Meeting of the Board of Regents | September 2009

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

 

TO:
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Charter Schools: Proposed First Renewal Charter for the Oracle Charter School
DATE:	September 1, 2009
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 1 and 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issues for Decision

 

Should the Regents approve the staff’s recommendation concerning the proposed first renewal to the charter for the Oracle Charter School (Buffalo)? 

 

Background Information

 

We received a request on June 19, 2009 from the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York (“SUNY”) to approve and issue a first renewal charter for the Oracle Charter School (“the School”).  The School was initially granted a five-year charter by the Board of Regents in March 2004. The School currently serves 360 students in grades 7-12 and the renewal eliminates grade 7 and increases enrollment to 392.

 

On October 8, 2008, the Buffalo City School District (“the District”) held the required public hearing on this proposed first renewal charter. At the hearing, the District stated that it supports a first renewal charter for the School through the conclusion of the 2009-10 school year. There were no other comments in support or opposition to the renewal application.

 

A general concern raised by staff was the inability to ascertain what aspects of the School’s educational program had changed, if any, since the school’s initial charter. 

 

Staff recommend that the Board of Regents return the proposed first renewal charter to SUNY.

                             

Recommendation

 

VOTED:  That the Board of Regents returns the proposed first renewal charter of the Oracle Charter School to the Trustees of the State University of New York for reconsideration, and with the following comments and recommendations: that the resubmission provide (a) information regarding all provisions of the School’s first renewal charter (including its educational program) that have been changed, if any, since its initial charter was approved  and (b) a core curricula to address the math standards.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

The Regents action for The Oracle Charter School is effective immediately.

 

New York State Education Department

 

Summary Information

 

 

Name of Charter School:  Oracle Charter School

 

Address:  888 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY

 

Board of Trustees President:  David Steffanl

 

District of Location:  Buffalo                      

 

Charter Entity:  SUNY Trustees

 

Institutional Partner(s):  None

 

Management Partner(s): None

 

Grades Served:        8-12     

 

Projected Enrollment: 392

 

  Renewal Application Highlights

 

 

Evidence of Educational Soundness/ Attainment of Educational Objectives

 

 

·       All State assessments will be given.

• Students will attend for 188 days of instruction.
• The School did not provide curriculum to address the revised math standards.
• The School’s three year cohort has a 77% pass rate on the ELA Regents.
• The School’s three year cohort has an 83% pass rate on a Math Regents.

 

Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact

 

·      The School’s budget demonstrates fiscal soundness with a positive cash flow and revenue which exceeded expenses by $96,000.

 

Projected 2009-10 Fiscal Impact of Oracle Charter School on

The Buffalo City School District

 

School Year	Number of Students	Projected Impact
2009-2010	392	0.004

 

Projected 2009-10 Fiscal Impact of All Charter School

The Buffalo City School District

 

School	2009-10
Aloma D. Johnson Fruit Belt Community Charter School	0.30
Buffalo Academy of Science CS	0.57
Buffalo United CS	0.89
CS for Applied Technologies**	1.90
COMMUNITY CS	0.44
Elmwood Village CS	0.22
Enterprise CS	0.50
Health Sciences Charter School	0
King Center CS	0.13
Oracle CS	0.46
Pinnacle CS	0.61
South Buffalo CS	0.79
Tapestry CS	0.52
Western NY Maritime CS	0.41
Westminster Community CS	0.70
Total Projected Impact	8.44

 

 *Assumes a 3.0 percent annual increase in the district’s budget and a 4.5 percent annual increase in the average expense per pupil.  Projections are subject to fluctuation in actual enrollments, FTE enrollments, AOE, and district budgets.  Further assumes all students will come from the district of location (with exceptions noted), and that all other charter schools will still be in operation from 2009-10 forward.

** Located within Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District but receives approximately 85 percent of its student enrollment from Buffalo.   Impact is therefore calculated upon 85 percent of its anticipated enrollment.

*** Located within Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District but expects to receive approximately 84 percent of its student enrollment from Buffalo.  Impact is therefore calculated upon 84 percent of its anticipated enrollment as well as on the district of location.

 

Evidence of Parent and Student Satisfaction and Community Support

 

• The Public Hearing was on October 8, 2008. 
• At the public hearing, the Buffalo City School District BOE indicated their support of a renewal until the end of the 2009-10 school year. 
• There were no other comments in support or opposition to the School’s renewal.