Meeting of the Board of Regents | June 2010

SUMMARY

Issue for Decision

Should the Regents approve the staff’s recommendation concerning the proposed revision to the initial charter for Bushwick Ascend Charter School (New York City)?

Background Information

We received a request from the Chancellor of the city school district of the City of New York to revise the initial charter of Bushwick Ascend Charter School (BuACS or “the School”).  As described in Attachment 1, the School seeks to amend its proposed enrollment to serve students in grades K through 5 during its initial charter rather than serving students in grades K through 6, as originally approved.  In addition, the School seeks to eliminate serving students in Grade 2 during year one of operation, and to increase the number of class sections for grades K and 1.  The number of class sections would increase from one to four in Kindergarten, and from two to four in Grade 1.  The School has not received any applications from students entering Grade 2.  The School believes that the amended enrollment plan would help it establish its desired culture earlier, by enrolling a greater number of students who have not been acculturated by other schools.

The New York City Department of Education held a public hearing in CSD 32 on May 11, 2010 regarding the proposed revision.  No comments were made or received. 

Recommendation

VOTED:  That the Board of Regents approves the revision to the initial charter of the Bushwick Ascend Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the city school district of the City of New York, and the provisional charter is amended accordingly.

Reasons for Recommendation

              The proposed revision to the School’s initial charter, along with the other terms of the initial charter: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will permit the charter school to operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; and (3) 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 Bushwick Ascend Charter School is effective immediately.

Attachment 1

Bushwick Ascend Charter School Enrollment Plan

2010 - 2015

Approved Enrollment Plan

Revised Enrollment Plan