Meeting of the Board of Regents | December 2009
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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: |
John B. King, Jr. |
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SUBJECT: |
Charter Schools: Proposed Second Renewal Charter for Bronx Charter School for the Arts |
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DATE: |
December 8, 2009 |
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STRATEGIC GOAL: |
Goals 1 and 2 |
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AUTHORIZATION(S): |
SUMMARY
Issue for Decision
Should the Regents approve and issue the proposed renewal of the charter for Bronx Charter School for the Arts (New York City)?
Background Information
We received a request from the Bronx Charter School for the Arts (BCSA or “the School”) for a second renewal of its charter. The School’s initial charter was granted by the Board of Regents in April 2002 for a period of five years. The School submitted its first renewal charter application in June 2006, which was renewed for three years and four months. The decision to grant the School a renewal that was shorter than a full five-year extension was based on the fact that the School’s performance was below State standards. In July 2009, the Board of Regents approved a revision to the School’s charter allowing it to modify its enrollment by beginning a phase-out of grade six. In addition, the School was allowed to decrease its projected total enrollment from 310 students to 282 students in grades K-5. The School is now requesting a second renewal for five years, commencing on September 1, 2010.
Staff recommends that the Board of Regents approves and issues a second renewal charter to the Bronx Charter School for the Arts and extend its provisional charter for a term of five years, commencing on September 1, 2010 and running up through and including August 31, 2015.
The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) held a public hearing in Community School District 8 on Monday, November 16, 2009, regarding this proposed renewal application. No comments were made or received.
Recommendation
VOTED: That the Board of Regents approves the renewal application of the Bronx Charter School for the Arts, that a second renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including August 31, 2015.
Reason for Recommendation
(1) The charter school described in the proposed charter meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the applicants can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; and (3) approving and issuing the proposed charter 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 Bronx Charter School for the Arts will become effective on September 1, 2010.
New York State Education Department
Summary of Charter School Renewal Information
Summary of Applicant Information
Name of Proposed Renewed Charter School: Bronx Charter School for the Arts (BCSA or “the School”)
Address: 950 Longfellow Avenue, Bronx, NY
Board of Trustees President: Frances Engoron
Renewal Period: September 1, 2010 – August 31, 2015
District of Location: New York City Community School District 8, The Bronx
Charter Entity: Board of Regents
Institutional Partner(s): N/A
Management Partner(s): N/A
Grades Served per Year: 2010-2011: K-6
2011-2012: K-5
2012-2013: K-5
2013-2014: K-5
2014-2015: K-5
Projected Enrollment per Year: 2010-2011: 310
2011-2012: 282
2012-2013: 282
2013-2014: 282
2014-2015: 282
Renewal Application Highlights
Evidence of Educational Soundness/ Attainment of Educational Objectives
- The student achievement results for Bronx Charter School for the Arts are shown in Table 1 and 2.
- In 2008-2009, the School had a student body that was comprised of 51 percent Black, 49 percent Hispanic, 24 percent students with disabilities, nine percent English language learners, and 83 percent low income students.
- The School outperformed the district of location in English language arts and mathematics throughout the first renewal period while serving a significant population of students with disabilities.
- The School has been deemed in “Good Standing” from its inception in the 2003-04 to 2008-09 school years.
- BCSA has made Adequate Yearly Progress in all years of the first renewal period as required by NCLB.
- In 2005-2009, the School Scored higher than the district of location in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. See Table 3.
- In 2009, on the ELA examination, the School decreased the total number of tested students scoring at Level One to zero in grades three, five and six.
- In 2009, on the ELA examination, the School decreased the number of general education students scoring at Level One to zero in all tested grades.
- In 2009, on the ELA examination, the number of students scoring Level One of the SWD population decreased to zero in grades three, five and six.
- In 2009, on the math examination, the number of grade six general education students scoring Levels One and Two, decreased to zero.
- In 2009, on the math examination, the number of students scoring Level One, of the SWD population in grade six, decreased to zero.
- The School will conduct periodic internal assessments in the core subject areas to assist in differentiating instruction and providing additional support to students as needed.
- Over the last two years, the average rate of student attendance has been 95 percent.
- In school years 2007-08 to 2008-09, ninety percent of families who participated in the New York City Department of Education’s Learning Environment Survey, indicated that they were “very satisfied” with BCSA.
- In 2008-2009, the School met its goal to maintain a wait list equal to at least 10 percent of the School’s enrollment.
- At the time of application, the School had met all applicable goals approved in the first renewal charter.
- During the NYSED renewal visit of October 22, 2009, staff observed classroom instruction and found BCSA to be in compliance with the approved curriculum design set forth in the first renewal charter.
- In addition, the School was found in compliance in the area of special education and the provision of services.
- During the visit, parental involvement in School governance was noted in compliance with the approved charter.
- Strong behavior management systems were evident in the classrooms during the visit and students were engaged in instructional activities.
- The teacher retention rate for the 2008-2009 school year was 77 percent. The School has had two executive directors since opening in 2003. The current executive director was hired at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.
Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact
- The School has had a positive fund balance in each year of the charter and has no long-term debt.
- The School has maintained a cash surplus at the end of each fiscal year of the life of the charter.
- BCSA leases its facility from Civic Builders, Inc.
- The School shows a positive change in its net assets for 2006-2007. See attachment 3
- 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
Bronx Charter School for the Arts
(New York City – CSD 8 – The Bronx)
2010 through 2015
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School Year |
Number of Students |
Projected Payment* |
Projected Impact |
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2010-2011 |
310 |
$3,972,960 |
0.0220% |
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2011-2012 |
282 |
$3,722,535 |
0.0200% |
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2012-2013 |
282 |
$3,834,211 |
0.0200% |
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2013-2014 |
282 |
$3,949,238 |
0.0200% |
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2014-2015 |
282 |
$4,067,715 |
0.0200% |
*Assumes a 3 percent annual increase in the District’s budget from the
base $18.035 billion in 2010-2011; and a 3 percent annual increase in the
average expense per pupil per year from the 2010-2011 rate of $12,819.
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 November 16, 2009. No public comments were made or received.
- In the fall of 2007, 84 percent of students re-enrolled from the prior year. In 2008, the re-enrollment percentage was 89 percent.
- Evidence of parent and community satisfaction is supported by 223 students on the School’s waitlist for the 2009-2010 school year.
- In 2008, 90 percent of parents surveyed, expressed satisfaction with the School. The School’s survey response rate in 2008 was 40 percent.
Attachment 1
Table 1
2007-2008
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of BCSA Students at Levels 1 – 4
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3-8 ELA |
3-8 Math |
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%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
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8.2 |
39 |
52.2 |
0.6 |
52.8 |
3.8 |
21.3 |
63.8 |
11.3 |
75 |
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* Due to statistical rounding, percentages may exceed 100.
Table 2
2008-2009
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of BCSA Students at Levels 1 – 4
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3-8 ELA |
3-8 Math |
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%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
%L1 |
%L2 |
%L3 |
%L4 |
Proficiency |
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1.3 |
28.1 |
69.4 |
1.2 |
70.6 |
1.9 |
10.5 |
74.5 |
0 |
87.5 |
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Table 3
2007-2008 and 2008-2009
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of BCSA and District 8 Students at Proficiency Level
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ELA |
Math |
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2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
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BCSA |
52.8 |
70.6 |
BCSA |
75 |
87.5 |
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CSD 8 |
50.5 |
62.9 |
CSD 8 |
68 |
76 |
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Attachment 2
Current Enrollment
Bronx Charter School for the Arts
2008-2009
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GRADE |
2008-09 |
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Kindergarten |
47 |
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One |
47 |
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Two |
47 |
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Three |
47 |
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Four |
47 |
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Five |
47 |
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Six |
28 |
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Total |
310 |
Projected Enrollment
Bronx Charter School for the Arts
2010-2011 to 2014-2015
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GRADE |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
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Kindergarten |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
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First |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
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Second |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
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Third |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
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Fourth |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
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Fifth |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
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Sixth |
28 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Total |
310 |
282 |
282 |
282 |
282 |
Attachment 3
Bronx Charter School for the Arts
Change in Net Assets for 2007 through 2009
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Year |
Change in Net Assets |
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2007-08 |
$171,105 |
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2008-09 |
$150,829 |
*Source: Audited Financial Statements provided as a part of each Annual Report.