|
|
THE STATE EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT /
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 |
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TO: |
EMSC-VESID
Committee
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FROM: |
James A. Kadamus |
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SUBJECT: |
Charter School Renewals |
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DATE: |
November 30, 2005 |
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STRATEGIC GOAL: |
Goals 1 and 2 |
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AUTHORIZATION(S): |
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SUMMARY
Issues for Decision
Should the Regents approve the staff’s recommendations concerning the proposed renewal of the charters for the Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys, Albany, the Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls, Albany, the Charter School for Applied Technologies, Kenmore-Tonawanda, and the Riverhead Charter School, Riverhead?
Reason(s) for Consideration
Required by State statute, Education
Law 2852.
Proposed Handling
This question will come before the EMSC-VESID Committee
on December 8, 2005 for action. It will
then come before the full Board for final action on December 9, 2005.
Procedural History
Under the
New York Charter Schools Act of 1998, the Board of Regents is authorized to
make recommendations regarding the renewal of existing charters on applications
submitted directly to it as a charter entity, and on proposed charters
submitted by another charter entity.
Upon receipt of an application for renewal or for the establishment of a
new charter school, or receipt of a proposed charter from another charter
entity, the Board of Regents shall review such applications and proposed
charters in accordance with the standards set forth in the Charter Schools Act.
Background Information
We have received four applications for renewal that
will be presented to you at your December meeting. The applications for renewal are for the following:
·
Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys,
Albany
·
Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls,
Albany
·
Charter School for Applied Technologies,
Kenmore-Tonawanda
·
Riverhead Charter School, Riverhead
The applications for all of the above charter schools
were approved by the Board of Regents, as the charter entity, in December 2000.
The Brighter Choice Charter Schools (both Boys and
Girls) provide instruction to its students in the same building but in
gender-based classes. They both serve
a maximum of 120 students in grades K-4.
During the second term of their charters, each School intends to serve
250 students in grades K-4. There is no
management partner.
The Charter School for Applied Technologies currently
serves 1,100 students in grades K-10.
It will expand to serve 1,300 students in grades K-12 during the second
term of its charter. It partnered with
Edison Schools, Inc. during the first term of its charter, but will have no
management partner during the second term.
The Riverhead Charter School currently serves a
maximum of 250 students in grades K-5.
It plans to serve 350 students in grades K-6 in the first year of its
renewal and 450 students in grades K-6 in subsequent years. It was placed on
probation by the Commissioner of Education during the 2004-05 school year for
issues relating to the Board of Trustees’ management and oversight of the
school, including the provision of special education services to students with
disabilities. The School met all of the
terms and conditions of its probation, which ended June 30, 2005. Staff propose that the charter be renewed
only for two years and five months (to the end of the 2007-2008 school year)
because of concerns related to the School’s governance.
Recommendation
VOTED: That the Board of Regents approve the renewal of the following charters:
· Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys, Albany, for five years
· Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls, Albany, for five years
· Charter School for Applied Technologies, Kenmore-Tonawanda, for five years
· Riverhead Charter School, Riverhead, for two years and five months
Timetable for
Implementation
The
Regents action will become effective on December 9, 2005.
New York State
Education Department
Summary
of Charter School Renewal Information
Summary of Applicant Information
Name of Proposed Renewed Charter School: Brighter Choice Charter School for
Boys
Address: 250 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
Board of
Trustees President: Thomas W. Carroll
Renewal
Period: January 10, 2006 – January 10, 2011
District of Location: Albany City School District
Charter Entity: Board of Regents
Institutional
Partner(s):
None
Management
Partner(s): None
Grades
Served/Projected Enrollment per Year:
2006-07: K-4, 150
2008-09: K-4,
200
2009-10: K-4,
225
2010-11: K-4,
250
Renewal
Application Highlights
Evidence of Educational Soundness/Attainment of Educational Objectives
·
The Brighter
Choice Charter School (“the School”) has exceeded all of its goals in English
Language Arts (“ELA”) and mathematics.
·
Over the three years in which assessments were administered,
the School’s expectation for achievement in ELA was a cumulative gain of 15
percentile points on the reading battery of the TerraNova exam. Its actual achievement was an increase of 57
percentile points.
·
Over the three years in which assessments were administered,
the School’s expectation for achievement in math was a cumulative gain of 15
percentile points on the mathematics battery of the TerraNova exam. Its actual achievement was an increase of 36
percentile points.
·
The School has exceeded its goal of instilling appropriate
student conduct.
·
Students have demonstrated the ability to recite key
elements of the School’s behavior code, random observation by outside observers
has indicated that all students consistently demonstrate key elements of the
School’s behavior code daily, and a higher than targeted percentage of parents
have judged the School effective in holding students to high behavioral
standards.
·
The School provides students with both an extended day and
an extended year of instruction.
·
In its first three years of operation, the School had two
principals. The Board of Trustees has
worked hard to ensure continuity of the School’s vision and consistency with
its charter.
·
At the end of the last school year, the School hired its
third principal. Early in this school
year, the School had to hire its fourth principal, a person who had been
serving as Dean of Students at the School.
·
The School used the first year of its charter as a planning
year and opened with grades K-1; the present school year is the first in which
State assessments will be administered.
Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact
·
The Board has provided
effective financial oversight.
·
The School has
developed its annual budgets conservatively, and ended fiscal years 2001-2004
within its planned budgets.
·
The School has maintained
appropriate internal controls and procedures.
·
The School’s
anticipated enrollment in its fifth year of renewal (2009-10) represents an
increase of only 58 students above the maximum enrollment authorized under its
first charter.
·
Projected fiscal impact
for the School is shown below.
Potential Fiscal Impact of Charter Schools
on the
Albany City School District
2006-2011
|
|
Percent Impact*
|
|
||||||||||
|
Charter School
|
2006-07 |
2007-08
|
2008-09
|
2009-10
|
2010-11
|
||||||
|
Achievement Academy C S |
0.87 |
1.28 |
1.68 |
1.65 |
1.65 |
|
||||||
Albany Community C S
|
0.61 |
1.04 |
1.46 |
1.86 |
1.86 |
|
||||||
|
Albany Preparatory C S |
1.16 |
1.71 |
2.24 |
2.20 |
2.20 |
|
||||||
|
Brighter Choice – Boys
C S |
0.87 |
1.00 |
1.12 |
1.23 |
1.35 |
|
||||||
|
Brighter Choice – Girls C
S |
0.87 |
1.00 |
1.12 |
1.23 |
1.35 |
|
||||||
Henry Johnson C S
|
0.73 |
1.14 |
1.54 |
1.93 |
1.93 |
|
||||||
|
KIPP Tech Valley C S |
1.05 |
1.54 |
2.02 |
1.98 |
1.98 |
|
||||||
|
New Covenant C S |
5.43 |
5.32 |
5.22 |
5.12 |
5.12 |
|
||||||
Totals
|
11.59 |
14.03 |
16.40 |
17.20 |
17.44 |
|
||||||
*Projections subject to
fluctuation in actual enrollments, full-time enrollments, average expense per
pupil (AEP), district budgets, continuation and renewal of extant charter
schools, and establishment of additional charter schools in the district.
Evidence
of Parent and Student Satisfaction
·
The School has waiting
lists at each grade level.
·
Survey results show
that 96 percent of responding parents rated the quality of education and the
effectiveness of teachers as at least a B, versus a target of 80 percent.
·
The School’s student
retention rate of 92 percent exceeded its target of 80 percent.
·
The School’s attendance
rate of 94 percent exceeded its target of 90 percent.
Recommendation
Approve the renewal application and extend the term of the provisional charter for a period of five years.
Reason for Recommendation
New
York State Education Department
Summary of Charter School Renewal Information
Summary of Applicant Information
Name of Proposed Renewed Charter School: Brighter Choice Charter School for
Girls
Address: 250 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
Board of
Trustees President: Thomas W. Carroll
Renewal
Period: January 10, 2006 – January 10, 2011
District of Location: Albany City School District
Charter Entity: Board of Regents
Institutional
Partner(s):
None
Management
Partner(s): None
Grades
Served/Projected Enrollment per Year:
2006-07: K-4, 150
2008-09: K-4,
200
2009-10: K-4,
225
2010-11: K-4,
250
Renewal
Application Highlights
Evidence of
Educational Soundness/Attainment of Educational Objectives
·
The
Brighter Choice Charter School (“the School”) has exceeded all of its goals in
English Language Arts (“ELA”) and mathematics.
·
Over
the three years in which assessments were administered, the School’s
expectation for achievement in ELA was a cumulative gain of 15 percentile
points on the reading battery of the TerraNova exam. Its actual achievement was an increase of 32 percentile points.
·
Over the three years in which assessments were administered,
the School’s expectation for achievement in math was a cumulative gain of 15
percentile points on the mathematics battery of the TerraNova exam. Its actual achievement was an increase of 56
percentile points.
·
The School has exceeded its goal of instilling appropriate
student conduct.
·
Students have demonstrated the ability to recite key
elements of the School’s behavior code, random observation by outside observers
has indicated that all students consistently demonstrate key elements of the
School’s behavior code daily, and a higher than targeted percentage of parents
have judged the School effective in holding students to high behavioral
standards.
·
The School provides students with both an extended day and
an extended year of instruction.
·
In its first three years of operation, the School had two
principals. The Board of Trustees has
worked hard to ensure continuity of the School’s vision and consistency with
its charter.
·
At the end of the last school year, the School hired its
third principal. Early in this school
year, the School had to hire its fourth principal, a person who had been
serving as Dean of Students at the School.
·
The School used the first year of its charter as a planning
year and opened with grades K-1; the present school year is the first in which
State assessments will be administered.
Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact
·
The Board has provided
effective financial oversight.
·
The School has
developed its annual budgets conservatively, and ended fiscal years 2001-2004
within its planned budgets.
·
The School has
maintained appropriate internal controls and procedures.
·
The School’s
anticipated enrollment in its fifth year of renewal (2010-11) represents an
increase of only 58 students above the maximum enrollment authorized under its
first charter.
·
Projected fiscal impact
for the School is shown below.
Potential Fiscal Impact of Charter Schools
on the
Albany City School District
2006-2011
|
|
Percent Impact*
|
|
||||||||||
|
Charter School
|
2006-07 |
2007-08
|
2008-09
|
2009-10
|
2010-11
|
||||||
|
Achievement Academy C S |
0.87 |
1.28 |
1.68 |
1.65 |
1.65 |
|
||||||
Albany Community C S
|
0.61 |
1.04 |
1.46 |
1.86 |
1.86 |
|
||||||
|
Albany Preparatory C S |
1.16 |
1.71 |
2.24 |
2.20 |
2.20 |
|
||||||
|
Brighter Choice – Boys C S |
0.87 |
1.00 |
1.12 |
1.23 |
1.35 |
|
||||||
|
Brighter Choice – Girls
C S |
0.87 |
1.00 |
1.12 |
1.23 |
1.35 |
|
||||||
Henry Johnson C S
|
0.73 |
1.14 |
1.54 |
1.93 |
1.93 |
|
||||||
|
KIPP Tech Valley C S |
1.05 |
1.54 |
2.02 |
1.98 |
1.98 |
|
||||||
|
New Covenant C S |
5.43 |
5.32 |
5.22 |
5.12 |
5.12 |
|
||||||
Totals
|
11.59 |
14.03 |
16.40 |
17.20 |
17.44 |
|
||||||
*Projections subject to
fluctuation in actual enrollments, full-time enrollments, average expense per
pupil (AEP), district budgets, continuation and renewal of extant charter
schools, and establishment of additional charter schools in the district.
Evidence
of Parent and Student Satisfaction
·
The School has waiting
lists at each grade level.
·
Survey results show
that 100 percent of responding parents rated the quality of education and the
effectiveness of teachers as at least a B, versus a target of 80 percent.
·
The School’s student
retention rate of 92 percent exceeded its target of 80 percent.
·
The School’s attendance
rate of 94 percent exceeded its target of 90 percent.
Recommendation
Approve
the renewal application and extend the term of the provisional charter for a
period of five years.
Reason for Recommendation
New
York State Education Department
Summary
of Charter School Renewal Information
Summary of Applicant Information
Name of Proposed Renewed Charter School: Charter School for Applied
Technologies
Address: 2303 Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14207
Board of
Trustees President: Fred Saia
Renewal
Period: February 1, 2006 -
February 1, 2011
District of Location:
Kenmore-Tonawanda UFSD
Charter Entity: Board of Regents
Institutional
Partner(s):
None
Management
Partner(s): None
Grades Served
per Year: K-10 (K-12)
Projected
Enrollment per Year:
2006-07:
K-11, 1,375
2007-08:
K-12, 1,475
2008-09:
K-12, 1,475
2009-10:
K-12, 1,475
2010-11:
K-12, 1,475
Renewal
Application Highlights
Evidence of Educational Soundness/Attainment of
Educational Objectives
·
The Charter School for Applied Technologies (“CSAT” or “the
School”) has met most of the objectives listed in its initial charter.
·
At the middle level, the School only achieved its goal (“to
raise student performance by at least 20% over the life of the charter, or by
5% per year, as measured by the New York State Assessments”) in math.
·
The School has made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) each year
across grade levels, subject areas, and school years for all students and
subgroups.
·
The student performance index (PI) surpasses the established
Effective Annual Measurable Objective (i.e., the target) for the aggregate and
eligible student subgroups in ELA for grade 4.
·
CSAT made AYP in all three school years in both ELA and math
at the elementary level.
·
CSAT made AYP at the elementary level in science for both
2003-04 and 2004-05. The PI across
subgroups was higher than the State standard.
·
Middle-level students at CSAT made AYP in ELA, math, and
science for both 2003-04 and 2004-05 (grade 8 began in the fall of 2003).
·
CSAT students have surpassed the performance rates of
students in the Buffalo Public Schools (from where the majority of the School’s
students come) and are making progress that are comparable to public school
students in New York State.
·
Staff turnover is minimal and insignificant.
·
The School has had only two principals during the initial
term of its charter.
·
The membership of the Board of Trustees (“the Board”) has
remained stable.
Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal
Impact
·
The School has attained
an unqualified independent audit rating.
·
CSAT has shifted its
internal controls from Edison School’s Inc. (its current management partner) to
having the School manage them. The
transition has been amicable and seamless.
·
The Board has planned
for the financial future of the School.
On June 29, 2005, the Board closed on a 30-year bond totaling just under
$22 million, which has allowed it to relieve its current debts (including its
loan with Edison) and to continue to plan for future expansion.
Potential Fiscal Impact* of Charter Schools
on the Buffalo City School District
2006-11**
Charter School
|
Percent Impact 2006-07
|
Percent Impact 2007-08
|
Percent Impact 2008-09
|
Percent Impact 2009-10
|
Percent
Impact 2010-11 |
|
C S for Applied
Technologies |
2.31 |
2.03 |
2.09 |
2.12 |
2.15 |
|
Buffalo Academy of Science
C S |
0.59 |
0.70 |
0.70 |
0.70 |
0.70 |
|
Buffalo United C S |
0.87 |
0.98 |
0.98 |
0.98 |
0.98 |
|
Elmwood Village CS*** |
0.21 |
0.25 |
0.30 |
0.31 |
0.31 |
|
Enterprise C S |
1.06 |
1.06 |
1.06 |
1.06 |
1.06 |
|
Global Concepts C S |
0.15 |
0.15 |
0.15 |
0.15 |
0.15 |
|
King Center C S |
0.16 |
0.16 |
0.16 |
0.16 |
0.16 |
|
KIPP Sankofa C S |
0.56 |
0.56 |
0.56 |
0.56 |
0.56 |
|
Oracle C S |
0.38 |
0.47 |
0.56 |
0.56 |
0.56 |
|
Pinnacle C S |
0.56 |
0.84 |
0.84 |
0.84 |
0.84 |
|
South Buffalo C S |
1.02 |
1.08 |
1.14 |
1.15 |
1.15 |
|
Stepping Stone C S |
1.45 |
1.45 |
1.45 |
1.45 |
1.45 |
|
Tapestry C S |
0.44 |
0.45 |
0.56 |
0.67 |
0.71 |
WNY
Maritime C S
|
0.70 |
0.94 |
0.94 |
0.94 |
0.94 |
Westminster
Community C S
|
0.90 |
0.94 |
0.95 |
0.95 |
0.95 |
Totals
|
11.36 |
12.06 |
12.44 |
12.60 |
12.67 |
*Assumes a 3 percent
increase in the district’s budget and a 4.5 percent increase in the average
expense per pupil, per year.
**Assumes all charter
schools currently operating in Buffalo will also be operating five years from
now, except for COMMUNITY.
***Assumes approval of the
application by the Board of Regents in December 2005.
Evidence of Parent and Student Satisfaction
·
Student turnover is low and insignificant.
·
Student return rates have ranged between 87% and 93%.
·
Most students left for geographic reasons (e.g., moving out
of the area).
·
The School has been fully enrolled each year, and has had a
waiting list each year.
·
Parent satisfaction is high as evidenced by survey results
and the report of a focus group.
Recommendation
Approve the renewal application and extend the term of the provisional charter for a period of five years.
Reason for Recommendation
New
York State Education Department
Summary
of Charter School Renewal Information
Summary of Applicant Information
Name of Proposed Renewed
Charter School: Riverhead Charter
School
Address: 3685 Middle Country Road, Calverton, NY
11933-1801
Board of
Trustees President: Stephen Charkow
Renewal
Period: February 1, 2006 – June 30, 2008
District of Location: Riverhead Central School
District
Charter Entity: Board of Regents
Institutional
Partner(s):
None
Management
Partner(s): Edison Schools, Inc.
Grades
Served/Projected Enrollment per Year:
2006-07: K-6, 350
2008-09: K-6,
450
2009-10: K-6,
450
2010-11: K-6,
450
Renewal
Application Highlights
Evidence of Educational
Soundness/Attainment of Educational Objectives
·
The Riverhead Charter School (“the School”) has exceeded all
of its annual goals in English Language Arts (“ELA”) and mathematics.
·
The School has exceeded its annual goals in Social Studies.
·
In the years for which there were comparable science data,
the School’s gains exceeded its goals.
·
Because of the institution of a new science exam in the
third year of the School, it is not possible to compare achievement results
across all four years or to determine if the School’s cumulative goal in
science was met.
·
The School has attained its cumulative goals in ELA, math,
and social studies.
Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact
·
The School’s connection
with its management partner, Edison Schools, Inc., has provided ongoing
financial support as well as permitted the School to expand its facilities from
a single building to three buildings on the same site. The buildings consist of a two-story former
schoolhouse, a single-story modular facility, and a single-story building
housing administrative offices. The
School has desired to build a larger facility that would house all its students
and permit expanded enrollment, but that facility has not yet materialized.
·
While Edison’s loans
have provided the School a financial cushion, the School has ongoing
indebtedness to Edison that is projected to continue for 20 years.
·
Analysis of the
School’s financial statements indicates an operating deficit that is less than
projected and an operating income that is more than predicted.
·
Cash in hand has nearly
doubled in the past school year to a level that is four times greater than
predicted.
·
Liability to Edison
Schools decreased nearly $150,000 during the past year.
·
Projected fiscal impact
for the School is shown below.
Potential Fiscal Impact of Riverhead Charter School
2006-2011
District
|
Percent Impact*
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
2006-07 |
2007-08
|
2008-09
|
2009-10
|
2010-11
|
||||||
|
0.24 |
0.28 |
0.28 |
0.27 |
0.26 |
|
|||||||
|
East Moriches UFSD |
0.73 |
0.92 |
0.90 |
0.88 |
0.86 |
|
||||||
East Quogue UFSD
|
0.25 |
0.33 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.31 |
|
||||||
Eastport-South
Manor CSD
|
0.04 |
0.06 |
0.06 |
0.06 |
0.05 |
|
||||||
|
Hampton Bays UFSD |
0.10 |
0.13 |
0.13 |
0/13 |
0.12 |
|
||||||
Longwood CSD
|
0.56 |
0.70 |
0.69 |
0.67 |
0.66 |
|
||||||
Middle Country CSD
|
0.01 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
|
||||||
Patchogue-Medford UFSD
|
0.08 |
0.11 |
0.11 |
0.11 |
0.10 |
|
||||||
|
Riverhead CSD |
1.72 |
2.17 |
2.13 |
2.09 |
2.05 |
|
||||||
South Country CSD
|
0.26 |
0.33 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.31 |
|
||||||
|
Westhampton Beach UFSD |
0.15 |
0.23 |
0.22 |
0.22 |
0.21 |
|
||||||
William Floyd UFSD
|
0.29 |
0.37 |
0.36 |
0.35 |
0.34 |
|
||||||
*Projections are based on 2005-06 charter school enrollment reports, average expense per pupil (AEP) per district, inflated three percent annually, and district general fund projections or approved budgets, inflated 5 percent annually. Projections are subject to fluctuation in actual enrollments, full-time enrollments, AEP, and district budgets.
Evidence
of Parent and Student Satisfaction
·
The School has not met
its goal of 90 percent re-enrollment.
·
Explanation includes
the following factors: opening required some students to be housed for about
two months in an alternate facility in a former nonpublic school until the
renovations for the main building were completed; ongoing lack of gymnasium;
denial of permission to expand grade levels because of probation;
administrative issues resulting in parental disaffection; division among
founders leading to some parent withdrawals and active effort by some parents
to promote withdrawals; inability to expand facilities because of insufficient
enrollment; and insufficient enrollment because of inability to expand
facilities.
·
Parent surveys show
general satisfaction in areas of curriculum and instruction, family and
community concerns, and technology.
·
Parent surveys show
that the area of greatest concern, as reflected above, is the need for expanded
facilities.
·
Recent evidence shows
that the School is beginning to rebound from the negative impact of diminished
parental support and the probationary year, as illustrated by a 14 percent
increase in enrollment in the current year.
Recommendation
Approve the renewal application and extend the term of the provisional charter for a period of two years and five months.
Reason for Recommendation