Meeting of the Board of Regents | February 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: |
Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem Proposed Revision
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DATE: |
February 6, 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 recommendations concerning the proposed charter revision as submitted by the Trustees of the State University of New York for the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem (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 February 2008 for action. It will then come before the full Board for final action in February 2008.
Procedural History
The New York Charter Schools Act of 1998 requires the Board of Regents to review, in accordance with the standards set forth in Education Law §2852(2), proposed charters, renewal charters and revisions to charters and renewal charters that have been approved and submitted by other charter entities. The Board of Regents may either approve and issue a charter, renewal charter and/or revision as proposed by the charter entity, or return the same to the charter entity for reconsideration with written comments and recommendations.
Background Information
We received a request from the Trustees of the State University of New York to revise the charter of the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem (the “School”). The School seeks to increase grades served for the 2007-2008 and the 2008-2009 school year (See Table 1) and to increase its escrow or reserve account for the purposes of dissolution to a minimum of $75,000 rather than $25,000.
Table 1: Proposed Revised Grade Configuration
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Original Grade Configuration |
Revised Grade Configuration |
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2007-2008 |
First through fourth |
Kindergarten through fourth |
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2008-2009 |
Second through fifth |
First through fifth |
Pursuant to Education Law §2857(1), prior to the issuance, revision or renewal of a charter, the school district in which the charter school is located is required to hold a public hearing in the community potentially impacted by the charter school to solicit comments from the community. The School is in community school district 5. The New York City Department of Education held a hearing in community school district 2 regarding the revision being proposed herein. Therefore, the hearing was not held in the community potentially impacted by the charter school. Staff, therefore, recommend the Board of Regents return this proposed revision.
Recommendation
VOTED: That the Board of Regents return the proposed revision to the second renewal charter of the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem to the Trustees of the State University of New York for reconsideration, and with the following comment and recommendation: That the proposed revision be resubmitted to the Regents for reconsideration after a public hearing is held in the community potentially impacted by the charter school in accordance with both Education Law §2857(1) and 8 NYCRR 119.4.
Timetable for Implementation
The Regents action for the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem is effective immediately.