News & Public Notices

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]

New York, New York – The SUNY Board of Trustees’ Charter Schools Committee (“Committee”), acting on behalf of the full SUNY Board of Trustees and upon the recommendation of the SUNY Charter Schools Institute (“Institute”), yesterday approved an application for Buffalo Creek Charter School as well as resolutions to renew 9 SUNY authorized charter schools.

Buffalo Creek Charter School, to be located within a private facility in the Buffalo City School District, will be led by Dr. Christopher Manning in the role of executive director. Set to open in August 2020 with 112 students in 5^th and 6^th grade, Buffalo Creek will grow to serve 336 students in 5^th–10^th grade. The curriculum will focus on literacy and mathematics with an emphasis on computer science, active citizenship, and college readiness. The “small school model” will allow for rigorous academics, a structured environment, and a high level of individualized support and attention.

Additionally, the Trustees renewed 9 schools located throughout New York City. A brief summary of each renewal is below.

• Amber Charter School opened in fall of 2000 serving 120 students in K–1^st The school is located in New York City Community School District (“CSD”) 4 at a privately leased facility at 220 East 106^th Street in New York, New York. In the most recently available data, 85.1% of students were considered economically disadvantaged (eligible applicants for federal Free and Reduced Price Lunch program) and 18% were special education (SPED). In 2018-19, 69% of students achieved proficiency in ELA – an increase from 34% in 2014-15 and higher than 86% of public schools statewide. In Math, 58% of students achieved proficiency, higher than 69% of public schools statewide. Amber also posted high results for at-risk populations over the term. In 2018-19, 39% of SPED students scored at or above proficiency in ELA and 24% in Math. The school received a full 5-year term renewal.

• Brooklyn East Collegiate Charter School opened in fall 2010 serving 78 students in 5^th It is currently authorized to serve 345 students in 5^th–8^th grade and is co-located with multiple district schools in CSD 13 at 832 Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. Brooklyn East Collegiate offers a number of enrichment classes during the school day including African dance, art, basketball, track, drama, Capoeira, creative writing, hip hop dance, knitting, media design, soccer, spoken word, step, Taekwondo, and theater. In 2018-19, 49% of students achieved proficiency in ELA and 67% in Math. The school received a full 5-year term renewal.

• Kings Collegiate Charter School opened in fall 2006 serving 75 students in 5^th It is currently authorized to serve 1,081 students in K–3^rd grade and 5^th–11^th grade. The K–3 program is co-located with multiple district schools in CSD 18 at 905 Winthrop Street in Brooklyn; its 5–8 program is co-located with a district school in CSD 18 at 1084 Lenox Road in Brooklyn; and, its 9–11 program is co-located with multiple district schools in CSD 19 at 999 Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn. In 2018-2019, 50% of students achieved proficiency in ELA and 55% in Math. Additionally, the school earned a 92% parent satisfaction score on the 2017-2018 School Survey administered by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). The school received a full 5-year term renewal.

• Leadership Preparatory (LP) Bedford Stuyvesant Charter School opened in the fall 2005 serving 128 students in K–1^st It is currently authorized to serve 1,367 students in K–12^th grade. The K–8 program is co-located with a district school in CSD 13 at 141 Macon Street, Brooklyn, NY; its 9–12 program is co-located with multiple district schools in CSD 13 at 832 Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn. In 2018-19, 65% of students achieved proficiency in ELA and 80% in Math. Additionally, in 2018, 97% of graduating students matriculated to a two-year or four-year college or university program. The school received a full 5-year term renewal.

• Leadership Preparatory Brownsville Charter School opened in fall 2009 serving 116 students in K–1^st It is currently authorized to serve 780 students in K–8^th grade. The K–4 program is co-located with multiple district schools in CSD 23 at 985 Rockaway Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Its 5–8 program is co-located with a district school in CSD 23 at 213 Osborn Street in Brooklyn. In the most recently available data, 92.4% of students were economically disadvantaged. In 2018-19, 60% of students achieved proficiency in ELA and 77% in Math. The school hosts a college pride week in which adults on campus discuss with students what colleges staff members attended, what their college majors were, and why they chose those majors. Additionally, the school earned a 91% parent satisfaction score on the 2017-2018 School Survey administered by the NYCDOE. The school received a full 5-year term renewal.

• Leadership Preparatory Ocean Hill Charter School opened in fall 2010 serving 145 students K–1^st It is currently authorized to serve 1,383 students K–12^th grade. The K–8 program is co-located with multiple district schools in CSD 23 at 51 Christopher Avenue in Brooklyn, NY; its 9-12 program is co-located with multiple district schools in CSD 18 at 6565 Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn. In 2018-19, 67% of students achieved proficiency in ELA and 76% in Math. Additionally, in 2018, every one of the 63 graduating students matriculated to a two-year or four-year college or university program. In 2017, LP Ocean Hill became the first school in Brownsville to win a National Blue Ribbon Award. The school received a full 5-year term renewal.

• NYC Autism Charter School East Harlem opened in fall 2005 serving students ages 5 to 21 years. It is currently authorized to serve 40 students and is co-located with Dream Pre-K, another pre-K, and a district school in CSD 4 at 433 East 100^th Street, New York, NY. In the most recently available data, 100% of students mastered a minimum of 85% of their annual Individual Education Plan (IEP) objectives and 100% of the 17 students 13 years or older participated in some form of instruction in the community outside of the school. During the charter term, four (4) students demonstrated enough behavioral improvement to transition to a less restrictive, more inclusive classroom environment in a co-located school. The school received a full 5-year term renewal.

• Ocean Hill Collegiate Charter School opened in fall 2010 serving 78 students in 5^th It is currently authorized to serve 519 students in K–1^st grade and 5^th–8^th grade. Its K–1 program is co-located with a district school in CSD 17 at 791 Empire Blvd in Brooklyn; its 5–8 program is co-located with multiple district schools in CSD 23 at 1137 Herkimer Street in Brooklyn. In 2018-19, 53% of students achieved proficiency in ELA and 63% in Math. Ocean Hill Collegiate’s middle school level also hosts a college day in which students choose from a menu of college-like courses taught by middle school teachers in order to expose students to a higher education experience. The school earned a 92% parent satisfaction score on the 2017-2018 School Survey administered by the NYCDOE. The school received a full 5-year term renewal.

• Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School opened in fall 2014 serving students in 5^th–6^th It is currently authorized to serve 345 students in 5^th–8^th grade. It is co-located with a district school in CSD 14 at 157 Wilson Street in Brooklyn. In the most recently available data, 84.6% of students were economically disadvantaged and 22.3% were SPED. In 2018-19, 50% of students achieved proficiency in ELA and 69% in Math. Williamsburg Collegiate also encourages reading by honoring students who read one million words and in 2018-19, 15 students in the 5–8 program achieved the distinction. The school earned a 91% parent satisfaction score on the 2017-2018 School Survey administered by the NYCDOE. The school received a full 5-year term renewal.

* 2017-18 is the most recently available demographic data for all schools.

##

SUNY is the largest charter school authorizer in New York State and the largest university-based charter school authorizer in the country. The SUNY Charter Schools Institute was created by the SUNY Board of Trustees to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities under the New York Charter Schools Act (the “Act”). Guided by the rigorous standards set by the SUNY Board of Trustees, the Institute’s oversight of SUNY authorized charter schools is comprehensive, including: evaluating initial applications for the opening of charter schools; ongoing oversight and evaluation of operating schools; conducting a comprehensive evaluation when a school applies to renew its charter; and reporting to the school and the public on each school’s performance and progress. Charter schools in New York trade greater autonomy in exchange for greater accountability for academic outcomes. Each charter school has a charter contract that is signed by its board of trustees and the authorizer of the school. As part of the contract, the accountability plan for each school establishes the academic goals that must be met and how those goals will be measured. Contracts last a maximum of five years as set by the Act. In order to continue operating, a charter school must apply to renew its charter at the end of each charter term. Receiving approval to continue operating is the core of accountability required by the Act.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

As the New York State Education Department released the 2019 ELA and math assessment results for grades 3-8, the SUNY Charter Schools Institute is proud to share the strong accomplishments of SUNY authorized charter schools. When compared to their local school districts, over 88% of SUNY authorized charter schools outperformed their local district in ELA, and over 91% outperformed their local district in math.

To view the press release, click here.