Report of Regents P-12 Education Committee to The Board of Regents

The P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on May 15, 2023. All members were present except for Regent Kathleen M. Cashin and Regent James E. Cottrell. Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., Regents Catherine Collins, Luis O. Reyes, Susan W. Mittler, and Adrian I. Hale also attended the meeting but did not vote on the action items.

ACTION ITEMS

Revision to Charters Authorized by the Board of Regents [P12 (A) 1] - Department staff recommended that the Board of Regents approve a charter revision for the following charter school authorized by the Board of Regents pursuant to Article 56 of the Education Law (the NYS Charter Schools Act):

• Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts – add summer school program beginning in the 2023-2024 school year.

The Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that (1) the Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the charter school can demonstrate the ability to operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the request to amend the 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) granting the request to amend the charter will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents, therefore, approves the charter revision for Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts and amends the provisional charter accordingly.

The motion passed unanimously. 

Renewal Recommendations for Charter Schools Authorized by the New York City Department of Education [P12 (A) 2] - Department staff, in conjunction with NYCDOE staff, presented recommendations for charter renewals from the NYC DOE Chancellor. The NYC DOE Chancellor recommended that the Board of Regents approve charter renewals for the following charter schools authorized by the NYC DOE Chancellor pursuant to Article 56 of the Education Law (the NYS Charter Schools Act):

• Cultural Arts Academy Charter School at Spring Creek (NYC CSD 18) – three-year renewal with conditions;
• Hyde Leadership Charter School (NYC CSD 19 – Brooklyn – five-year renewal with conditions; and
• South Bronx Charter School for International Cultures and the Arts (NYC CSD 7) – four-year renewal with conditions.

The Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that Hyde Leadership Charter School – Brooklyn (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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 this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents, therefore, approves the renewal application of Hyde Leadership Charter School – Brooklyn as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2028.

The Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that South Bronx Charter School for International Cultures and the Arts (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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 this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the renewal application of South Bronx Charter School for International Cultures and the Arts as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2027.

The Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that Cultural Arts Academy Charter School at Spring Creek (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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 this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the renewal application of Cultural Arts Academy Charter School at Spring Creek as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2026.

The motion passed. Regent Tanikawa opposed. 

Renewal Recommendations for Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents [P12 (A) 3] - Department staff recommended that the Board of Regents approve charter renewals for the following charter schools authorized by the Board of Regents pursuant to Article 56 of the Education Law (the NYS Charter Schools Act):

• Charter School of Educational Excellence (Yonkers Public Schools) – five-year renewal and revisions to its vision statement, mission, key design elements;
• Genesee Community Charter School (Rochester City School District) – four-year renewal and revisions to amend its organizational chart;
• New American Academy Charter School (The) (NYC CSD 18) – two-year renewal and revision to amend the school’s mission;
• South Bronx Early College Academy Charter School (NYC CSD 8) – four-year renewal; and
• Unity Preparatory Charter School of Brooklyn (NYC CSD 13) – four-year renewal and revisions to amend its organizational chart and Key Design Elements.

The Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that Charter School of Educational Excellence: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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 this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents, therefore, approves the renewal application of Charter School of Educational Excellence and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2028.

The Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that Genesee Community Charter School: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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 this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents, therefore, approves the renewal application of Genesee Community Charter School and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2027.

The Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that New American Academy Charter School (The): (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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 this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents, therefore, approves the renewal application of New American Academy Charter School (The) and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2025.

The Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that South Bronx Early College Academy Charter School: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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 this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents, therefore, approves the renewal application of South Bronx Early College Academy Charter School and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2027.

The Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that Unity Preparatory Charter School of Brooklyn (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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 this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents, therefore, approves the renewal application of Unity Preparatory Charter School of Brooklyn and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2027.

There was a motion to sever Unity Preparatory Charter School of Brooklyn from the package of the five schools listed above. The motion carried unanimously.  Regent Tanikawa made the motion, and Regent Tilles seconded it.

The members voted on the four remaining renewals. The motion passed unanimously.

The members voted on the renewal for Unity Preparatory Charter School of Brooklyn.  The motion carried; Regent Tilles and Regent Tanikawa voted no.

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

The P-12 Education Committee recommends, and we move, that at its meeting on May 16, 2023, the Board of Regents act affirmatively upon each recommendation in the written report of the Committee's deliberations, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Proposed Technical Amendment of Sections 100.1, 100.2, 100.3, 100.4, 100.5, 100.6, and 100.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Updating to Reflect Current New York State Learning Standards [P12 (D) 1] - Department staff presented proposed technical amendments to the Commissioner’s Regulations that are necessary to ensure the regulations reflect current P-12 Learning Standards.  

Deputy Commissioner Angelique Johnson-Dingle reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda.