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:	May 17, 2006
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 1 and 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision

 

Should the Regents approve requests for revisions to existing charters of two charter schools submitted by the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York? 

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

 

          Required by State statute, Education Law 2852.

 

Proposed Handling

 

This question will come before the Regents EMSC-VESID Committee on May 22, 2006 for action.  It will then come before the full Board for final action on May 23, 2006.

 

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 charters.  The Board is also authorized to make recommendations regarding the revision of existing charters on applications submitted by another charter entity or directly to it as a charter entity.  Subsequent to approval, the Board must then issue the initial charter or the renewal charter for each school, as applicable.

Background Information

 

We received two requests for approval of revisions to the existing charters for the Bronx Charter School for Better Learning and the UFT Elementary Charter School.

 

The initial charter for the Bronx Charter School for Better Learning was issued by the Regents on March 25, 2003.  The SUNY Board of Trustees has submitted a proposed revised charter that requests a change in the grade configuration.  The School seeks the addition of a fifth grade in September 2007 for the remainder of its charter and to not serve kindergarten, as well as minor enrollment changes.  If approved, the School will enroll 216 students in grades 1-4 in school year 2006-07 and will enroll 270 students in school year 2007-06. 

 

The initial charter for the UFT Elementary Charter School was issued by the Regents on July 21, 2005.  The SUNY Board of Trustees has submitted a proposed revised charter that would change the name of the school to the “UFT Charter School” and allow the school to expand its approved program for the 2006-2007 school year with a sixth grade in addition to its currently approved kindergarten through fifth grade.  If approved, the School will enroll 350 students in grades K through 3, and 6 in 2006-2007, and will enroll 860 students in grades K-9 in school year 2009-2010.

 

The enrollment plan and potential fiscal impact for the schools are included in the attachment.  Complete copies of the proposed charters and materials submitted by the SUNY Board of Trustees pertaining to the amendments are available from Shelia Evans Tranumn at 718-722-2796.

 

Recommendation

 

VOTED:  That the Board of Regents return the proposed revisions to the charter of the Bronx Charter School for Better Learning to the Charter Schools Institute with the comment that the charter as revised: (1) does not demonstrate that the curriculum proposed to be taught in the 5th grade will be aligned with the New York State learning standards; and (2) does not provide evidence that students in 5th grade will receive instruction in all 11 subject areas..

 

VOTED:  That the Board of Regents approve the proposed revisions to the charter of the UFT Elementary Charter School, and any amendment to its provisional charter that is necessary, to change its name to the “UFT Charter School” and expand its approved program over the remaining term of its charter to eventually serve grades K-9 in year five of its charter..

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

Material changes that the Regents approve will become effective on the date of the Regents action.

 

 

                                                                                          Attachment

 

 

 

Enrollment Plan

for the Bronx Charter School for Better Learning

Grades	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
1	50	51	54	54	54
2		51	54	54	54
3			54	54	54
4				54	54
5					54
Totals	50	102	162	216	270

 

 

 

Previous Enrollment Plan

for the Bronx Charter School for Better Learning

Grades	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
K				50	50
1	50	50	50	50	50
2		50	50	50	50
3			50	50	50
4				50	50
Totals	50	100	150	250	250

 

 

 

Projected Fiscal Impact of the

Bronx Charter School for Better Learning

(New York City Community School District 11, Region 2;

Borough – Bronx)

School Year	Number of Students	Projected Payment	Projected Impact
2006-07	216	$2,239,132	.0121%
2007-08	270	$2,798,915	.0151%

• Assumes a 3 percent annual increase in the District’s budget from the base of $17 billion in 2004-2005 and a 4.5 percent annual increase in the average expense per pupil per year from the 2004-2005 rate of $9,084.

 

 

 

Future Enrollment Plan of the

UFT Charter School

Grades	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10
K	75	75	75	75
1	75	75	75	75
2	75	75	75	75
3	-	75	75	75
4	-	-	75	75
5	-	-	-	75
6	125	125	125	75
7	-	120	120	120
8	-	-	115	115
9	-	-	-	100
Totals	350	525	735	860

 

 

 

Projected Fiscal Impact of the UFT Charter School

(New York City Community School District 19, Region 5;

Borough – Brooklyn)

School Year	Number of Students	Projected Payment*	Projected Impact
2006-07	350	$3,471,984	.0193%
2007-08	525	$5,442,335	.0293%
2008-09	735	$7.962,137	.0416%
2009-10	860	$9,735,472	.0494%

* Assumes a 3 percent annual increase in the District’s budget from the base of $17 billion in 2004-2005 and a 4.5 percent annual increase in the average expense per pupil per year from the 2004-2005 rate of $9,084.