SUNY Charter Schools Institute - Mission

Charter Schools Institute

The Charter Schools Act of 1998 granted the State University of New York Board of Trustees authorizing power to grant 50 charters for the purpose of organizing and operating independent and autonomous public charter schools.

The Charter Schools Institute was created by the Board of Trustees in 1999 to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities under the Act. 


The Institute is charged with evaluating initial applications for the opening of charter schools, ongoing monitoring of student academic performance and overall school operations, and for presenting findings and recommendations regarding the renewal of a school’s charter to the State University Trustees.

Striking that delicate, difficult and seemingly always changing balance between giving schools autonomy and providing responsible oversight, and between treating schools as independent institutions while still assuring accountability, is the hard work that the Board of Trustees has committed to, and the foundation of the work of the Charter Schools Institute.

Led by Executive Director James D. Merriman IV, the Institute is committed to the creation and operation of highly successful charter schools throughout New York State.  Mr. Merriman serves as liaison to the Board of Trustees' Committee on Charter Schools.

  

"SUNY has been a particularly effective authorizer.  It has taken its authorizing duties seriously—both in approving and in overseeing charters—and has not been afraid to close charters that haven't lived up to their promises."

- National Alliance for Public Charter

   Schools, May 2006 Issue Brief