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Meeting of the Board of Regents | February 2008

Wednesday, February 6, 2008 - 11:55pm

sed seal                                                                                                 

 

 

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

 

TO:

FROM:

Johanna Duncan-Poitier

SUBJECT:

Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem Proposed Revision

 

DATE:

February 6, 2008

STRATEGIC GOAL:

Goals 1 and 2

AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision

 

Should the Regents approve the staff’s recommendations concerning the proposed charter revision as submitted by the Trustees of the State University of New York for the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem (New York City)?

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

 

              Required by State statute, Education Law §2852.

 

Proposed Handling

 

This question will come before the EMSC Committee in February 2008 for action.  It will then come before the full Board for final action in February 2008.

 

Procedural History

 

The New York Charter Schools Act of 1998 requires the Board of Regents to review, in accordance with the standards set forth in Education Law §2852(2), proposed charters, renewal charters and revisions to charters and renewal charters that have been approved and submitted by other charter entities.  The Board of Regents may either approve and issue a charter, renewal charter and/or revision as proposed by the charter entity, or return the same to the charter entity for reconsideration with written comments and recommendations. 

 

Background Information

 

We received a request from the Trustees of the State University of New York to revise the charter of the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem (the “School”).  The School seeks to increase grades served for the 2007-2008 and the 2008-2009 school year (See Table 1) and to increase its escrow or reserve account for the purposes of dissolution to a minimum of $75,000 rather than $25,000.

 

Table 1: Proposed Revised Grade Configuration

 

 

Original Grade Configuration

Revised Grade Configuration

2007-2008

First through fourth

Kindergarten through fourth

2008-2009

Second through fifth

First through fifth

 

 

               

Pursuant to Education Law §2857(1), prior to the issuance, revision or renewal of a charter, the school district in which the charter school is located is required to hold a public hearing in the community potentially impacted by the charter school to solicit comments from the community.  The School is in community school district 5.  The New York City Department of Education held a hearing in community school district 2 regarding the revision being proposed herein.  Therefore, the hearing was not held in the community potentially impacted by the charter school.  Staff, therefore, recommend the Board of Regents return this proposed revision.

 

Recommendation

 

              VOTED: That the Board of Regents return the proposed revision to the second renewal charter of the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem to the Trustees of the State University of New York for reconsideration, and with the following comment and recommendation: That the proposed revision be resubmitted to the Regents for reconsideration after a public hearing is held in the community potentially impacted by the charter school in accordance with both Education Law §2857(1) and 8 NYCRR 119.4.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

The Regents action for the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem is effective immediately.