Meeting of the Board of Regents | April 2010
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THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234
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TO: |
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FROM: |
John B. King, Jr. |
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SUBJECT: |
Charter Schools: Proposed First Renewal Charter for Achievement First East New York Charter School |
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DATE: |
April 5, 2010 |
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STRATEGIC GOAL: |
Goals 1 and 2 |
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AUTHORIZATION(S): |
SUMMARY
Issue for Decision
Should the Regents approve and issue the proposed first renewal charter of Achievement First East New York 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 Achievement First East New York Charter School (“the School”). The School’s charter was initially granted on March 15, 2005. It currently serves 501 students in grades K–5. Upon renewal, it will serve 581 in grades K–6, and grow to serve 851 students in grades K–10 by the end of this proposed renewal term. The School's mission is “to strengthen the academic and character skills needed for all students to meet and exceed their peers in city and state assessments, excel in top tier colleges, achieve success in a competitive world, and serve as the next generation of leaders in their communities.”
The School has a management partner, Achievement First, Inc. (AF, Inc.), a nonprofit charter management organization, authorized to conduct business in New York and in Connecticut (founded in 2003). AF, Inc. currently manages six schools, five of which are operating currently in New York. AF, Inc. was approved in 2008 to manage a seventh charter school that will open in Brooklyn in September 2010. The School will provide instruction from 7:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday with dismissal at 1:50 p.m. each Friday for professional development and staff meetings. The School is in session 208 days per academic year.
The New York City Department of Education held a public hearing in Community School District 19 on December 16, 2009 regarding this proposed renewal charter. Thirteen comments were made at the meeting and 20 written comments were received in support of the charter renewal. A petition showing support for the renewal of the School’s charter was signed by 101 people.
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 Achievement First East New York 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 March 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 Achievement First East New York 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: Achievement First East New York Charter School (AFENY or “the School”)
Address: 557 Pennsylvania Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11207
Board of Trustees President: Anthony Davis
Renewal Period: March 15, 2010 – March 14, 2015
District of Location: New York City Community School District 19, Brooklyn
Charter Entity: Chancellor of the city school district of the City of New York
Institutional Partner: N/A
Management Partner: Achievement First, Inc.
Grades Served per Year: 2010 – 2011: K – 6
2011 – 2012: K – 7
2012 – 2013: K – 8
2013 – 2014: K – 9
2014 – 2015: K – 10
Projected Enrollment per Year: 2010 – 2011: 581
2011 – 2012: 656
2012 – 2013: 726
2013 – 2014: 790
2014 – 2015: 851
Renewal Application Highlights
Evidence of Educational Soundness/ Attainment of Educational Objectives
- The School opened in September 2005 and tested its third grade for the first time during the 2007-2008 academic year. The student achievement results for the School are shown in Attachment 1, Tables 1 – 3.
- The School scored higher than its district of location in the English language arts (ELA) and mathematics exams for each year that it had cohorts of students in grades 3 – 5. See Attachment 1, Table 3.
- In 2008-2009, the School had a Performance Index (PI) of 187 on the New York State (NYS) exams in ELA and a PI of 198 on the NYS mathematics exams.
- The School has been deemed “In Good Standing” under New York State’s Accountability System since 2007-2008.
- The School’s aggregate PI on the State ELA and math exams met the Annual Measurable Objective (AMO) set forth in the NYS accountability system.
- In 2008-2009, the School met its accountability goals for student performance on the ELA and math exams, student attrition of less than 5 percent (other than students moving out of the neighborhood or city), average attendance rates of 95 percent or higher and for parental response rates and satisfaction with the School’s academic program.
- For 2008-2009, 86 percent of enrolled students were eligible for free/reduced lunch programs and 6 percent special education students.
- For 2008-2009, the School served 0.4 percent limited English proficiency students.
- The School has developed plans on the recommendation of its authorizer to attract and retain students with disabilities and English language learners at a comparable or greater enrollment rate as to Community School District (CSD) 19
- The School’s population for 2009-2010 is 91.0 percent Black, 8.1 percent Hispanic, 0.2 percent Asian and 0.2 percent White.
- The School provides instruction in each subject in the seven general curriculum areas and the proposed curriculum is aligned to all 28 New York State (NYS) learning standards.
- he School conducts periodic internal assessments in the core subject areas to assist in differentiating instruction and providing additional support to students as needed.
- The School has developed a comprehensive data analysis plan to by which teachers inform and differentiate instruction.
- The School has a 208-day school year from September to the end of June.
- The School provides instruction from 7:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday with dismissal at 1:50 p.m. each Friday for professional development and staff meetings.
- The teacher attrition rate for the 2008-2009 academic year was 20 percent. In 2007-2008, it was 22 percent, for 2006-2007 and 2005-2006 it was 14 percent.
- The School has had the same elementary level principal since opening in 2005.
Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact
- The School has maintained a positive fund balance in each year of the charter.
- The School has no long-term debt and the School is located in a New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) facility.
- The Board of Trustees (BOT) has demonstrated sound fund-raising capabilities.
- The management partner supports five Achievement First charter schools in the borough of Brooklyn. See Attachment 3.
- The School showed a positive change in its net assets from 2005 through 2009. See Attachment 4
- The number of Trustees will not be fewer than seven and will not exceed 17.
- Trustees are elected to serve two-year terms. Trustees may be elected to serve an unlimited number of terms.
- Regular meetings of the BOT are held 10 times throughout the year.
- The standing committees of the BOT are executive, finance, student achievement and evaluation.
- The officers of the board of trustees are chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer.
- 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
Achievement First East New York Charter School
(New York City – CSD 19 – Brooklyn)
2010-2011 through 2014-2015
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School Year |
Number of Students |
Projected Payment* |
Projected Impact |
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2010-2011 |
581 |
$7,229,383 |
0.0344% |
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2011-2012 |
656 |
$8,162,608 |
0.0389% |
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2012-2013 |
726 |
$9,033,618 |
0.0430% |
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2013-2014 |
790 |
$9,829,970 |
0.0468% |
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2014-2015 |
851 |
$10,588,993 |
0.0504% |
*Assumes no annual increase in the District’s budget from the base of $21 billion in 2010-2011; and no 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 School’s proposed renewal was conducted by the NYCDOE on December 16, 2009 regarding this proposed renewal charter. Thirteen comments were made at the meeting and 20 written comments were received in support of the charter renewal.
- Petitions showing support for the renewal of the School’s charter were signed by 101 people.
- In the fall of 2006, 96.2 percent of students re-enrolled from the prior year. In 2007, the re-enrollment level was 89.5 percent. For 2008, the re-enrollment rate was 92.1 percent with 95 percent re-enrolling in 2009.
- The waiting list had 1,904 students seeking to enroll in the School as of December 2009.
- The 2008-2009 data showed that 89.4 percent of the parent rated the School “A/A+” on a grading scale. The parental response rate was 54.3 percent.
Summary of Charter Entity’s Findings and Recommendations
The New York City Department of Education Charter School Office finds the School to be an academically successful school that is organizationally viable and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations pertaining to its current charter. The School is also an educationally and fiscally sound organization, likely to improve student learning and achievement. The School administers a wide range of assessments to measure student levels and progress in key subject areas and skills. Results from these assessments are tracked in the on-line data tracking system, “Athena,” created by Achievement First. Teachers and administrators note the effectiveness of the new on-line tool and note that while parts of the software are still in development, it provides useful student, class and school level data including item analysis and longitudinal reports.
The School has developed systems and structures to support a standards-based curriculum that ensures rigor and consistency across all classes, teachers and grade levels. It also provides an extended day, an extended year and opportunities for after-school and holiday instruction to maximize learning opportunities for students. Likewise, class lessons are crafted to promote more time on task for students. The school-wide curriculum provides consistency for all students and aims t ensure that all teachers, even the least experienced, have structures in place to deliver high quality instruction.
The Chancellor recommends that Achievement First East New York Charter School be renewed for a period of five years, granting the School the authority to provide instruction to students in grades kindergarten through tenth grade consistent with the other terms of operation set forth in its application.
Attachment 1
Table 1
2008-2009
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of AFENY at Levels 1 – 4
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3-8 ELA |
3-8 Math |
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%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
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0.7 |
11.9 |
79.5 |
7.9 |
87.4 |
0 |
1.9 |
56.6 |
41.5 |
98.1 |
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Table 2
2007-2008
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of AFENY at Levels 1 – 4
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3-8 ELA |
3-8 Math |
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%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
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2.7 |
5.4 |
70.2 |
8.1 |
78.3 |
0 |
1.4 |
62.1 |
36.5 |
98.6 |
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Table 3
2007-2008 and 2008-2009
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of AFENY and
Community School District 19 Students at Proficiency Level
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ELA |
Math |
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2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
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AFENY |
N/A |
78.3 |
87.4 |
AFENY |
N/A |
98.6 |
98.1 |
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CSD 19 |
40.7 |
47.5 |
66.5 |
CSD 19 |
60.6 |
67.0 |
80.7 |
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Attachment 2
Current Enrollment
Achievement First East New York Charter School
2009-10
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GRADE |
2009-10 |
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Kindergarten |
88 |
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First |
88 |
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Second |
86 |
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Third |
80 |
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Fourth |
74 |
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Fifth |
85 |
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TOTAL |
501 |
Projected Enrollment
Achievement First East New York Charter School
2010-11 to 2014-15
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GRADE |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
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Kindergarten |
88 |
88 |
88 |
88 |
88 |
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First |
88 |
88 |
88 |
88 |
88 |
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Second |
86 |
86 |
86 |
86 |
86 |
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Third |
80 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
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Fourth |
74 |
74 |
74 |
74 |
74 |
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Fifth |
85 |
85 |
85 |
85 |
85 |
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Sixth |
80 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
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Seventh |
- |
75 |
75 |
75 |
75 |
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Eighth |
- |
- |
70 |
70 |
70 |
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Ninth |
- |
- |
- |
64 |
64 |
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Tenth |
- |
- |
- |
- |
61 |
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Total |
581 |
656 |
726 |
790 |
851 |
Attachment 3
Performance on ELA and Math State Assessments by all Charter Schools
in New York State Managed by Achievement First, Inc.
on the ELA and Math State Assessments compared to the school district of location
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Percent of Students Scoring At or Above Level 3 on State Exams |
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Charter School |
2005-2006 |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
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3-8 ELA |
3-8 MATH |
3-8 ELA |
3-8 MATH |
3-8 ELA |
3-8 MATH |
3-8 ELA |
3-8 MATH |
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Achievement First Crown Heights |
70 |
62 |
53 |
70 |
72 |
92 |
78 |
95 |
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CSD 17 |
42 |
51 |
41 |
61 |
48 |
67 |
59 |
76 |
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Achievement First East New York |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
78 |
99 |
87 |
98 |
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CSD 19 |
38 |
42 |
37 |
51 |
47 |
63 |
60 |
75 |
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Achievement First Endeavor |
NA |
NA |
53 |
61 |
64 |
88 |
68 |
78 |
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CSD 14 |
47 |
51 |
49 |
62 |
55 |
72 |
67 |
80 |
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Achievement First Bushwick |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
60 |
88 |
72 |
92 |
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CSD 32 |
41 |
44 |
42 |
54 |
52 |
66 |
64 |
76 |
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Achievement First Brownsville |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
NA |
NA |
|
CSD 23 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
63 |
80 |
Attachment 4
Achievement First East New York Charter School
Change in Net Assets for 2006 through 2009*
|
Year |
Change in Net Assets |
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2005-06 |
$262,144 |
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2006-07 |
$207,772 |
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2007-08 |
$429,895 |
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2008-09 |
$950,651 |
*Source: Audited Financial Statements provided as a part of each Annual Report.