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

 

TO:	EMSC-VESID Committee
FROM:	Jean C. Stevens
SUBJECT:	Charter School Revisions
DATE:	November 15, 2006
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 1 and 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

 

Should the Board of Regents approve the requested revisions to the existing charters of the Excellence Charter School of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Genesee Community Charter School, Leadership Preparatory Charter School, New Covenant Charter School, Niagara Charter School, Southside Academy Charter School, Urban Choice Charter School, and Western New York Maritime Charter School? 

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

 

          Required by State statute, Education Law §2852.

 

Proposed Handling

 

This question will come before the Regents EMSC-VESID Committee for action in December. 

 

Procedural History

 

Under the New York Charter Schools Act of 1998, the Board of Regents and the charter entity are authorized to approve revisions to existing charters.   

 

Background Information

 

Excellence Charter School of Bedford Stuyvesant:  This is a charter school authorized by the Trustees of the State University of New York (“SUNY”) and is located in Brooklyn, New York.  The initial charter for the School became effective by operation of law on June 20, 2003.  We received a request from SUNY to approve a revision to the School’s existing charter.  The School requested permission from SUNY to revise its charter to contract with Uncommon Schools, Inc. as its not-for-profit management company.  The School is not presently supported by an education management organization.  Uncommon Schools, Inc. (USI) is a non-stock, not-for-profit corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey and authorized to do business in the State of New York, with the purpose and legal ability to contract to provide educational management services.  Uncommon Schools, Inc. manages one school in New York City (Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School) and will manage the Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate Charter School, opening in 2007.  The President of USI is Norman Atkins.  Founded in 1996 initially to support North Star Academy, USI has primarily served two purposes:  capital fundraising and facility management.  USI will help support and manage the School. The institutional partner will provide the following services to the School: Curriculum Development Supplies, Educational Services (including professional development, principal training, instructional coaching, school operations support), Support Services (including contractual counseling, special needs instruction, student evaluation), Contractual Outreach, Contractual Technology Services, Legal Services, Accounting Services (including monthly financial reporting), Operations and Back Office, Audit Services, Marketing and Advocacy, and Teacher Recruitment.  On September 26, 2006, SUNY approved this revision to the School’s charter and now submits the proposed request as the second revision to the initial charter of the Excellence Charter School of Bedford Stuyvesant.

 

Genesee Community Charter School:  This is a Regents-authorized charter school in Rochester, and it has consistently been one of the highest performing charter schools since its initial charter was issued on November 10, 2000.  The School’s charter was renewed for a five-year term in January 11, 2005.  The renewal application requested a maximum student enrollment of 210 students in grades K-6, but the information provided to the Board of Regents at that time included a typographical error and an enrollment of only 200 students was approved.  This request seeks to amend the first renewal charter to provide for the originally requested maximum student enrollment of 210 students.

 

Leadership Preparatory Charter School:  This is a charter school authorized by the Trustees of the State University of New York (“SUNY”) and is located in Brooklyn, New York.  The initial charter for the School became effective by operation of law on December 11, 2005.  We received a request from SUNY to approve a revision to the School’s existing charter.  The School requested permission from SUNY to revise its charter to contract with Uncommon Schools, Inc. as its not-for-profit management company.  The School is not presently supported by an education management organization.  Uncommon Schools, Inc. is a non-stock, not-for-profit corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey and authorized to do business in the State of New York, with the purpose and legal ability to contract to provide educational management services.  Uncommon Schools, Inc. manages one school in New York City (Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School) and will manage the Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate Charter School, opening in 2007.  The President of USI is Norman Atkins.  Founded in 1996 initially to support North Star Academy, USI has primarily served two purposes:  capital fundraising and facility management.  USI will help support and manage the School. The institutional partner will provide the following services to the School: Curriculum Development Supplies, Educational Services (including professional development, principal training, instructional coaching, school operations support), Support Services (including contractual counseling, special needs instruction, student evaluation), Contractual Outreach, Contractual Technology Services, Legal Services, Accounting Services (including monthly financial reporting), Operations and Back Office, Audit Services, Marketing and Advocacy, and Teacher Recruitment.  The School also requested permission to reduce the number of teachers in its classrooms from 2 teachers to 1 teacher and 1 aide.  On September 26, 2006, SUNY approved this revision to the School’s charter and now submits the proposed request as the second revision to the initial charter of the Leadership Preparatory Charter School.

 

New Covenant Charter School:  This is a charter school authorized by the Trustees of the State University of New York (“SUNY”) and is located in Albany.  The Board of Regents issued the initial charter for the School on September 17, 1999, and issued a five-year renewal charter on September 15, 2004.  We received a request from SUNY to approve a revision to the School’s existing charter.  The School requested permission from SUNY to revise its charter to terminate its management agreement with Edison Schools, Inc. and to contract instead with Victory Schools, Inc. as its management company.  On September 26, 2006, SUNY approved this revision to the School’s charter and now submits the proposed request as the first revision to the first renewal charter of the New Covenant Charter School.

 

Niagara Charter School:  This is a Regents-authorized charter school in Niagara Falls (Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District).  Its charter was issued on July 22, 2005 and the School commenced instruction in August 2006.  The School seeks to increase its maximum student enrollment for the 2006-07 school year from 240 students in grades K-4 to 264 students.  There has been a great deal of parent interest in the School, and many siblings are represented in the requested increase. 

 

Southside Academy Charter School: This is a Regents-authorized charter school in Syracuse.  It is managed by the National Heritage Academies (“NHA”).  The School’s initial charter was issued January 16, 2002, and it currently has a renewal application pending with the Department.  For the remainder of its initial charter term the School seeks a second amendment to its initial charter to: terminate the use of the Metropolitan Achievement Tests as its local student assessment measure and use instead the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP); use a more specific academic goal (based on the use of the MAP) with performance measures that would help the School better monitor student growth and proficiency; and offer an After School Program for all students in grades 2-8 on either a Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday.  The program will run until Memorial Day and on different days for different grades will offer academic intervention services, clubs, athletics, Odyssey of the Mind, and an emotional growth component through the “Sisterhood” club as well as the “Go to High School, Go to College Program.”  The three changes are part of the School’s renewal application, and it seeks the authority to implement those changes in the 2006-07 school year, to provide for better continuity of programs and services.

 

          Urban Choice Charter School:  This is a Regents-authorized charter school in Rochester.  The initial charter was issued January 11, 2005, and the School commenced instruction in September 2005 with 200 students in grades K-5.  The School seeks a first revision to its initial charter to allow it to provide a six-week intensive Saturday Reading and Writing Program for targeted students in need of additional instruction, as determined by the results of the Stanford Achievement Test in grade 3 and the State assessment in ELA in grades 4 and 5. The program will allow 15 or fewer students to work with two certified teachers per grade level.  The goal of the program is to improve the literacy skills of the neediest students and to provide them with the additional skills necessary for academic success.

 

Western New York Maritime Charter School:  This is a Regents-authorized charter school in Buffalo.  The School’s charter was issued January 20, 2004, and it commenced instruction in September 2004 with 150 students in grade 9.  It is partnered with the United States Navy and has as a core component of its educational program a Navy Junior ROTC program.  The School seeks a first revision to its initial charter to provide for a Student Discipline Review Board and to eliminate the Student Peer Review Board as provided for in its initial charter.  While the two Boards are similar in nature, the requested amendment will permit the appointment of cadets to the Student Discipline Review Board who have demonstrated a commitment to adopt and practice the precepts of the Navy Junior ROTC program, and to follow all School rules.   The proposed Board will also include at least two faculty advisors, including the School’s counselor and a Naval Science instructor.  All cadet members of the Board will be trained by the Senior Naval Science Instructor.  

 

The School seeks a second amendment to its initial charter to allow it to operate at less than 85 percent of its targeted maximum enrollment for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years, per §2.2 of the School’s charter agreement. The approved maximum per the initial charter was 450 students in grades 9-11 for 2006-07, and 600 in grades 9-12 for 2007-08.  The School seeks instead to operate with a maximum of 350 students in 2006-07, and a maximum of 400 in 2007-08, due to facility constraints.  

 

Complete copies of the current charters and materials pertaining to the requested revisions to the charters are available from James C. Viola at 518-474-4817 and Shelia Evans-Tranumn at (718) 722-2796.

 

Recommendations

 

          Staff recommend that the Board of Regents take the following actions:

 

VOTED:   That the Board of Regents approve the second revision to the initial charter of the Excellence Charter School of Bedford Stuyvesant, and any amendment to its provisional charter that is necessary.

 

VOTED:   That the Board of Regents approve the first revision to the first renewal charter of the Genesee Community Charter School, and any amendment to its provisional charter that is necessary.

 

VOTED:   That the Board of Regents approve the first revision to the initial charter of the Leadership Preparatory Charter School, and any amendment to its provisional charter that is necessary.

 

VOTED:   That the Board of Regents approve the first revision to the first renewal charter of the New Covenant Charter School, and any amendment to its provisional charter that is necessary.

 

VOTED:   That the Board of Regents approve the first revision to the initial charter of the Niagara Charter School, and any amendment to its provisional charter that is necessary.

 

VOTED:   That the Board of Regents approve the second revision to the initial charter of the Southside Academy Charter School, and any amendment to its provisional charter that is necessary.

 

VOTED:   That the Board of Regents approve the first revision to the initial charter of the Urban Choice Charter School, and any amendment to its provisional charter that is necessary.

 

VOTED:   That the Board of Regents approve the first revision to the initial charter of the Western New York Maritime Charter School, and any amendment to its provisional charter that is necessary.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

Upon approval by the Board of Regents, the revisions to the charters will become effective immediately.

 

Reasons for Recommendations

 

The revisions to the charters of the above charter schools (together with the other terms of their charters) (1) will meet the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) will permit the charter schools to operate in an educationally and fiscally-sound manner; and (3) are 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.