Meeting of the Board of Regents | December 2008
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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: |
Johanna Duncan-Poitier
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SUBJECT: |
Charter Schools: Proposed Fourth Renewal Charter for the Harriet Tubman Charter School
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DATE: |
December 8, 2008 |
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STRATEGIC GOAL: |
Goals 1 and 2 |
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AUTHORIZATION(S): |
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SUMMARY
Issue for Decision
Should the Regents approve the staff’s recommendation concerning the proposed fourth renewal to the charter for the Harriet Tubman Charter School (New York City)?
Reason(s) for Consideration
Required by State statute, Education Law §2852.
Proposed Handling
This question will come before the EMSC Committee in December 2008 for action. It will then come before the full Board for final action in December 2008.
Procedural History
The New York Charter Schools Act of 1998 requires the Board of Regents (“Board”) to review applications for both new charter schools and the renewal of existing charter schools that are submitted to it in accordance with the standards set forth in subdivision two of New York State Education Law §2852. After review, the Board may either (a) approve an application and issue a charter or a renewal charter for a term of up to five years, or (b) deny the application.
In addition, New York Education Law §2852(7) provides that revisions of charter school charters shall be made only upon approval of the charter entity and the Board of Regents in accordance with the provisions of the law applicable to the issuance of charters themselves. With respect to charter schools directly chartered by the Board, it may either approve a proposed revision or deny it.
Background Information
We received an application from the Harriet Tubman Charter School (HTCS or “the School”) for a fourth renewal of its charter. HTCS continues to contract with Edison Learning, Inc. as its educational management partner. The School’s initial charter was granted by the Board of Regents in January 2000 for a period of five years. The School submitted its first renewal charter application in December 2004 and was renewed for two years. In November 2006, the Board of Regents approved a short-term second renewal to the charter, and renewed the school for five months. The decision to allow the School a short-term second renewal was based on concerns about student achievement, fiscal viability and Board governance. In April 2007, the School was found to have satisfactorily addressed the concerns indicated during the application period for the second renewal and was granted a third renewal to the provisional charter, for a period of two years. The School is now requesting a fourth renewal for five years, commencing on July 1, 2009. Staff, however, recommends that the Board of Regents approve a two year renewal to the Harriet Tubman Charter School for a term commencing on July 1, 2009, and running up through and including June 30, 2011.
Recommendation
VOTED: That the Board of Regents approves the renewal application of the Harriet Tubman Charter School, that a fourth renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2011.
Reasons for Recommendation
(1) The charter school meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the charter school has demonstrated the ability to operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) approving the proposed renewal 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; and (4) approving the proposed renewal will have a significant educational benefit to the students attending the charter school.
Timetable for Implementation
The Regents action for the Harriet Tubman Charter School will become effective on July 1, 2009.
New York State Education Department
Summary of Charter School Renewal Information
Summary of Applicant Information
Name of Proposed Renewed Charter School: Harriet Tubman Charter School
(HTCS or “the School”)
Address: 3565 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY
Board of Trustees President: Cliff Frazier
Renewal Period: July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2011
District of Location: New York City Community School District 9, The Bronx
Charter Entity: Board of Regents
Institutional Partner: New York Metropolitan Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violence, Inc; and Claremont Neighborhood Center
Management Partner: Edison Learning, Inc.
Grades Served per Year: K-8 (K-8)
Projected Enrollment per Year: 2009-2011: 444
Renewal Application Highlights
Evidence of Educational Soundness/ Attainment of Educational Objectives
- The student achievement results for Harriet Tubman Charter School are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
- In 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, the School outperformed Community School District (CSD) 9, the School’s district of location, on the English Language Arts (ELA) assessment.
- In 2007-2008, the School outperformed CSD 9 on the mathematics assessment.
- In 2007-2008, the School had a student body that was comprised of 76 percent Black; 20 percent Hispanic; four percent Other ethnic groups; eight percent special education students; three percent English language learners; and 32 percent low income students.
- In 2007-2008, the School had a performance index of 144 and made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in ELA.
- In 2007-2008 the School had a performance index of 157 and made AYP in mathematics.
- In school years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, the School scored higher than its district of location on the ELA and mathematics exams. See Table 3.
- In 2007-2008, the School was deemed “In Good Standing” under New York State’s Accountability System.
- In 2006-2007, HTCS made AYP in grades 3-8 in ELA, mathematics and science.
- In 2006-2007, HTCS met its goal of decreasing the percentage of children scoring at Level 1 on the ELA and mathematics examinations by three percentage points.
- In 2005-2006 and 2006- 2007, the School met its goal of increasing the percentage of students scoring at Level 3 and Level 4 on the ELA and mathematics examinations by four percentage points per year.
- In 2006-2007, the School met its goal to increase the level of proficiency of students on the ELA assessment, for students who had been enrolled for fewer than three years and had taken two tests. Of the 115 students who had been enrolled for fewer than three years and had taken two tests, 40 percent scored at the proficient level.
- In 2006-2007, HTCS met its goal of 90 percent of students in grades K-7 re-enrolling at the School.
- In 2007- 2008, the School maintained a wait list equal to at least 10 percent of the School’s enrollment as indicated in the goals of the charter.
- In 2007-2008, HTCS met its goal by decreasing the number of students scoring at Level 1 on the mathematics examination from 13.1 percent to six percent.
- During the NYSED renewal visit of November 20, 2008, staff observed classroom instruction and found HTCS to be in compliance with the approved curriculum design set forth in the third renewal charter.
- Strong behavior management systems were not evident in the classrooms visited; however, the recently appointed staff developer/mentor was noted as a supportive resource who provides teachers with techniques and strategies to address inappropriate student behavior.
- Classroom observations revealed evidence of instructional creativity and enthusiasm from HTCS instructional staff.
- Over the last year, HTCS met its goal of student attendance continuing to be 90 percent at a minimum, growing to 95 percent over the term of the charter. The average daily attendance at the School has been 92.6 percent.
- In 2007-2008 the teacher retention rate was 70 percent.
- HTCS has had three principals since opening in 2001. Michele Pierce, founding principal; Gwen Stephens, 2005 through 2008; and the current principal, Cleveland Person, who was hired in August 2008.
Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact
- In February 2007, the School was placed on probation to address several issues including the need for improved fiscal policies and procedures. Upon the Board of Regents approval of the third renewal charter in April 2007, HTCS had satisfactorily addressed the requirements outlined in the probation order.
- Since the approval of the third renewal charter, the School has continued to implement various NYSED requirements. However, the School encountered several impediments due to personnel changes and restructuring at Edison Learning Inc, the School’s management partner, as well as mid-year personnel changes at the School.
- During 2007-2008, the School’s newly hired, in-house director of operations abruptly discontinued his employment, temporarily leaving the School without adequate oversight in vital financial areas.
- Recently, the HTCS Board of Trustees hired a consultant from Kiwi Partners, as chief financial officer (CFO) and recruited a certified public accountant (CPA), as a Board member to ensure that the adequate oversight of the School’s fiscal matters continues.
- The financial audit report of June 30, 2008, indicated that HTCS is establishing stronger fiscal oversight.
- HTCS had a $2,161,722 cash balance at the end of the fiscal year 2007-2008.
- The School has a long-term debt with Edison Learning Inc. in the amount of $2,749,820, inclusive of mortgage loan repayment, management fees and other cash advances.
- The School showed a positive change in net assets for 2007-2008. (See Attachment 4.)
- The School has been deemed compliant with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
- 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
Harriet
Tubman Charter School
(New York City – CSD 9 – Bronx)
2009 through 2011
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School Year |
Number of Students |
Projected Payment* |
Projected Impact |
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2009-2010 |
444 |
5,344,602 |
0.0250% |
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2010-2011 |
444 |
5,585,109 |
0.0254% |
*Assumes a 3 percent annual increase in the District’s budget from the base of $20.12 billion in 2007-2008; and a 4.5 percent annual increase in the average expense per pupil per year from the 2007-2008 rate of $11,023.
Evidence of Parent and Student Satisfaction and Community Support
- During the NYSED renewal visit of November 20, 2008, parent interviews reflected satisfaction with the School and administration; admiration for the new principal and his firm approach to student discipline, as well as his attentiveness to the needs of HTCS parents were highlighted; effectiveness of teacher-parent communication was noted as a consistent support to student learning and parent involvement.
- Students expressed fondness of HTCS teachers and appreciation for the sometimes heavy work load and the positive feedback received.
- Students demonstrated their ability to express themselves clearly and intelligently.
- A public hearing to solicit comments from the community in connection with the charter school’s proposed fourth renewal was conducted by the New York City Department of Education on October 15, 2008. Seven public comments were made or received, all in support of the proposed renewal.
- In the 2007-2008 school year, 87 percent of students re-enrolled from the prior year. In 2008, the re-enrollment percentage was 93 percent.
- In April 2008, there were 601 applicants on the waiting list.
- The NYSED Comprehensive Monitoring Report of April 2008, prepared by SchoolWorks, LLC, reported that 80 percent of parents surveyed expressed satisfaction with the School.
Attachment 1
Table 1
2007-2008
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of HTCS Students at Levels 1 – 4
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3-8 ELA |
3-8 Math |
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%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
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%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
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4 |
49 |
47 |
1 |
48% |
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6 |
31 |
59 |
4 |
63% |
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Table 2
2006-2007
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of HTCS Students at Levels 1 – 4
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3-8 ELA |
3-8 Math |
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%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
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%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
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5.75 |
55.3 |
38.1 |
0.88 |
38.98% |
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13.1 |
39.6 |
44.1 |
3.15 |
47.25% |
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Table 3
2006-2007 and 2007-2008
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of HTCS and District 9 Students at Proficiency Level
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ELA |
Math |
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2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
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2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
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38.98 |
48 |
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47.25 |
63 |
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District |
36.5 |
39 |
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District |
49.4 |
61 |
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Attachment 2
Current Enrollment
Harriet
Tubman Charter School
2008-2009
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GRADE |
2008-09 |
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Kindergarten |
53 |
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First |
78 |
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Second |
52 |
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Third |
51 |
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Fourth |
50 |
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Fifth |
46 |
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Sixth |
47 |
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Seventh |
24 |
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Eighth |
43 |
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Total |
444 |
Projected Enrollment
Harriet
Tubman Charter School
2009-2010 to 2012-2011
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GRADE |
2009-10 |
2010-11 |
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Kindergarten |
48 |
48 |
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First |
72 |
48 |
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Second |
48 |
72 |
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Third |
50 |
48 |
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Fourth |
50 |
50 |
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Fifth |
50 |
50 |
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Sixth |
52 |
50 |
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Seventh |
26 |
52 |
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Eighth |
48 |
26 |
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Total |
444 |
444 |
Attachment 3
Performance on ELA and Math State Assessments by all Charter Schools
in New York State Managed by Edison Learning, Inc.
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Percent of Students Scoring At or Above Level 3 on State Exams |
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Charter
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2005-2006 |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
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3-8
ELA |
3-8
MATH |
3-8
ELA |
3-8
MATH |
3-8
ELA |
3-8
MATH |
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Harriet Tubman
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40.1 |
45.2 |
38.98 |
47.25 |
48 |
63 |
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Riverhead
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52.9 |
57.6 |
58.3 |
74.2 |
70 |
86 |
Attachment 4
Harriet
Tubman Charter School
Change in Net Assets for 2007 through 2008
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Year |
Change in Net Assets |
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2006-07 |
($235,751) |
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2007-08 |
$1,214,104 |
*Source: Audited Financial Statements provided as a part of each Annual Report.