Meeting of the Board of Regents | May 2010
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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 First Renewal Charter for Manhattan Charter School |
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DATE: |
April 30, 2010 |
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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 first renewal charter of Manhattan Charter School (New York City)?
Background Information
We have received a proposed renewal charter from the Chancellor of the city school district of the City of New York for Manhattan Charter School (“the School”). The School’s charter was initially granted on July 1, 2005. It currently serves 233 students in grades K-5. Upon renewal, it will serve 266 students in grades K-5 and grow to serve 274 students in grades K-5 by the end of this proposed renewal term. The School's mission is “to prepare students to achieve high academic levels in the four academic subject areas and music, to communicate effectively in verbal, mathematical and musical languages, and to apply critical thinking processes and ethical standards to learning, living and problem solving.”
The School does not have a management partner. The School will provide instruction from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for 182 days per academic year.
The New York City Department of Education held a public hearing in Community School District 1 on January 27, 2010 regarding this proposed renewal charter. There were 24 comments: four written and eighteen verbal, in support of the renewal, and two verbal comments, which noted they would only support the renewal if no additional space will be needed.
Additional information concerning this renewal application may also be found on the Board of Regents website at http://www.regents.nysed.gov.
Recommendation
VOTED: That the Board of Regents approves and issues the first renewal charter of the Manhattan 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 June 30, 2015.
Reasons 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 the Manhattan 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: Manhattan Charter School (MCS or
“the School”)
Address: 100 Attorney Street, New York, NY 10002
Board of Trustees President: Paul O’Neill
Renewal Period: July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2015
Opening Date: September 7, 2005
District of Location: New York City Community School District 1, Manhattan
Charter Entity: Chancellor of the city school district of the City of New York (“the
Chancellor”)
Institutional Partner: N/A
Management Partner: N/A
Grades Served per Year: K-5
Projected Enrollment per Year:
Renewal Year 1 – 266
Renewal Year 2 – 274
Renewal Year 3 – 274
Renewal Year 4 – 274
Renewal Year 5 – 274
Renewal Application Highlights
Evidence of Educational Soundness/ Attainment of Educational Objectives
- The School opened in September 2005 and tested its third grade for the first time during the 2007-2008 school year. The student achievement results for the School are shown in Attachment 1 – Tables 1 and 2.
- The School scored higher than its district of location in the English language arts (ELA) and mathematics exams. See Attachment 1 – Table 3.
- For 2008-09, the School was deemed “In Good Standing” under New York State’s (NYS) Accountability System.
- The School’s aggregate Performance Index (PI) on the NYS ELA and mathematics exams met the Annual Measurable Objective (AMO) set forth in the NYS accountability system.
- In 2008-2009, the School met its goal that 75 percent of students in grades 3-5 who are enrolled in at least their second year at MCS will perform at or above Level 3 on the NYS ELA and math examinations.
- In 2008-2009, 91.2 percent of students in grades 3-8 were proficient on the NYS ELA examination; and 98.2 percent were proficient on the NYS math examination. See Attachment 1 – Table 1.
- The School reported that for 2009-2010, it serves 73 percent of students who are eligible for free lunch and reduced lunch; and 13 percent are identified as students with disabilities.
- The School reported that for 2009-2010, it does not serve any students who are identified as English language learners (ELL).
- The School’s population for 2009-2010 is: 59 percent Hispanic, 34 percent Black, two percent White, four percent Multi-Racial, and one percent Asian.
- The School provides instruction in each subject in the seven general curriculum areas and the proposed curriculum is aligned to all 28 New York State (NYS) learning standards.
- The School offers a liberal arts program beginning in Kindergarten, which includes enrichment instruction in French, art and physical education. All students receive music instruction daily.
- The School uses the Reading Street for its ELA program, Everyday Mathematics and TERC Investigation for its math program, and FOSS Science Kits for its science program to support its instructional curriculum design.
- The School conducts assessments three times per year with the Benchmark Assessment System, twice a year with the Early Childhood Literacy Assessment System (ECLAS) and at least once a year with the McGraw/Hill’s Terra Nova CTB test.
- The School has a 182-day school year from August to June.
- The School provides instruction from 7:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Classes will conclude at 12:30 p.m. on Fridays for professional development activities.
- Over the last two years, average daily attendance at the School has been approximately 92 percent.
- The teacher retention rate for the 2008-2009 school year was 92 percent. The School has had two school leaders since opening in 2005. The current principal was hired at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year.
Evidence of Fiscal Soundness/Projected Fiscal Impact
- The School has maintained a positive fund balance in each year of the charter.
- The School has no long-term debt.
- The School is located in a New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) facility.
- The number of Trustees is not fewer than five and is not to exceed 13.
- Of the 12 initial members, two remain on the Board. Trustees are elected to serve two-year terms.
- The School shows a positive change in its net assets for 2008-2009. See Attachment 3.
- The School has an active Family Association (FA). There are two FA members that are appointed to the Board. These members attend board meetings and provide updates, comments and concerns as part of the agenda.
- The committees of the Board of Trustees are the executive, audit, education and education accountability, finance, strategy, and nominating committees.
- The officers of the board of trustees are chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer.
- 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
Manhattan Charter School
(New York City – CSD 1 – Manhattan)
2010-11 through 2014-15
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School Year |
Number of Students |
Projected Payment* |
Projected Impact |
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2010-2011 |
266 |
$3,309,838 |
0.0158% |
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2011-2012 |
274 |
$3,409,382 |
0.0162% |
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2012-2013 |
274 |
$3,409,382 |
0.0162% |
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2013-2014 |
274 |
$3,409,382 |
0.0162% |
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2014-2015 |
274 |
$3,409,382 |
0.0162% |
*Assumes no annual increase in the District’s budget from the base of $21 billion in 2010-2011; and no increase in the average expense per pupil per year from the 2010-2011 rate of $12,443.
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 NYCDOE in Community School District 1 on January 27, 2010. There were 24 comments; four written and eighteen verbal, in support of the renewal, and two verbal comments, which noted they would only support the renewal if no additional space will be needed.
- In the fall of 2009, 93.6 percent of students re-enrolled from the prior year. In 2008, the re-enrollment percentage was 91.6 percent.
- The School’s waiting list includes 153 students for 2009-2010.
- The School’s parent survey response rate in 2009 was only 42 percent on the NYCDOE Learning Environment Survey. Of this number, 99 percent of parents surveyed expressed satisfaction with the School.
Summary of Charter Entity’s Findings and Recommendations
New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) has recommended a full five-year renewal. NYCDOE states that the School has developed an integrated curriculum in all grades that coordinates teaching of content and skills across disciplines and has made significant gains in its student achievement goals. NYCDOE found that the School has demonstrated the ability to operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner in the next charter period. According to the State’s NCLB accountability system, the School is deemed in “good standing.”
The School has met the student academic outcome measures included in the performance goals. NYCDOE found that the academic program is effective; students have demonstrated solid achievement in ELA and math. NYCDOE reported that the School participates in the Partnership for Innovation in Compensation for Charter School (PICCS) “as well as other activities that require faculty to reflect on their own work as well as give feedback to peers. The benefit of developing this professional learning community was evidenced in the teacher interview, where most teachers discussed the ways in which the may work with their colleagues to improve their instructional skills.” NYCDOE reported the School has a continuity of learning objectives across classrooms, grade levels and content areas.
The School is planning to maintain its location at 100 Attorney Street, New York, NY 10002. It plans to continue its expansion plans at this facility.
Attachment 1
Table 1*
2008-2009
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of MCS 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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0 |
8.8 |
86.0 |
5.3 |
91.2 |
0 |
1.8 |
76.8 |
21.4 |
98.2 |
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Table 2*
2007-2008
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of MCS 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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0 |
0 |
74 |
26 |
100 |
0 |
0 |
37 |
63 |
100 |
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Table 3
2007-2008 and 2008-2009
Grades 3-8 State ELA and Math Assessments
Percent of MCS and CSD 1 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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MCS |
100 |
91.2 |
MCS |
100 |
98.2 |
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CSD 1 |
60.3 |
72 |
CSD 1 |
76.4 |
29.7 |
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*Testing did not begin until Year Three of the initial charter due to the grade configuration. Therefore, the charts only include the years that the ELA and math state assessments were administered.
Attachment 2
Current Enrollment
Manhattan Charter School
2009-2010
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GRADE |
2009-10 |
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Kindergarten |
48 |
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First |
47 |
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Second |
47 |
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Third |
44 |
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Fourth |
33 |
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Fifth |
14 |
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TOTAL |
233 |
Projected Enrollment
Manhattan Charter School
2010-2011 to 2014-2015
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GRADE |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
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48 |
48 |
48 |
48 |
48 |
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First |
48 |
48 |
48 |
48 |
48 |
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Second |
48 |
48 |
48 |
48 |
48 |
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Third |
46 |
46 |
46 |
46 |
46 |
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Fourth |
43 |
43 |
43 |
43 |
43 |
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Fifth |
33 |
41 |
41 |
41 |
41 |
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Total |
266 |
274 |
274 |
274 |
274 |
Attachment 3
Manhattan Charter School
Change in Net Assets for 2005-06 through 2008-09*
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Year |
Change in Net Assets |
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2005-06 |
$60,246 |
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2006-07 |
$390,524 |
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2007-08 |
$106,688 |
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2008-09 |
$383,245 |
*Source: Audited Financial Statements provided as a part of each Annual Report.