Institute Newsletter for October 27. 2025

Dear Colleague:

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dan Casselli, host of The Charter School Insider podcast to talk about the importance of authorizers and schools investing the time to build strong, effective working relationships. It’s not always easy and takes time and effort to navigate the power dynamics that can sometimes serve as a barrier to trust and open communication. We understand that.

At the end of the day though, we’re all striving toward the same goal: creating and maintaining strong, high-quality schools that deliver on their mission and serve our students well. And even the toughest challenges become easier to tackle when authorizers and schools commit to forging relationships rooted in trust and candid, solution-oriented dialogue.

Dan and I explored what that looks like in practice in the latest episode of his podcast. If you are a charter school leader or board member, I hope you give it a listen and share your thoughts. You can reach me at [email protected] with your feedback, pushback, and perspective. I look forward to hearing from you!

Episode #60 Best Practices for working with your authorizer, featuring Kathryn Connell-Espinosa – Charter School Insider podcast

Kathryn

Institute Updates

- Charter Revision Reminder: If your school seeks to revise its charter, please refer to the Institute’s Guide to Revising a Charter. To submit a revision request or if you have any questions, please email the Institute’s Legal Department at [email protected]. Due dates for revising a school’s charter are as follows:
  - Merger or Expansion of an Elementary, Middle, or High School Program – December 1, 2025
  - Enrollment or Admissions Policy Revisions for the 2026-27 School Year – February 16, 2026
  - All Other Material Revisions to be Implemented for the 2026-27 School Year – April 1, 2026, or at least 60 Days before implementation
  - Schools Under Renewal Consideration in 2026-27 – With Renewal Application (August 17, 2026)
  - Nonmaterial Revisions – Ongoing, but at least 30 days before implementation

- Upcoming Deadlines: The following items are coming due soon. See the Institute’s Compliance Calendar for details.
  - Form 990 – October 31^st, 2025
  - Student Application – November 3^rd, 2025
  - Annual Financial Audit – November 3^rd, 2025
  - Q1 Financial Report – November 14^th

- One Question Survey on NYS Portrait of a Graduate: What questions or comments do you have related to the impending shifts in Regents requirements and the roll out of the NYS Portrait of a Graduate? The Institute team will use responses to gather information and plan supports to ensure schools understand how these shifts may impact SUNY accountability in the future. Please share your thoughts in this one question survey.

SUNY Empire State Webinar – Trans B and Residency Certification Pathways for Charter School Teachers:
When: November 10, 2025; 6 pm – 7 pm
Register
SUNY Empire specializes in alternative pathways for teacher education, helping adult learners, career changers, and paraprofessionals become fully certified NYS K-12 classroom educators. Programs are online, asynchronous, and supported by a robust infrastructure of caring professors, advisors, clinical coordinators, degree advisors and additional staff. SUNY Empire works with partner schools throughout New York State to provide flexible and affordable educational opportunities for our students. This special session for NYS charter schools will focus on the Transitional B and Residency pathways.
SUNY Empire State Presenters:
- Rob Sanderl, Assistant Dean, College of Education
- Blair Izard, Assistant Professor of Math and Program Coordinator for Master of Arts in Teaching
- Bobbi Latimer, Certification and Licensure Expert
- Jacob Johnson, Recruiting and Outreach