Preopening Materials, Guides, and Templates

PreOpening Process

PreOpening, also referred to as Year Zero, is the SUNY Charter School Institute’s process to ensure new schools are prepared to welcome students and open for instruction in a timely, safe manner in compliance with all regulations and requirements. The process requires submission of various documents, as well as a site visit by a member of the Institute team, which typically happens a week to 10 days before the new school’s planned opening date. Upon satisfactory completion of PreOpening, the Institute will issue a “Letter to Commence Instruction,” which grants new schools permission to open for instruction.

To help guide new schools through this process and prepare for a successful school launch, the Institute has compiled a detailed list of checklists, timelines, resources, and critical milestones covering facilities, staffing, compliance, and more. The Institute’s goal is to make every new school’s journey to opening day as seamless as possible, ensuring schools meet all regulatory and operational requirements for a strong start.

Throughout the year, the Institute hosts Year Zero modules to help familiarize new schools with Institute reporting requirements for each department including: finance and facilities, legal and compliance, and evaluation and accountability. The Institute encourages board members and current staff members to attend.

New schools should be actively working on securing facilities for the opening school year. As new schools make progress toward finding a facility, it is important to keep the Institute informed throughout the year. Please reach out to [email protected].

Still need guidance? Schools with the smoothest and most successful openings are typically those who remain in close contact with the Institute, ask questions, and share concerns promptly and transparently to secure appropriate resources and support. New schools should thoroughly review the resources on this page, and reach out often and frequently with updates regarding the school opening process. Please send emails directly to [email protected].

Reporting Requirements

The Charter Agreement outlines all PreOpening reporting requirements to the Institute in paragraph 1.3 and Exhibit B.

While each individual new school’s timeline may vary slightly depending on opening dates, the following chart outlines the general progression and timeline of the PreOpening process.

Timeline and Milestones

Timeline	Action(s)
December	• Initial PreOpening Module 1: Kick Off Meeting with Institute staff members • Institute issues final 2026 PreOpening Guidance
Januiary-April	• Institute and new school staff members check in regularly to address questions and learn updates on progress • School staff members review PreOpening Guidance and prepare to submit the first set of documents • School staff members should be actively working to secure facilities and required paperwork related to facilities • The Institute will host Year Zero Modules focused on finance and facilities (January) and legal and compliance (February)
May 1, 2026	• New schools must submit the first set of required documents as outlined in the PreOpening Guidance • For SUNY-authorized replication new schools, schools must submit the signed Assurances
May-July	• Institute contacts new school staff members to confirm opening date and schedule the PreOpening Site Visit • The Institute will host Year Zero Modules focused on evaluation and accountability
August 3, 2026	• All new schools must submit the second set of required documents as outlined in the PreOpening Guidance
August	• Institute conducts PreOpening Site Visits using the Facilities Check Guidance. The visits occur approximately 10 business days before the intended opening date • Upon satisfactory completion of all items, the Institute issues Letter to Commence Instruction
Remainder of School Year	• If Letter to Commence Instruction identifies any outstanding items, the Institute will follow up with new schools to ensure all items are complete within the timeline specified by the Institute • After all items are fully complete, the Institute issues formal Completion of PreOpening letter to school • During the spring of the first year, the Institute conducts a First Year Visit

PreOpening Podcast

PreOpening FAQs

What are the requirements that new schools need to fulfill during PreOpening?

The PreOpening Guidance outlines all required documentation and submissions new schools must complete during Year Zero. The Guidance outlines a specific scope of all requirements new schools must complete to meet operational standards before opening. Items include health, safety, staffing, and facility compliance, among other important areas.

Where can we find the guidance and other resources?

Comprehensive guidance, documents, and resources are available on the PreOpening webpage. This includes Institute templates the school must use to submit items.

Who is required to sign for the Assurances?

The board chair must submit the Assurances to the Institute, as per the Charter Agreement.

What happens if a school is unable to find a facility?

New schools should stay in constant contact with Institute regarding facilities acquisition. Even after securing a facility, the new school must then obtain a Certificate of Occupancy (“CO”) or Temporary CO and liability insurance in order to open for instruction and comply with all requirements outlined in SUNY’s Guide to Facilities Reporting. If the new school is unable to secure a facility in a reasonable timeline to allow a safe and compliant opening with all required documentation, the school will need to request an additional planning year.

What happens if the new school does not meet or is unable to meet the PreOpening requirements?

A SUNY authorized school may not open its doors to students until the Institute issues a Letter to Commence Instruction. If significant delays or issues arise during the Preopening process, the school may need to delay opening or request an additional planning year.