SUMMARY

Issue for Decision

Should the Regents approve and issue the proposed renewal of the charter for Southside Academy Charter School (Syracuse)?

Background Information

We received a proposed third renewal charter application from the Southside Academy Charter School (“the School”) in July 2009.  The School is located in the city of Syracuse and contracts with National Heritage Academies as its educational management partner. The School currently serves 650 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and plans to serve 690 students by the end of its third renewal charter.

The Board of Regents issued the School its initial charter on January 16, 2002.  In December 2006, the Board of Regents issued the School’s first renewal charter for a short-term period through June 30, 2007 due to concerns about student achievement, student and staff retention, and an incomplete curriculum.  Based on significant improvements the School made, the Regents at its May 2007 meeting issued the School its second charter renewal for a period ending on June 30, 2010.  The School now seeks approval of its third renewal charter for a term of five years ending June 30, 2015. 

Staff recommends that the Board of Regents approves and issues a third renewal charter to the Southside Academy Charter School and extend its provisional charter for a term of five years, commencing on July 1, 2010, up through and including June 30, 2015.

The Syracuse City School District held a public hearing on December 22, 2009, regarding this proposed renewal application. Both district officials and charter school officials were present for the hearing.  No other members of the general public attended and, therefore, no comments were made or received.   

Recommendation

              VOTED:  That the Board of Regents approves the renewal application of the Southside Academy Charter School, that a third renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 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; (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; and (4) approving and issuing the proposed charter will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school. 

Timetable for Implementation

The Regents action for Southside Academy Charter School will become effective on July 1, 2010.