Albany, New York 12207
518-433-8277

For Immediate Release: May 25, 2006

Albany - Upon recommendation of the Charter Schools Institute and the Charter Schools Committee of the State University of New York Board of Trustees, the full Board of Trustees today unanimously voted to award three $525,000 Federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants:

Achievement First-Bushwick Charter School will receive $525,000 for planning and implementation activities over a 36-month period.  Achievement First-Bushwick is scheduled to open in Brooklyn in the fall of 2006 serving grades K-1 initially, and grades K-8 by the end of its charter term;

Albany Community Charter School will receive $525,000 for planning and implementation activities over a 36 month period.  Albany Community is scheduled to open in the city of Albany in the fall of 2006 serving grades K-1 initially, and grades K-4 by the end of its current charter term.

True North Rochester Preparatory Charter School will receive $525,000 for planning and implementation activities over a 36-month period. True North Rochester is scheduled to open in the city of Rochester in the fall of 2006 serving grade 5 initially and grades 5-8 by the end of its current charter term.

The Charter Schools Expansion Act of 1998 authorized the United States Department of Education (USDOE) to develop a program to financially assist charter schools throughout the United States.  The purpose of the Charter Schools Program (CSP) is to expand the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the nation by providing financial assistance for planning, program design, and initial implementation of public charter schools; evaluation of the effects of charter schools; and the dissemination of information about charter schools and successful practices in charter schools.

CSP grants provide federal resources to support the planning, development, and initial implementation of charter schools through a variety of activities including the acquisition of professional development services for staff and faculty, the establishment of business systems and accountability programs, the opportunity to refine the academic program prior to and after the commencement of instruction, and the purchase of instructional materials and supplies necessary to support the school’s instructional program.  CSP grant funds may not be used to support the ongoing operations of a charter school or for facility acquisition or construction costs.  Funds can only be used subsequent to the award of the grant.

The USDOE makes this grant available to eligible states every three years as an ongoing, multi-year award.  States must apply for CSP funds using a projection of the number of eligible grant recipients throughout the three-year program period. 

As the State Education Agency (SEA) for New York State, the State Education Department (SED) is the only eligible recipient of CSP grant funds in New York State.  Therefore, SUNY has been a sub-recipient of the CSP grant funds awarded to New York State since 1999, when New York received its first CSP grant from USDOE.  Since 1999, New York State has received and awarded over $28 million in CSP funds to charter schools in New York to support the successful planning and implementation of their academic programs.  New York has recently received notice that is has been awarded a new three-year CSP award totaling more than $25 million for awards through 2008.  Of these funds, the Charter Schools Institute has awarded and administered grants totaling more than $11 million with an expectation of an additional $5 million to be administered by this office through 2008.

Review and Scoring Process

Each application is reviewed by Institute staff and one peer reviewer as required by federal regulations.  Applications are graded using the criteria described in the current Request For Proposal.  The Grant Review Panel, at its discretion, may recommend less than the amount requested based upon its review of the proposal.  While a full and thoughtful response to all items requested is essential, the Grant Review Panel concentrates on the applicant’s reason for seeking the award, the applicant’s demonstrated need and the applicant’s plan for expending any funds received.  Final scores of the reviewers are added and averaged.  Proposals to be considered for awards must obtain a minimum average score of 75 on a 100 point scale.  Currently, individual charter schools may anticipate an award of approximately $525,000 over a 36 month period.  Recipients are required to enter into a grant agreement with SUNY that is approved by the State Comptroller’s Office.

The Charter Schools Institute was created by the State University of New York Board of Trustees to administer their responsibilities under the Charter Schools Act of 1998, including the review of applications, assisting in the development of charter school accountability plans, and considering charters for renewal. The Institute has become recognized as a national leader in the public charter school movement, providing extensive experience in charter schools and all aspects of public education, including curriculum, school operations, accountability, fiscal oversight and program development.