The State University Trustees today approved the applications for three public charter schools during their regular monthly meeting held at the Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse:

• Albany Community Charter School
• Leadership Preparatory Charter School (Brooklyn)
• UFT Elementary Charter School (Brooklyn)

“Families deserve the chance to choose the school that works best for their children.  By approving these charter schools the Trustees continue to expand the choices of families looking to give their children a quality education,” said Secretary of State and Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Randy A. Daniels, who also co-chairs the Trustees Charter School Committee.  “When you create choice and competition among public schools you inspire excellence and give all children a better chance for an education worthy of their highest aspirations.”

“The application review process is a demanding one in which only the most competitive applications are advanced for approval,” said Trustee and Charter School Committee Co-Chair Edward F. Cox.  “I believe the charter schools approved today will improve the teaching and learning available to students.  Each of these new charter schools will enrich their communities by offering families a fresh approach to public education.”

Charter schools are public schools of choice created by parents, educators, and community leaders, open to all students – tuition free – and designed to improve learning and provide public school choice.  Operating under a five-year performance contract, or “charter,” these schools are freed from red tape and top-down educational bureaucracy in exchange for rigorous accountability for student achievement.  Public charter schools must adhere to all health, safety and civil rights laws.

“Following the Trustees’ vote today, the Institute will enter into proposed charters with each successful applicant,” said Institute Executive Director James D. Merriman.  “We will then transmit the proposed charters to the Board of Regents, along with complete applications and other pertinent information, so that the Education Department can begin its official review.  Under the law, the Regents have up to 60 days to act on proposed charters authorized by the Trustees.”

The Trustees also took the following actions relating to charter schools:

Approved a revision to the charter of the Child Development Center of the Hamptons (CDCH) Charter School permitting the school to affiliate with Services for the Underserved, Inc, which will provide institutional support and guidance.

Approved a $350,000 federal Charter School Program (CSP) grant for the proposed UFT Elementary Charter School.  The grant will be disbursed over 36 months for planning and implementation.

Authorized the Executive Director of the Charter Schools Institute, in consultation with the co-chairs of the SUNY Trustees Committee on Charter Schools, to approve supplemental grants to charter schools which previously received CSP grants.  These schools may apply for surplus CSP funds available to New York State, currently in excess of $1 million, which the schools must expend by the end of the current three-year cycle which ends this September.

Removed the Stepping Stone Charter School from probation.  Stepping Stone Charter School had been placed on probation for not accurately identifying the number of its students for the purpose of billing the Buffalo School District.  The school successfully completed a remedial action plan by putting in place sufficient internal controls.  The Buffalo School district concurred with Institute’s recommendation that probation be lifted.

Brief summaries and contact information for the charter school applications approved by the University Trustees:

Albany Community Charter School
Media Contact:             Paul Thallner
Proposed Location:      Albany
Student Pop./Grades:  104 in grades K-4, expanding to 329 students in grades K – 5.
Opening Date:              September 2006

Leadership Preparatory Charter School
Media Contact:             Max Koltuv, 917-597-4789
Proposed Location:      Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Student Pop./Grades:  128 in grades K-1, expanding to 320 students in grades K – 4.
Opening Date:              August 2006

UFT Elementary Charter School
Media Contact:             Randi Weingarten, 212-598-9215
Proposed Location:      East New York, Brooklyn
Student Pop./Grades:  150 in grades K-1, expanding to 450 students in grades K – 5.
Opening Date:              September 2005