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|
THE STATE
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 |
|
TO: |
EMSC-VESID Committee |
|
FROM: |
James A. Kadamus |
|
SUBJECT: |
Revisions to Charter School Charters |
|
DATE: |
June 13, 2005 |
|
STRATEGIC
GOAL: |
Goals 1 and 2 |
|
AUTHORIZATION(S): |
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Summary
Issue for Decision
Should the Regents accept the staff recommendations to amend the charters
of the Bronx Charter School for Children and the Williamsburg Charter
School?
Reason for Consideration
Required by State Statute.
Proposed Handling
This question will come before the ESMC-VESID Committee on June 20,
2005 for discussion and
action. It will then come before
the full Board for final action on
June 21, 2005.
Procedural History
The charter for the Bronx Charter School for Children (BCSC) was
initially issued in 2002 and is in the first year of operation. The School was
authorized and approved by the Board of Regents on December 12, 2002.
The charter for the Williamsburg Charter
School (WSC) was issued February 2004 and is in the
first year of operation. The New York City Chancellor
initially authorized the School.
Background
Information
BCSC is located in New York City and currently serves 132 students in grades K-1. The School’s institutional partner is the Friends of the Bronx Academy Foundation. The factors that have led to the request to maintain the current enrollment plan of adding 66 students in kindergarten, rather than decreasing from 66 to 44 students after year one, include strong community interest, high community need and continuity with the current curriculum and instructional program. The building currently housing the BCSC is large enough to accommodate the proposed increase through 2007. The School’s Board of Trustees is exploring the possibility of expanding the current site or identifying alternative locations in the community.
WCS is located in New York City. The School’s institutional partner is the St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation. The charter states the school will serve 580 students in grades 6-12. The NYC Chancellor has endorsed the amendment for WCS to serve 600 students in grades 9-12. This modification originated in response to a request from the New York City Department of Education. (The request was made because WCS is located within JHS 126, which is a middle school, grades 6-8, under redesign; the Chancellor requested that JHS 126 be given the first opportunity to enroll middle school students at this location.) WCS currently serves 131 students in grade 9.
The factors that have led to the request include the following:
(1) Need – JHS 126 is presently filling the community’s middle school needs.
(2) Expertise – leadership at WCS is weighted toward experience at the high school level.
The Williamsburg Charter School also seeks approval to change its name to Williamsburg Charter High School to reduce confusion in the community about its new structure.
Recommendation
VOTED: That the Board of
Regents approve the recommendation to amend the charter of the Bronx Charter
School for Children, to allow the School to maintain the current enrollment plan
of adding 66 students (three sections) in kindergarten, rather than decreasing
from 66 to 44 students (two sections) after year one, as outlined in the
original charter document.
VOTED: That the Board of
Regents approve the recommendation to amend the charter of the Williamsburg
Charter School, to allow the School to change its name to the Williamsburg
Charter High School and to modify its grade configuration to exclusively serve
Grades 9-12.
Timetable for Implementation
The charter will be deemed amended upon approval by the full Board of
Regents on June 21, 2005.
Attachment 1
Original Enrollment Plan
for the
Bronx Charter School for Children
|
Grades |
Year 1 2004-05 |
Year 2 2005-06 |
Year 3 2006-07 |
Year 4 2007-08 |
Year 5 2008-09 |
|
K |
66 |
44 |
44 |
44 |
44 |
|
1 |
66 |
44 |
44 |
44 | |
|
2 |
|
66 |
66 |
44 |
44 |
|
3 |
|
|
66 |
66 |
44 |
|
4 |
|
|
|
66 |
66 |
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
66 |
|
Total |
132 |
176 |
220 |
264 |
308 |
Proposed Enrollment Plan
for the
Bronx Charter School for Children
|
Grades |
Year 1 2004-05 |
Year 2 2005-06 |
Year 3 2006-07 |
Year 4 2007-08 |
Year 5 2008-09 |
|
K |
66 |
66 |
66 |
66 |
66 |
|
1 |
66 |
66 |
66 |
66 | |
|
2 |
|
66 |
66 |
66 |
66 |
|
3 |
|
|
66 |
66 |
66 |
|
4 |
|
|
|
66 |
66 |
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
66 |
|
Total |
132 |
198 |
264 |
330 |
396 |
Potential Fiscal Impact of the Charter
for the
Bronx Charter School for Children
(New York City–Bronx)
|
School Year |
Number of
Students |
Projected
Payment* |
Projected
Impact |
|
2005-06 |
198 |
$1,700,028 |
0.012% |
|
2006-07 |
264 |
$2,368,706 |
0.016% |
|
2007-08 |
330 |
$3,094,122 |
0.021% |
|
2008-09 |
396 |
$3,880,029 |
0.025% |
*Assumes a 3 percent increase in the district’s budget and a
4.5 percent increase in the average expense per pupil per year.
Original Enrollment Plan
for the
Williamsburg Charter
School
|
Grades |
Year 1 2004-05 |
Year 2 2005-06 |
Year 3 2006-07 |
Year 4 2007-08 |
Year 5 2008-09 |
|
6 |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
|
7 |
|
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
|
8 |
|
|
|
60 |
60 |
|
9 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
10 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 | |
|
11 |
|
|
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
12 |
|
|
|
100 |
100 |
|
Total |
100 |
260 |
320 |
|
580 |
Proposed Enrollment Plan
for the
Williamsburg Charter School
|
Grades |
Year 1 2004-05 |
Year 2 2005-06 |
Year 3 2006-07 |
Year 4 2007-08 |
Year 5 2008-09 |
|
9 |
131 |
150 |
150 |
150 |
150 |
|
10 |
150 |
150 |
150 |
150 | |
|
11 |
|
|
150 |
150 |
150 |
|
12 |
|
|
|
150 |
150 |
|
Total |
131 |
300 |
450 |
600 |
600 |
Potential Fiscal Impact of the Charter
for the
Williamsburg Charter School
(New York City–Bronx)
|
School Year |
Number of
Students |
Projected
Payment* |
Projected
Impact |
|
2005-06 |
198 |
$1,700,028 |
0.012% |
|
2006-07 |
264 |
$2,368,706 |
0.016% |
|
2007-08 |
330 |
$3,094,122 |
0.021% |
|
2008-09 |
396 |
$3,880,029 |
0.025% |
*Assumes a 3 percent increase in the district’s budget and a
4.5 percent increase in the average expense per pupil per year