Mission Statement

The Charter Schools Institute assists the Board of Trustees of the State University
of New York in meeting its responsibilities under the New York State Charter Schools
Act of 1998 and in furthering the University’s leading role in strengthening public
education across New York State.

Guided by the Board’s rigorous standards, the Institute:

• Recommends for charter approval only those schools that have
  a high likelihood of significantly improving student achievement,
  especially for students at risk of academic failure;

• Provides ongoing oversight of schools that centers on schools’ progress in
  improving student achievement, while also reviewing their organizational
  and fiscal performance; the Institute’s oversight serves as a catalyst for improvement, informs the public of each school’s performance, and protects
  the health and safety of students enrolled in each school;

• Vigorously respects, defends and advocates for each school’s
  independence and autonomy;

• Recommends renewal of only those charter schools that have
  shown they can improve student performance and operate in
  a fiscally and organizationally sound manner; and

• Strives to become a nationally recognized repository and
  disseminator of research, training and best practices for charter
  schools, public school choice and charter authorizing.