Back to News
New Reports
Posted on Posted on: | Updated: · by Michael Lesczinski
share

2026 Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball Charter School

Districts: Bronx CSD 8

Key Information

Executive Summary

Over its initial charter term, EMNR has established an effective organizational structure and strategic focus to meet its mission of preparing students for college and career success. When the school opened in the fall of 2021 following significant pandemic learning loss for students, the school identified school culture and the lack
of literacy skills among its first cohorts as paramount priorities. In response, EMNR allocated significant resources to building positive building culture and providing targeted literacy intervention. Having effectively demonstrated clear improvement in behavior and English language arts (“ELA”) achievement, the school continues to focus on meeting its mission through the development of its unique curricular offerings which immerse students in a basketball ecosystem to build academic and career skills. Notably, EMNR was named a 2024 Yass Prize Semi-Finalist and awarded a $200,000 grant in recognition of its innovative school model and programming that is transforming education for students and families.

The board provides rigorous oversight of the school’s programming and oversaw the appointment of the school’s new chief executive officer (“CEO”) in July 2025. The CEO, in collaboration with the school’s executive director, has proactively worked to continue developing components of EMNR’s academic programming, teacher development, and assessment systems. While EMNR has demonstrated continuous improvement over the charter term and has in place an academic program of sufficient strength, it has only produced a mixed and limited record of meeting its Accountability Plan goals. Therefore, the Institute is recommending a short-term renewal consistent with the SUNY Renewal Policies affording the school time to produce a track record of quantitative results showing unambiguous academic success.

Findings and Information

Is the school an academic success?
EMNR demonstrates emerging evidence of academic success, but has compiled a limited record of results to evaluate attainment of its Accountability Plan goals. The school graduated its first high school cohort in 2024-25 and posted a four-year graduation rate exceeding the 75% absolute target and the district results. This graduation outcome data serves as a strong leading indicator of future success but remains limited. The school also posted a mixed record of Regents examination results in ELA and mathematics for its first Total Cohort. As such, the school has not yet established a consistent pattern of meeting or coming close to meeting all of its Accountability Plan goals. Notwithstanding these results, the Institute finds that EMNR has implemented an academic program of sufficient strength and effectiveness to build a clear record of meeting or coming close to meeting its Accountability Plan goals in a future short charter term. EMNR’s record of quantitative results is summarized as follows:

• EMNR’s 2021 Total Cohort posted a 92% passing rate on the English Regents exam exceeding the district results by 24 percentage points.
• In mathematics, 33% of the school’s 2021 Cohort passed a Regents mathematics exam falling under the absolute target and the district results.
• In 2024-25, the school posted its first four year graduation rate of 94% exceeding the absolute target of 75% and the local district results by 22 percentage points.

Is the school an effective, viable organization?
EMNR is an effective, viable organization. The board of trustees and school leadership team are highly responsive to the school’s needs and demonstrate the ability to quickly implement system-wide adjustments to make necessary improvements to the organization and academic program. Board members are highly engaged in their oversight responsibilities and operate through a clear committee structure, receiving regular updates from the school leadership team to ensure rigorous monitoring of the school’s academic and financial health. The board successfully oversaw the appointment of the new CEO in July 2025 who, in collaboration with the executive director, continues to work on codifying the school’s processes to make operational systems effective for teachers, leaders, and families.

Is the school fiscally sound?
EMNR is fiscally adequate based on the Institute’s review of the renewal documentation. The education corporation established strong methods of budget creation that consider all departments of the school to develop accurate revenue and expense projections. The finance team meets with the board monthly to present an enrollment report and discuss financial results. The education corporation maintained adequate enrollment throughout the charter term. The 2024-25 annual financial audit did not present any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses. EMNR maintains a separate bank account with the established amounts for dissolution as required by the charter agreement.

EMNR demonstrated an adequate financial performance during the current charter term, with net assets of $2.2 million and 1.6 months of cash on hand as of the 2024-25 annual audit. EMNR incurred operating deficits in all four years of its current charter term. However, the education corporation has been successful in fundraising and has seen an overall net asset growth. Over the current charter term, the education corporation prioritized spending on facilities and its academic program. EMNR currently operates one leased site, but the education corporation has been building a new facility that it plans to relocate into in the beginning 2026-27 school year.

If the SUNY Trustees renew the school, are the education corporation’s plans for the school reasonable, feasible, and achievable?
EMNR’s plans for the next charter term are reasonable, feasible, and achievable. The school’s leadership team implements a strategic plan focused on increasing academic rigor, improving instructional quality, and codifying systems. The school plans to continue using its strong data driven systems to maintain its laudable achievement in literacy and urgently address gaps in mathematics. Additionally, the school is strategically committed to the continued development and vertical alignment of its signature “Basketball Ecosystem” courses. In a future term, the school intends to focus on the next phase of course development which includes ensuring these courses align to college and industry standards so that students may attain industry-specific certifications.

Recommendation: Short-Term Renewal with Conditions

The SUNY Charter Schools Institute (the “Institute”) recommends the SUNY Trustees’ Charter Schools Committee approve the Application for Charter Renewal of Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball Charter School (“EMNR”) for a period of three years and subject to the conditions listed below with
authority to provide instruction to students in 9th through 12th grade in such configuration as set forth in its Application for Charter Renewal, with a projected total enrollment of 440 students. The Institute makes this recommendation as EMNR meets the requirements for renewal set forth in the
Policies for Renewal of Not-For-Profit Charter School Education Corporations and Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York (the “SUNY Renewal Policies”).

Conditions

By July 1 2026, the education corporation must provide a Corrective Action Plan, to be approved by the Institute, to come into compliance with teacher certification requirements under the New York Charter Schools Act of 1998 (the “Act”) inclusive of methods to assist uncertified teachers in obtaining certification, an identified
system of monitoring certification status, and administrative or monetary supports offered to teachers. The education corporation must demonstrate significant improvement regarding compliance with teacher certification requirements in accordance with the Act by the conclusion of the education corporation’s next proposed renewal term.