Meeting of the Board of Regents | April 2010

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

TO:
FROM:	John B. King, Jr.
SUBJECT:	Charter Schools: Proposed First Renewal Charter for New Heights Academy Charter School
DATE:	April 5, 2010
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 1 and 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision

Should the Regents approve and issue the proposed first renewal charter of New Heights Academy Charter School (New York City)?

Background Information

We have received a proposed renewal charter from the Chancellor of the city school district of the City of New York for New Heights Academy Charter School (“the School”).   The School’s charter was initially granted on April 15, 2005.  It currently serves 749 students in grades 5-12.  Upon renewal, it will continue to serve 750 students in grades 5-12 throughout the proposed renewal term.  The School's mission is: “All young people deserve access to an excellent education; however, not all students are afforded this opportunity due to inequities in the public school system.  New Heights Academy Charter School was founded in 2006 to address this disparity by providing a college preparatory education in a safe and nurturing environment to students in grades 5-12 living in Washington Heights and Inwood.  Our students participate in a rigorous academic program and take pride in learning how our core values of perseverance, responsibility, integrity, discipline, and enthusiasm will support them in their pursuit of challenging post-secondary education and career goals.  New Heights Academy Charter School is where success happens every day!”  

The School does not have a management partner.  The School will provide instruction from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for 180 days per academic year.  The School’s educational philosophy is that “all students are capable of achieving high academic standards.”  The School employs instructional methods that focus on “understanding students’ needs, individualizing instructional programs and providing support structures.”

The New York City Department of Education held a public hearing in Community School District 6 on January 19, 2010 regarding this proposed renewal charter.  No comments were made or received. 

Complete copies of the above are available for your review by contacting Sally Bachofer at (518) 474-1762.  Additional information concerning this renewal application may also be found on the Board of Regents website at http://www.regents.nysed.gov/.

Recommendation

              VOTED: That the Board of Regents approves and issues the first renewal charter of the New Heights Academy Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the city school district of the City of New York, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including April 14, 2015.

Reasons for Recommendation

              (1) The charter school described in the proposed charter meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the applicants can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; and (3) approving and issuing the proposed charter 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. 

Timetable for Implementation

The Regents action for the New Heights Academy Charter School will be effective immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York State Education Department

Summary of Charter School Renewal Information

Summary of Applicant Information

 

Name of Proposed Renewed Charter School:  New Heights Academy Charter School (NHACS or “the School”)

Address:  1818 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10031

Board of Trustees President:  Jennifer Davis

Renewal Period:  April 15, 2010 – April 14, 2015

Opening Date:  September 2005

District of Location:  New York City Community School District 6, Manhattan

 

Charter Entity:  Chancellor of the city school district of the City of New York

Institutional Partner: N/A

Management Partner:  N/A

Grades Served per Year:    5-12

Projected Enrollment per Year: 750

Renewal Application Highlights

Evidence of Educational Soundness/ Attainment of Educational Objectives

 

• The School tested its fifth grade for the first time during the 2006-2007 school year.  The student achievement results for the School are shown in Attachment 1 – Tables 1, 2, and 3.
• The School scored higher than its district of location in the English language arts (ELA) and math exams in 2008-2009.  See Attachment 1 – Table 4.
• The School displayed a significant trend of progressive improvement in both ELA and math performance over the past three school years.  See Attachment 1 – Tables 1, 2, and 3.
• The School has been deemed “In Good Standing” under New York State’s (NYS) Accountability System.
• The School earned an A on its New York City progress report in 2008 and 2009.
• The School’s aggregate Performance Index (PI) of 162 on the NYS ELA and 174 on the math exams met the Annual Measurable Objective (AMO) set forth in the NYS accountability system.
• The School reports that the original cohort of ninth graders now comprises the senior class, with 75 percent having already satisfied all Regents exams and credit requirements for graduation.
• The School anticipates that it will satisfy its goal of graduating at least 85 percent of its current senior class by August 2010.  This will be the School’s first graduating class.
• The School reports that, with the exception of one grade, it has met its goal that each cohort of students will annually increase their achievement as measured by average report card grades and NYS exams.
• The School population in 2009-2010 comprises 87 percent Hispanic and 13 percent Black. 
• In 2009-2010, the School identified 12 percent of its students as students with disabilities (SWD), 20 percent as English language learners (ELL), and 20 percent as eligible for free or reduced lunch.
• The School provides instruction in each subject in the seven general curriculum areas and the proposed curriculum is aligned to all 28 NYS learning standards.
• The School uses the Glencoe and McDougall Littell science programs, a variety of novels for its ELA program, Saxon and Pearson/Prentice Hall for math, and the Glencoe/McGraw Hill and Pearson/Prentice Hall programs for social studies.
• In addition to the mandated state exams, the School administers interim assessments in both the middle and high school that correspond to the State and Regents exams. 
• The School employs a structured immersion strategy to help ELL students achieve proficiency in the English language. 
• The School provides a 180-day school year from September to the end of June.
• The School provides instruction from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday. 
• Average daily attendance in 2008-2009 was 94 percent.
• The teacher retention rate was 96 percent for 2008-2009, and 91 percent for each of the previous two years.
• The School has had the same principal since opening in 2005. 

Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact

 

• The School maintained a positive fund balance in each year of the charter.
• NHACS shows a positive change in its net assets for 2008-2009.  See Attachment 3.
• The School is housed in a private facility at 1818 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10031.  In October 2009, it completed an expansion project in this facility.
• The School has no long-term debt. 
• The New York City Department of Education reports that NHACS has close to $1 million in liquid assets that can be converted to cash within 90 days.
• The number of Trustees is not fewer than five and is not to exceed 15.  The current number of trustees is 11.
• Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees are held 10 times throughout the year.
• The committees of the Board of Trustees are executive, finance, and education/ accountability.
• The standing committees of the board are: executive, education/accountability and finance.
• A seat on the board of trustees is reserved for a parent representative.
• The potential fiscal impact upon the District is represented below.  Please note that these projections are based upon several assumptions, which may or may not occur: that all existing charter schools will also exist in the next five years and serve the same grade levels as they do now; that the charter schools will be able to meet their projected maximum enrollment; that all students will come from New York City and no other districts; that all students will attend every day for a 1.0 FTE; that the District’s budget will increase at the projected rate; that the per pupil payment will increase (and not decrease); and that the per pupil payment will increase at the projected rate.

 

Projected Fiscal Impact of the

New Heights Academy Charter School

(New York City – CSD 6 – Manhattan)

2010-11 through 2014-15

School Year	Number of Students	Projected Payment*	Projected Impact
2010-2011	750	$9,332,250	0.0444 %
2011-2012	750	$9,332,250	0.0444 %
2012-2013	750	$9,332,250	0.0444 %
2013-2014	750	$9,332,250	0.0444 %
2014-2015	750	$9,332,250	0.0444 %

* Assumes no annual increase in the District’s budget from the base of $21 billion in 2010-2011; and no annual increase in the average expense per pupil per year from the 2010-2011 rate of $12,443.

Evidence of Parent and Student Satisfaction and Community Support

 

• A public hearing to solicit comments from the community in connection with the charter school’s proposed renewal was conducted by the New York City Department of Education on January 19, 2010.  There were no public comments. 
• The student attrition rate was four percent in 2008-2009, less than one percent in 2007-2008, and 4.6 percent in 2006-2007.   
• The School reports that the most recent waiting list contains 858 names of interested students.
• In 2008-2009, the parent satisfaction rate was 94 percent, with a response rate of 31 percent.  In 2007-2008, the satisfaction rate was 95 percent, with a response rate of 44 percent.

Summary of Charter Entity’s Findings and Recommendations

New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) has recommended a full five-year renewal.  NYCDOE found that the School has demonstrated the ability to operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner in the next charter period.   Based on its findings of educational and fiscal soundness, NYCDOE states that NHACS is likely to improve student learning and achievement.

NYCDOE states that the School has a safe, secure learning environment that fosters high expectations for student engagement and success.  The School has developed effective plans and strategies to ensure a continued focus on improving student achievement.  With the growing use of technology in the classroom, teachers and students agree that learning is more exciting, and this has led to significantly increased student engagement in lessons.  NYCDOE also found a clear school-wide focus on improving assessments and the use of data to track student progress.  A strong, collaborative leadership team provides opportunities for all staff to develop talents and take on leadership responsibilities

NYCDOE states that the Board of Trustees has functioned effectively in furthering the School’s mission, and maintains sound finances and internal controls.  NHACS has developed strong partnerships and communication with parents, and encourages parents to support the School through volunteer programs. 

 

 

Attachment 1

Table 1

2008-2009

Grades 6-7 State ELA and Math Assessments

Percent of NHACS Students at Levels 1 – 4

6-7 ELA						6-7 Math
%L1	%L2	%L3	%L4	Proficiency			%L1	%L2	%L3	%L4	Proficiency
	37.6	61.9	.5	62.4			3.8	18.4	65.9	11.9	77.8

Table 2

2007-2008

Grades 5-6 State ELA and Math Assessments

Percent of NHACS Students at Levels 1 – 4

5-6 ELA						5-6 Math
%L1	%L2	%L3	%L4	Proficiency			%L1	%L2	%L3	%L4	Proficiency
1	53.4	45.5	0	45.5			5.8	28.8	58.1	7.3	65.4

Table 3

2006-2007

Grade 5 State ELA and Math Assessments

Percent of NHACS Students at Levels 1 – 4

5 ELA						5 Math
%L1	%L2	%L3	%L4	Proficiency			%L1	%L2	%L3	%L4	Proficiency
10.4	57.3	32.3	0	32.3			6.3	43.8	49	1	50

Table 4

2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009

Grades 5-7 State ELA and Math Assessments

Percent of NHACS and District 6 Students at Proficiency Level

ELA					Math
	2006-2007 5	2007-2008 5-6	2008-2009 6-7				2006-2007 5	2007-2008 5-6	2008-2009 6-7
NHACS	32.3	45.5	62.4			NHACS	50.0	65.4	77.8
District 6	37.5	48.0	61.5			District 6	58.3	65.5	73.0

 

TABLE 5*

2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009

Grades 9-11 NYS Regents Exams

Percent of NHACS Students Scoring At or Above 65 Percent

	2006-2007 9			2007-2008 9-10			2008-2009 9-11
	ELA	MATH A	MATHB	ELA	MATH A	MATH B	ELA	MATH A	MATH B
Percent of NHACS Students Scoring 65 Percent or Above				65	71		63	2	3
Number of NHACS Students Tested	0	0	0	93	91	0	114	11	36

* Comparison to CSD 6 scores is not provided because NHACS had only three years in which to take the exams whereas the local public schools had four years in which to take the exams.

 

 

 

 

Attachment 2

Current Enrollment

New Heights Academy Charter School

2009-2010

GRADE	2009-10
Fifth	96
Sixth	97
Seventh	96
Eighth	97
Ninth	95
Tenth	96
Eleventh	91
Twelfth	81
TOTAL	749

Projected Enrollment

New Heights Academy Charter School

2010-2011 to 2014-2015

GRADE	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
Fifth	96	96	96	96	96
Sixth	96	96	96	96	96
Seventh	96	96	96	96	96
Eighth	96	96	96	96	96
Ninth	96	96	96	96	96
Tenth	96	96	96	96	96
Eleventh	90*	90*	90*	90*	90*
Twelfth	84*	84*	84*	84*	84*
Total	750	750	750	750	750

* It is anticipated that NHACS will not be able to replace the pool of eleventh and twelfth grade students who leave due to attrition with new students who wish to transfer from other schools.

 

 

 

 

 

Attachment 3

New Heights Academy Charter School

Change in Net Assets for 2006-07 through 2008-09*

Year	Change in Net Assets
2006-07	$750,545
2007-08	$894, 556
2008-09	$1,377,655

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