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 Schools Renewal Charters
DATE:	December 21, 2006
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 1 and 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issues for Decision (Consent Agenda)

 

Based on approval granted by the Board in December, should the Regents issue the renewal charters for the Bronx Charter School for the Arts (New York City), the Global Concepts Charter School (Lackawanna), the Harriet Tubman Charter School (New York City) and the Southside Academy Charter School (Syracuse)? 

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

 

          Required by State statute, Education Law §2852.

 

Proposed Handling

 

This question will come before the EMSC-VESID Committee on January 8, 2007 for action. 

 

Procedural History

 

Under the New York Charter Schools Act of 1998, the Board of Regents is authorized to make recommendations regarding applications submitted directly to it as a charter entity.  Upon receipt of an application for renewal or for the establishment of a new charter school, the Board of Regents shall review such applications and proposed charters in accordance with the standards set forth in the Charter Schools Act.  Subsequent to their approval, the Board must then issue the initial charter or the renewal charter for each school, as applicable.

 

 

 

Background Information

 

The Board of Regents approved at your December 2006 meeting the renewal of charters for four Regents-authorized charter schools.  Those renewals were for:

 

§       Bronx Charter School for the Arts, New York City

§       Global Concepts Charter School, Lackawanna

§       Harriet Tubman Charter School, New York City

§       Southside Academy Charter School, Syracuse

 

The Board is now being asked to approve the renewal charters for these charter schools based on approval granted in December.  Complete copies of the renewal charters are available for your review by contacting James C. Viola at 518-474-4817 or Shelia Evans-Tranumn at 718-722-2796.

 

Recommendation

         

VOTED:  That the Board of Regents issues the following renewal charters:

 

§       Bronx Charter School for the Arts, New York City (first renewal)

§       Global Concepts Charter School, Lackawanna (first renewal)

§       Harriet Tubman Charter School, New York City (second renewal)

§       Southside Academy Charter School, Syracuse (first renewal)

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

            The renewal charters described above will be issued as of January 9, 2007, but will not themselves become effective until January 11, 2007 for the Harriet Tubman Charter School, January 16, 2007 for both the Global Concepts Charter School and the Southside Academy Charter Schools, and April 23, 2007 for the Bronx Charter School for the Arts.