrollment per Year: 200

 

 

 

 

Renewal Application Highlights

 

 

 

Evidence of Educational Soundness/ Attainment of Educational Objectives

 

 

Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact

 

 

Evidence of Parent and Student Satisfaction

 

 

Recommendation

 

Approve the renewal application and extend the term of the provisional charter for a period of five years.

 

Reason for Recommendation

 

(1) The charter school meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the charter school has operated in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; and (3) granting the extension 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Attachment 1

 

Genesee Community Charter School

Performance on State Assessments

Assessment

Year

%

Level 1

%

 Level 2

%

Level 3

%

Level 4

Performance Index

Grade 4 ELA

2002-03

3.2

32.3

32.3

32.3

161

Grade 4 Math

2002-03

0.0

32.3

41.9

25.8

168

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grade 4 ELA

2003-04

0.0

25.9

48.1

25.9

174

Grade 4 Math

2003-04

0.0

11.5

61.5

26.9

188

 

Genesee Community Charter School

Comparative Performance

2002-03

School

Assessment

%

 Level 1

%

Level 2

%

 Level 3

%

Level 4

Performance Index

Rochester City School District

Grade 4 ELA

11.9

45.1

35.4

7.5

131

CS of Science and Technology

Grade 4 ELA

13.0

50.0

31.5

5.6

124

Eugenio Maria de Hostos CS

Grade 4 ELA

22.9

42.9

22.9

11.4

112

Genesee Community CS

Grade 4 ELA

3.2

32.3

32.3

32.3

162

Rochester Leadership Academy

Grade 4 ELA

6.4

57.4

34.0

2.1

130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rochester City School District

Grade 4 Math

9.0

33.6

47.2

10.2

148

CS of Science and Technology

Grade 4 Math

8.7

47.6

39.8

3.9

135

Eugenio Maria de Hostos CS

Grade 4 Math

7.5

50.0

37.5

5.0

135

Genesee Community CS

Grade 4 Math

0.0

32.3

41.9

25.8

195

Rochester Leadership Academy

Grade 4 Math

14.6

50.0

35.4

0.0

121

 

 

Genesee Community Charter School

Comparative Performance

2003-04

School

Assessment

%

 Level 1

%

Level 2

%

 Level 3

%

Level 4

Performance Index

Rochester City School District

Grade 4 ELA

11.4

46.1

37.0

5.4

131

CS of Science and Technology

Grade 4 ELA

25.2

57.5

17.3

0.0

92

Eugenio Maria de Hostos CS

Grade 4 ELA

2.6

55.3

39.5

2.6

140

Genesee Community CS

Grade 4 ELA

0.0

25.9

48.1

25.9

174

Rochester Leadership Academy

Grade 4 ELA

13.2

58.8

23.5

4.4

115

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rochester City School District

Grade 4 Math

6.2

29.8

50.7

13.4

158

CS of Science and Technology

Grade 4 Math

9.6

48.8

38.4

3.2

132

Eugenio Maria de Hostos CS

Grade 4 Math

2.5

17.5

75.0

5.0

176

Genesee Community CS

Grade 4 Math

0.0

11.5

61.5

26.9

188

Rochester Leadership Academy

Grade 4 Math

8.5

49.2

33.9

8.5

134

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Attachment 2

 

Genesee Community Charter School

Change in Net Assets 2001-02 Through 2003-04*

 

Year

Change in Net Assets

2001-02

$338,989

2002-03

$235,253

2003-04

$474,347

*Source: Audited Financial Statements provided as a part of each Annual Report.

 

 


Attachment 3

 

 

Projected Fiscal Impact of the

Genesee Community Charter School

2005-06 Through 2009-10

 

Year

Students

Revenue

Percent Impact

2005-06

200

$1,743,000

0.37

2006-07

200

$1,795,200

0.36

2007-08

200

$1,849,000

0.36

2008-09

200

$1,904,400

0.36

2009-10

200

$1,961,600

0.35

 

 

Potential Cumulative Fiscal Impact of All Charter Schools

on the Rochester City School District

2005-06

 

Charter School

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

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

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

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

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.

 

 

 

New York State Education Department

 

Summary of Charter School Renewal Information

 

Summary of Applicant Information

 

 

Name of Proposed Renewed Charter School: Harriet Tubman Charter School (HTCS)

 

Address: 3565 Third Avenue, Bronx NY 10456

 

Board of Trustees President: Cliff Frazier

 

Renewal Period: 2005 - 2010

 

District of Location: New York City (CSD 9); Region 1

 

Charter Entity: Board of Regents

 

Institutional Partner(s): African American Legal Defense and Education Fund; and New York Metropolitan Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolence.

 

Management Partner(s): Edison Schools, Inc. (Formerly Learn Now, Inc., which was acquired by Edison)

 

Grades Served: K–6 (K–8)                      

 

Projected Enrollment: 294 (428)

 

 

 

Renewal Application Highlights

 

Evidence of Educational Soundness/ Attainment of Educational Objectives

 

Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact

 

Evidence of Parent and Student Satisfaction

 

 

Recommendation

 

Approve the renewal application and extend the provisional charter of the Harriet Tubman Charter School for a term of two years.  The school’s academic performance, which is superior to most of the public schools in the HTCS neighborhood, the commitment of Edison to provide further support to the professional staff, and the school’s strong parental support, pupil retention rate, and robust waiting list warrant approval of the application. However, the fact that the school’s performance is not at State standards and the school continues to maintain fiscal viability only with the assistance of Edison precludes a recommendation of a full five-year extension until better academic results and greater fiscal viability are demonstrated.

 

Reason for Recommendation

 

(1) The charter school meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the charter school has operated in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; and (3) granting the extension 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.

 


Attachment 1

 

Explanation:  The chart above shows the percentage of Harriet Tubman Charter School scoring at proficiency or above on the 2004 Grade 4 ELA examination in relation to the other public schools in the Harriet Tubman zip code.   Of the thirteen schools, HTCS had the second highest percentage scoring at proficiency or above.

 

 

 


Attachment 2

 

 

Explanation:  The chart above shows the percentage of Harriet Tubman Charter School scoring at proficiency or above on the 2004 Grade 4 math examination in relation to the other public schools in the Harriet Tubman zip code.   Of the thirteen schools, HTCS was tied with four other schools for the third highest percentage scoring at proficiency or above.

 

 

 


Attachment 3

 

 

Explanation:  The above chart shows the change in the percentage of students at Harriet Tubman Charter School scoring at Levels 1-4 on the 2003 and 2004 Grade 4 ELA tests.  Overall, from 2003 to 2004 HTCS showed a decrease in the percentage of students scoring at Level 1 and a slight increase in the percentage of students scoring at proficiency (Levels 3 and 4).


Attachment 4

 

 

Explanation:  The above chart shows the change in the percentage of students at Harriet Tubman Charter School scoring at Levels 1-4 on the 2003 and 2004 Grade 4 Math tests.  Overall, from 2003 to 2004 HTCS showed a slight increase in the percentage of students scoring at Level 1 and a decrease in the percentage of students scoring at proficiency (Levels 3 and 4).
Attachment 5

 

 

Harriet Tubman Charter School

Change in Net Assets 2001-02 Through 2003-04*

 

Year

Change in Net Assets

2001-02

($28,683)

2002-03

($169,362)

2003-04

($13,619)

*Source: Audited Financial Statements provided as a part of each Annual Report.

 

 


Attachment 6

 

Projected Fiscal Impact of the

Harriet Tubman Charter School

(New York City CSD 9/Region 1 – Bronx)

2004-05 Through 2009-10

School Year

Number of Students

Projected Payment*

Projected Impact

2004-05

250

$2,050,290

0.0150%

2005-06

308

$2,639,625

0.0187%

2006-07

356

$3,188,290

0.0219%

2007-08

428

$4,005,603

0.0268%

2008-09

428

$4,185,855

0.0271%

2009-10

428

$4,374,219

0.0275%

* Assumes a 3 percent annual increase in the district’s budget from a 2001-2002 base of $12.5 billion and a 4.5 percent annual increase in the average expense per pupil, per year from the 2003-2004 final average expense per pupil of $7,848.

 



[1] Because an error was detected in the school’s LEAP files, an audit of students’ scores was conducted.  The information presented is based on the audited results.

* Asterisk denotes areas presented to parents only.