Meeting of the Board of Regents | January 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 School Proposed First Renewal Charter for Bronx Charter School for Better Learning
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DATE: |
January 4, 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 first renewal to charter for Bronx Charter School for Better Learning (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 January 2008 for action. It will then come before the full Board for final action in January 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 Board of Trustees of the State University of New York (“SUNY”) to renew the initial charter of Bronx Charter School for Better Learning (BCSBL or “the School”). The initial charter was granted by the Board of Regents on March 25, 2003. SUNY has requested that the charter be renewed and its provisional charter be extended only through July 31, 2008. Staff recommend that the request be returned.
Recommendation
VOTED: That the Board of Regents return the proposed first renewal charter of the Bronx Charter School for Better Learning to the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York for reconsideration and with the following comments and recommendations: That the proposed first renewal charter be resubmitted to the Regents for consideration after a public hearing concerning the renewal of the school is held and any comments raised at this hearing have been considered.
Reason for Recommendation
The New York City Department of Education has scheduled a public hearing concerning the renewal of this School for a date after the proposed first renewal charter will come before the Regents for consideration. As this hearing has not occurred, comments from the community have not been considered and the school may not be approved at this time.
Timetable for Implementation
The Regents action for Bronx Charter School for Better Learning is effective immediately.
New York State Education Department
Summary of Charter School Renewal Information
Summary of Applicant Information
Address: 3740 Baychester Ave – Annex, Bronx, New York 10466
Board of Trustees President: Kimberly Morgan
Requested Renewal Period: March 26, 2008 – July 31, 2008
District of Location: New York City Community School District 11, Bronx
Charter Entity: SUNY Board of Trustees
Institutional Partner(s): N/A
Management Partner(s): N/A
Grades Served per Year: 1 - 5
Projected Enrollment per Year: 285
Renewal Application Highlights
Evidence of Educational Soundness/ Attainment of Educational Objectives
- The student achievement results on state assessments for Bronx Charter School for Better Learning (“the School”) are shown in the table below.
- The School’s population consists of 93% Black, 9.6% Hispanic, and .4% American Indian, Alaskan, Asian or Pacific Islander students.
- The School did not meet its goal of having 75 percent of the students who have been enrolled for two or more years attain Levels 3 and 4 on the New York State ELA examination.
- The School’s aggregate Performance Index (PI) on the State ELA and mathematics exams met the Annual Measurable Objective (AMO) set forth in the NYS NCLB accountability system.
- The School met its goal that, “the percent of students who are enrolled in at least their second year and performing at or above Level 3 on the State ELA exam in each grade tested will be greater than that of the local school district.”
- The School did not exceed its predicted level of performance on the ELA exam) according to a regression analysis controlling for students eligible for free lunch among all public schools in New York State.
- The School met its goal to have 75 percent of 3rd and 5th graders who are enrolled in at least their second year perform at or above Level 3 on the New York State mathematics examination.
- The School met its goal that, “the percent of students who are enrolled in at least their second year and performing at or above Level 3 on the State mathematics exam in each grade tested will be greater than that of the local school district.”
- The School did not reach its stated goal for “each grade-level cohort to reduce by one-half the gap between the percent at or above Level 3 on the previous year’s State mathematics exam and 75 percent at or above Level 3 on the current year’s State mathematics exam.” Note: if a grade level cohort exceeds 75 percent at or above Level 3 in the previous year, that cohort is expected to show at least an increase in the current year.
- The School attained its goal in two of three grades to have cohorts of students reduce by one half, the gap between their average NCE in the previous spring on the TerraNova, and an NCE of 50 in the current spring.
- The School has worked to improve its teacher retention rate. Twelve of the 17 teachers that the School hired as classroom teachers for the 2007–08 school year, have had at least one year of experience teaching in the School.
- The School plans to increase its on-site Professional Development Specialists from an FTE of 2 to 2.4, with the increase devoted to English Language Arts instruction in grades 4 and 5, to address student outcomes.
- To address academic achievement in the mastery of grade level mathematics concepts, the School will hire an additional person to teach basic skills and commit to assigning at least one teacher with experience in the School’s pedagogical approach to each grade level.
Grades 3-4State ELA Assessments
Percent of Students at Levels 1 - 4
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Year of Test |
Grade 3 |
Grade 4 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
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2006-07 |
1.8 |
31.6 |
59.6 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
33.3 |
56.1 |
3.5 |
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2005-06 |
7.5 |
28.3 |
60.4 |
3.8 |
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Grades 3-4 State Math Assessments
Percent of Students at Levels 1 - 4
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Year of Test |
Grade 3 |
Grade 4 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
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2006-07 |
1.8 |
14.0 |
56.2 |
31.6 |
7.0 |
14.0 |
64.9 |
14.0 |
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2005-06 |
1.9 |
16.6 |
68.5 |
13.0 |
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Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact
- See tables below. The proposed first renewal charter will end in July 2008, so the first table below addresses the 2007-08 school year only.
Projected
Fiscal Impact of the
Bronx Charter School for Better Learning
2007-08
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School Year |
Number of Students |
Projected Payment* |
Projected Impact |
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2007-08 |
285 |
$ 2,792,330 |
0.0150 |
* 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.
Bronx Charter School for Better Learning
Change in Net Assets 2004-05 Through 2006-07*
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Year |
Change in Net Assets |
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2003-04 |
$19,411 |
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2004-05 |
-$66,764 |
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2005-06 |
$195,337 |
*Source: Audited Financial Statements provided as a part of each Annual Report.
Evidence of Parent and Student Satisfaction and Community Support
- Parent survey results were provided for grades 1 – 4. Overall school satisfaction results show (on a scale of 1 – 4 with 1 being low), an average score of 3.76.
- A hearing concerning the renewal of the School pursuant to Education Law Section 2857(1) has been scheduled for the winter of 2008.