New York Charter Schools Resource Center
The SUNY Charter Schools Institute Resource Center contains guidance, tools, templates, model documents, performance reports, and process information for charter school applicants, school leaders, board members, families, community members, and researchers.
Choose the audience or task that best matches what you need. Many resources are updated for a specific school year, application cycle, reporting period, or stage in a school’s lifecycle, so review the date and resource description before using a document.
Find Resources by Audience
| Audience | Resources Available | Start Here |
|---|---|---|
| New Charter Applicants | Request for Proposals information, application stages, forms, templates, and applicant guidance. | Resources for Applicants |
| School Board Members | Governance guidance, oversight tools, model documents, trustee processes, evaluation resources, and planning materials. | Resources for School Board Members |
| Families and Community Members | Charter school information, school search tools, family FAQs, school performance resources, complaints, and public-information guidance. | Resources for Community |
| Researchers | School performance reports, comparative analysis, research publications, white papers, and charter school data resources | Resources for Researchers |
| School Leaders | Accountability, compliance, fiscal, reporting, preopening, renewal, and operational guides and templates. | Resources for School Leaders |
Common Charter School Resource Needs
- Starting a new SUNY authorized charter school
- Finding a charter school or reviewing school performance reports
- Locating compliance deadlines and reporting requirements
- Downloading accountability, admissions, fiscal, preopening or renewal templates
- Preparing for renewal or a school evaluation
- Finding board governance tools and model documents
- Reviewing charter school laws, policies, and public-information processes
- Finding the Institute team responsible for a specific process or question
Most Requested Resources
| Resource | What You Can Find |
|---|---|
| Resources for Applicants | Current RFP information, application process guidance, and application materials. |
| Find a Charter School | A searchable directory of SUNY authorized charter schools by region, district, school, grades, and location. |
| School Performance Reports | Public school reports including accountability, renewal, evaluation, financial, and other official documents. |
| All Guides and Templates | A central collection of Institute guides, forms, templates, and model documents. |
| Operations and Compliance | Guidance and resources covering major legal, operational, reporting, and compliance requirements. |
| Accountability | Accountability Plan guidance, progress report materials, grade-span templates, and related performance resources. |
| Renewal Requirements and Benchmarks | Information about the renewal process, expectations, benchmarks, and review framework. |
| Resources for School Board Members | Governance guidance, dashboards, evaluation tools, self-assessment resources, and planning models. |
How to Use the Resource Center
- Choose your audience first when you are not sure which section of the site contains the resource you need.
- Check the school year, publication date, effective date, or application cycle for time-sensitive resources.
- Use the resource description to distinguish official guidance and required forms from models, samples, and optional tools.
- Review compliance and reporting calendars in advance so school and board teams can prepare for upcoming requirements.
- Contact the Institute when a legal, compliance, application, reporting, or governance question requires clarification.
Understanding Resource Types
| Resource Type | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Guide or Guidance | Explanatory material that helps users understand an Institute process, expectation, or legal requirement. |
| Template | A structured document that supports preparation of a submission, report, plan, or other school document. |
| Model Document | An adaptable example that demonstrates one possible approach and may require school-specific or legal review. |
| Sample | An illustrative example provided for reference rather than a universal or required format. |
| Report | A public document describing school performance, finances, evaluation findings, or an authorizer decision. |
| Calendar | A dated list of deadlines, recurring submissions, or planning milestones. |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Resource Center
What can I find in the SUNY Charter Schools Institute Resource Center?
The Resource Center includes application materials, school leader guidance, board resources, templates, model documents, compliance information, research, and public school performance reports.
Where should I start if I am not sure which resource I need?
Start with the audience that best describes you: applicant, school leader, board member, family or community member, or researcher. You can also use the Institute contact information if you need help identifying the correct resource.
How do I know whether a resource is current?
Check the school year, publication date, application cycle, effective date, or last-updated information shown with the resource. Some linked documents have their own dates even when the hub page remains the same. If you have questions or to confirm you are using correct resource, please contact the Institute at [email protected].
What is the difference between a template, model document, and sample?
A template provides a structure for completing a task or document. A model shows one possible approach that may need adaptation. A sample is an illustrative example intended for reference.
Who should I contact if I cannot find the right resource?
Contact the SUNY Charter Schools Institute or use the department email directory to reach the team responsible for the relevant application, accountability, compliance, fiscal, governance, or other process.