Action

Description

The school submits an application for the renewal of its charter to the Charter Schools Institute. 

Opportunity for Public Comment

The Charter Schools Institute invites and considers written comments from the public, including school districts in which charter school students reside, regarding the school’s application.  A copy of the application is provided to the school district in which the school is situated.

Application Review

The Charter Schools Institute reviews the application and the existing data and records in its files.  The Institute also prepares a summary of issues to be raised and questions to be answered during the renewal visit.

Application Revision

Certain parts of the application will be incorporated into the charter if the application is successful. The Institute may ask for amendments to those parts of the application.

Renewal Inspection Visit

The Charter Schools Institute conducts a site visit to the school during which it interviews parents, students, teachers, administrators and board members and reviews documentary evidence including information relating to academic achievement, curriculum, pedagogy, internal assessment, board governance, fiscal, and legal compliance.  During or after the inspection, the Institute may require additional documentation and other evidence where necessary and appropriate.  The Institute may conduct follow-up visits where it deems necessary.

Based upon the totality of information, including the application for renewal, the on-site inspection, and other pertinent information, the Charter Schools Institute produces a draft report of its findings which contains a preliminary recommendation.  The Institute solicits comments from the school on the draft to ensure its accuracy.  Where appropriate, the Institute may require the applicant school to provide additional information and documentation.

Where the Institute makes a preliminary recommendation of non-renewal, it provides the school with an opportunity to provide written comments in opposition to the recommendation.  Moreover, at the school’s invitation, the Institute will appear at the school to listen to any presentation that the school wishes to make.

Final Renewal Recommendation Report

Based on the evidence it has compiled and analyzed, the Charter Schools Institute prepares its recommendation and report to the Committee on Charter Schools of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York and sends it to the Committee, along with a copy to the school.

Committee on Charter Schools of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York

The Committee on Charter Schools will reach a recommendation and present it to the State University Trustees.  If the Committee has elected to appoint a subcommittee for the purposes of reviewing the Institute’s recommendation, the Committee may provide for such subcommittee to present its recommendation to the full Committee or directly to the State University Trustees.

Where the Charter Schools Institute’s renewal report recommends non-renewal of a charter, the school may petition the Committee for an opportunity to make its case in opposition to the recommendation.  If the Institute does not change its recommendation, the school may further petition the committee. If the petition is granted, the school may present testamentary and documentary evidence as well as legal argument to the Committee.  The Committee will determine the form, time, manner and place, and other practices thereto. 

Board of Trustees of the State University of New York Action

The State University Trustees will act on the recommendation of the Committee on Charter Schools or its designated subcommittee.

Board of Regents Action

Proposed renewal charters will thereafter be entered into and forwarded to the Board of Regents for action (consisting of approval by the Regents or return of the proposed renewal charter to the State University Trustees for further consideration).  If returned by the Regents, the State University Trustees may either resubmit the proposed renewal charter (with or without modification) or abandon the proposed renewal charter.

Even charters for which the recommendation is non-renewal are generally sent to the Regents as such charters usually provide for an extended period under which the school has the appropriate time to bring its corporate affairs to a close.