Meeting of the Board of Regents | April 2009

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

TO:
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Charter Schools: Proposed First Renewal Charter for Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School
DATE:	April 14, 2009
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 1 and 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision

 

Should the Regents approve the staff’s recommendation concerning the proposed first renewal charter for Peninsula Preparatory Academy 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 April 2009 for action.  It will then come before the full Board for final action in April 2009.

 

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. 

             

The Board of Regents must act on a proposed renewal charter submitted by the Chancellor of the city school district of the city of New York (“the Chancellor”) or other school district within 90 days of its submission or the proposed renewal charter will be deemed to have been approved and issued by operation of law at the expiration of that period. 

 

If the Board of Regents chooses to return the proposed renewal charter to the Chancellor or school district, as the chartering entity, with comments and recommendations, the Chancellor or the school district must reconsider the proposed renewal charter, taking into consideration the comments and recommendations of the Board of Regents.  The Chancellor or the school district may resubmit the proposed renewal charter to the Board of Regents without modification, resubmit the proposed renewal charter with modifications agreed to by the applicant in writing, or abandon the proposed renewal charter. 

 

If the Chancellor or the school district resubmits a proposed renewal charter to the Board of Regents, the Board of Regents may, within 90 days of resubmission, either approve or again return the proposed renewal charter to the Chancellor or to the school district for modification.  There is no limit to the number of times the Board of Regents can return a resubmitted proposed renewal charter to the Chancellor or to a school district.  However, upon expiration of the existing charter, the Board of Regents may pursue revocation of that charter.

 

Background Information

 

We received a request from the Chancellor of the city school district of the City of New York to approve and issue a first renewal charter for Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School (PPACS or “the School”).  The Chancellor approved a three year renewal because PPACS, over the course of its first charter, experienced a change in leadership and had a novice teaching staff.  The School was also located in a DOE middle school building, which created challenges for recruitment and enrollment stability since many families in the community did not have a high opinion of the middle school.  Additionally, in the last two years, the board leadership changed twice.  Notwithstanding these issues, PPACS improved the School environment and successfully outperformed CSD 27 on the State grade 3-8 science and social studies assessments in 2007-2008. In June 2008, the Board of Regents approved a revision to the School’s charter allowing it to add a mandatory summer school program for students performing below grade level in grades two and three; to add an optional Saturday academy for Title I students in grades K-5; to add an after-school program for students in grades two through five who are not on grade level; and to add an enrichment program for those students who were proficient.  The Chancellor has requested that the charter be renewed for three years, commencing on April 20, 2009.  

 

An initial five-year charter was granted by the Board of Regents on April 20, 2004.

 

Recommendation

 

VOTED:  That the Board of Regents approves and issues the first renewal charter of the Peninsula Preparatory Academy 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 July 19, 2012.

 

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; and (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. 

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

The Regents action for the Peninsula Preparatory Academy 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: Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School (PPACS or “the School”)

 

Address: 155 Beach 67th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11693

 

Board of Trustees President:  Jeany Persaud

 

Renewal Period:  April 20, 2009 – July 21, 2012

 

District of Location:  New York City Community School District 27, Queens

 

Charter Entity:  Chancellor of the city school district of the City of New York

 

Institutional Partner(s):  N/A

 

Management Partner(s):  Victory Schools, Inc.

 

Grades Served per Year:  K-5

 

Projected Enrollment per Year:  300

 

Renewal Application Highlights

 

Evidence of Educational Soundness/ Attainment of Educational Objectives

 

• The student achievement results are shown for PPACS in Tables 1 through 3.
• The School made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) from 2004-2008.  The School was deemed in ‘Good Standing” under the New York State (NYS) Accountability system during the same period.
• The School is aligned with all NYS Learning Standards.
• In 2007-2008, the School had a Performance Index (PI) of 163 on the Grade 3-8 NYS assessment in English Language Arts (ELA).  In 2007-2008, the School had a PI of 180 on the Grade 3-8 NYS assessment in math.
• The School-wide average was 66 percent at Levels 3 and 4 on the New York State (NYS) ELA exam and 80 at Level 3 and 4 in mathematics.
• The School did not meet its ELA goal that all students will become proficient in reading and writing.
• The School increased its math performance for grades 3 and 4 over its 2006-2007 math proficiency.
• The School outperformed CSD. 27 in the percentage of students proficient in Grade 4 ELA and math in 2007-2008 but under performed the district in Grade 5 ELA and math.  In Grade 3, the school outperformed the district in math but underperformed the district in ELA.
• The School achieved a PI of 185 in science, surpassing the State standard of 100.
• In 2007-2008, the School achieved its Comparative Goal in science by outperforming CSD 27 at Levels 3 and 4 on the NYS assessment, with an 88.4 percent proficiency compared to CSD 27’s 79.5 percent proficiency.
• In 2007-2008, the School met its social studies goal that all PPACS students will demonstrate competency in the understanding and application of social, geographic, civic and world issues.
• The School currently serves 300 students in grades K-5. (See Table 4.)
• The School’s population consists of 86 percent Black, eight percent Hispanic, four percent White and two percent Asian students.
• In 2007-2008, eighty-three percent of students qualified for free /reduced lunch.
• The School has an eight percent enrollment of special education students. 
• The School does not have any English language learners (ELLs).  The school has provided an assurance that it will make a good faith effort to attract and retain ELL students, comparable to CSD 27.  The School intends to conduct an outreach campaign, via churches, distribution of literature, community meetings and advertising in newspapers to attract this ELL population.
• PPACS hired its second school leader in 2007. 
• The student attendance rate for 2007-2008 was 92 percent.
• The teacher attrition rate for 2007-2008 was 11 percent, up from 7 percent in 2006-2007. 
• The average experience level of teachers since August 2005 to the present is approximately 1.3 years.
• PPACS proposes a full enrollment of 300 students in Year Five of the proposed renewal.

 

 Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact

 

• For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, PPACS total assets were $4,228,598 and total liabilities were $3,565,613. 
• The School shows a positive change in its net assets for 2004-2005 through 2007-2008 (See Table 5.)
• Cash flow projections for Fiscal Year 2009 to Fiscal Year 2011 show no deficits.
• 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

Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School

(New York City – CSD 27, Queens)

2009-2010 through 2010-2012

School Year	Number of Students	Projected Payment*	Projected Impact
2009-2010	300	$3,611,217	0.0169
2010-2011	300	$3,773,722	0.0172
2011-2012	300	$3,943,540	0.0174

*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

• A public hearing to solicit comments from the community in connection with the charter school’s proposed renewal was conducted by the New York City Department of Education on January 21, 2009.  Three comments in support of the School were made.
• Ninety-two percent of parents surveyed expressed satisfaction with the School in 2007-2008.  PPACS surpassed its goal of a 70 percent response rate with a 100 percent response.
• PPACS has a low student attrition rate: 8.4 percent in 2007-2008, and a 9 percent in 2006-2007.

Summary of Charter Entity’s Findings and Recommendations

              NYCDOE approved the School’s renewal application for three years.  NYCDOE reported that the School has made progress towards meeting its academic outcomes and goals.  In 2007-2008, on the grades 3-8 State ELA and math assessments, the School increased its performance at Levels 3 and 4 by 10 points.  The School also outperformed CSD 27 on the grades 3-8 science and social studies assessments.  The School outperformed CSD 27 in science with 89 percent proficiency compared to 80 percent.  In social studies, the school outperformed CSD 27 with 89 percent proficiency compared to CSD 27, with 76 percent proficient.  NYCDOE is optimistic that the School will continue to build a solid foundation for students to achieve at high levels.

NYCDOE also credited the PPACS for improving the School’s environment by establishing a safe, positive learning environment, conducive to learning.  Students and staff are more responsive and respectful to each other through effective “Responsive Classroom” techniques such as the morning meeting.  This is particularly significant in that the School has a group of new teachers whose average teaching experience is approximately one year.

              NYCDOE’s renewal report mentioned that there was a high turnover in the Board leadership over the past two years but that the current Board of Trustees is passionate about the mission and vision of the School. However, the report stated that several members may require further training and development to broaden their expertise to better fulfill their respective roles and responsibilities.  Furthermore, the Board may benefit from adding board members with charter school governance experience as well as diverse skill sets beyond educational expertise.

The School’s fiscal health and handling of its finances was deemed to be “highly efficient and stable.”  According to the June 30, 2008 audit reports, the School had over $700,000 in liquid assets and maintains good internal controls, in collaboration with Victory Schools, Inc., its management partner.

             

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attachment 1

 

Table 1*

2007-2008

Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments

Percent of PPACS Students at Levels 1 – 4

3-5 ELA							3-5 Math
	%L1	%L2	%L3	%L4	Proficiency			%L1	%L2	%L3	%L4	Proficiency
Grade 3	5.6	33.3	55.6	9	61.1			1.9	7.7	69.2	21.2	90.4
Grade 4	2.2	23.9	73.9	0	73.9			0	10.9	78.8	10.9	89.1
Grade 5	0	37.2	60.5	2.3	62.8			2.4	34.1	48.8	14.6	63.4

* Due to statistical rounding, percentages may not equal 100.

 

Table 2

2006-2007

Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments

Percent of PPACS Students at Levels 1 – 4

3-5 ELA							3-5 Math
	%L1	%L2	%L3	%L4	Proficiency			%L1	%L2	%L3	%L4	Proficiency
Grade 3	6.4	29.8	59.6	5.6	66			0	21.3	57.4	21.3	78
Grade 4	8.2	44.9	42.9	4.1	47			10.9	26.1	60.9	2.2	63

 

Table 3

2007-2008

Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments

Percent of PPACS and District 27 Students at Proficiency Level

% Proficient in ELA				% Proficient in Math
Grade	PPACS	District 27			Grade	PPACS	District 27
3	61	65.8			3	90.4	90.1
4	73.9	65.2			4	89.1	83.8
5	62.8	73.3			5	63.4	85.2

 

 

 

Table 4

 Current Enrollment – 2008-2009

Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School

GRADE	2008-09
K	25
1	25
2	25
3	25
4	25
5	25
Total	300

 

 

Table 5

Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School

Change in Net Assets for 2004-2005 through 2007-2008*

Year	Change in Net Assets
2004-05	$7,669
2005-06	$35,012
2006-07	$174, 025
2007-08	$662,925

*Source: Audited Financial Statements provided as a part of each Annual Report.