“We did a survey of our families. Most of them preferred a five-day, in-school model,” said Renee Sutton, chair of the Finn Academy board of trustees. “Instead of 19 students per classroom, class size, especially for younger groups, will be 10 or 11 students.
“We will have staggered study times, so not all of them will be in the building at one time,” Sutton said. “This is everyone’s first global pandemic. It’s possible to do this if we’re smart about it and follow proper protocols.”
The closure of school facilities and the transition to remote instruction in the wake of COVID-19 represented a fundamental reimagining of teaching and learning for schools, both here in New York and nationally. Among the diverse array of independent, community based, small scale replicators, and large networks that comprise the more than 200 authorized charter schools in the SUNY portfolio, the unique approaches to navigating the disruption offer critical insights as administrators multiple scenario plan for a fall return.
On July 29th, Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO), a non-partisan research and evaluation organization, released the results from a survey of New York State charter schools that explored the various responses. The survey focused on schools authorized by SUNY, the New York State Board of Regents, and the New York City Department of Education, and the full report is available on CREDO’s website.
Among the key findings: (more…)
As the result of ongoing uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the SUNY Charter Schools Institute will not hold the July new application round as originally indicated in the 2020 Request for Proposals (“RFP”). Applicants may apply under the 2021 RFP, which the Institute anticipates releasing at the beginning of the 2021 calendar year. The earliest possible opening date for schools authorized under the 2021 RFP is fall 2022.
Host: SUNY Charter Schools Institute, in partnership with the NYS Charter Schools Association
Title: New York State of Emergency Due to COVID-19: Board Governance Considerations
Time: 4 pm – 5 pm eastern
Description: Join the SUNY Charter Schools Institute for an informative webinar presentation on effective charter school board governance in response to COVID-19. Associate Counsel Carrie Gee will review the Institute’s guidance related to the new Open Meetings Law parameters. In addition, Gee will explore the issues and questions that charter school leaders and board members need to consider related to governance, operations, workforce, culture, and educational continuity. Following the presentation, Gee will be joined by Susie Miller Carello, Executive Director of the Institute, and David Frank, Executive Director of the NYSED Charter School Office, for a Q&A period. (more…)
On March 10, 2020, the NYS Education Department issued the following reporting requirements on school closures.
The NYC Education Department issued the following update for families:
The NYC Health Department has issued the following guidance for family members:
The New York State Education Department and the New York State Department of Health have issued the following guidance to update PreK-12 schools on next steps to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The State University of New York Board of Trustees (“SUNY Trustees”), in its capacity as a charter authorizer, has received proposals in response to the 2020 SUNY Request for Proposals Round 1 Spring Cycle. The deadline for this round of applications was February 25, 2020. The public list indicates only receipt of a proposal. Inclusion in the list does not indicate that the SUNY Trustees have approved or will approve the proposed new school.
All information listed was reported by applicants at the time of submission and is subject to change based on further information.
Public List:
Proposals to Establish New Charter Schools
DATE: March 3, 2020
The SUNY Charter Schools Institute, on behalf of the State University of New York Board of Trustees (the “SUNY Trustees”), in its capacity as a charter authorizer, has received the following proposals to establish new charter schools in response to the February cycle of the 2020 SUNY Request for Proposals (“RFP”) by the February 25, 2020 deadline. A proposed school’s appearance on the list below does not indicate that the SUNY Trustees have approved or will approve the proposed school.
All information listed was reported by applicants at the time of submission, and may change based on updated information. For further information on the public list, please contact Maureen Foley at (518) 445-4250 or maureen.foley@suny.edu. To provide comments on any pending applications, please email charters@suny.edu.
Andrew Kile, Director of School of Evaluation, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of the school evaluation visit, the types of evidence the team collects and evaluates, specific on the ground activities, the purpose of reports, and more. Then Danielle Bruno, Principal / Director of Elmwood Village Days Park, reflects on the school’s most recent visit, sharing how administrators both prepared for the evaluation team and used the experience to improve school practices.
On February 5, 2020, NYS Department of Health Commissioner Howard A. Zucker, MD, JD, and NYS Education Department Commissioner Shannon L. Tahoe issued a joint letter offering guidance on the Coronavirus. The NYSDOH and NYSED also provided a template for parent outreach.
Joint NYSDOH-NYSED Coronavirus Letter for School Leaders
The Institute Staff is ready and willing to answer your questions and share resources and best practices.
Please direct all communication (written, electronic or telephone) to the Albany Office. Information on the Institute’s Complaint Process and submitting a FOIL request can also be found on our website.
Mailing Address:
Albany Office:
SUNY Charter Schools Institute
H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
353 Broadway
Albany, NY 12246