Volume II, Issue 14, June 20, 2006

 

Charter Leader News

 

This issue of the Charter Leader News features information on the following . . . 

 

 

Test Score Release and Promotional Criteria 

Title 1 Application Technical Assistance

Cap Lift/Charter School Promotion

 

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS ON A SUCCESSFUL 2005-06 SCHOOL YEAR

 

 

As another school year comes to an end, the Charter Center proudly celebrates the efforts of NYC charter school students, leaders, board members and staff.

There is ample evidence that public charter schools are having a positive impact on the education system in New York City and serving as models for reform initiatives and greater accountability in educational services.

 

The school year is coming to a close, but achieving high-quality results in the classroom and creating environments where children can learn and exceed expectations continues long after the final school bell.

 

We salute all of you, and encourage you to look to the Charter Leader News as a resource throughout the summer for timely news on funding opportunities, operations, training services and important current events.

 

Thank you.

 

 

OPERATIONS NEWS: 

 

Test Score Release and Promotional Criteria

The NYC Department of Education's (NYCDOE) Division of Assessment and Accountability recently released a statement in the Principals' Weekly about Test Score Release and Criteria for June Promotion Decisions.

 

The State Education Department (SED) plans to issue score reports for the ELA test in early August and for the mathematics test in late September.  The NYCDOE has a promotion policy in place for ELA in Grades 3, 5, and 7 and Mathematics for Grades 3 and 5.  In order to compensate for the delayed release of the score reports, a promotional cut score for New York City students has been established for Grades 3, 5, and 7 based on the New York State ELA tests, and for Grades 3 and 5 based on the New York State mathematics tests, both administered this past winter.

 

The cut scores were determined by city educators in conjunction with SED and its test publisher (CTB/ McGraw-Hill). 
In order for schools to begin making ELA promotion decisions for students in Grades 3, 5 and 7, rosters detailing students who met or did not meet the NYC Promotion Cuts in ELA or had no score in these grades were sent to schools (via ATS)  on Tuesday, June 6.  These rosters are based on the State ELA tests administered in January 2006. ATS has released "off-line reports" listing the students who met or did not meet the NYC Promotion Cuts for ELA. These rosters will list the names of students in Grades 3, 5 and 7 who either met or did not meet the NYC promotion cut for ELA.  Promotion cuts for mathematics for students in Grades 3 and 5 should be available this week.

 

Even though charter schools do not necessarily follow the City's promotional criteria, the data will be available to all schools via ATS.  For more information, see the email sent out by Andrea Zayas on June 12 titled Math, SS, Regents, LAB-R, Promotion, Principals' Weekly.

 

 

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:

 

 

Technical Assistance for Title Applications - June 26 (1:30 pm and 3 pm Sessions)

 

New York City charter schools eligible to receive federal funds under Title I, Parts A & D; Title II, Parts A & D; Title III, Part A; Title IV, Part A; Title V, Part A; and Title VI, Part B are required to submit a 2006-2007 Consolidated Application, along with a FS-10, for each program to the New York State Education Department (SED) by August 31, 2006.

 

To support NYC charter school leaders who are currently completing Title consolidated applications, the Charter School Unit in the Brooklyn-based office of SED will hold two technical assistance sessions at the Charter Center on Monday, June 26.

 

NYC charter schools are encouraged to participate in these sessions. Those who have never applied for Title funds are asked to attend the 1:30 pm session. Those who must update applications are asked to attend the 3 pm session.

 

All interested schools should respond no later than noon on Friday, June 23, to Maria Parzych, SED Regional Associate, Office of School Improvement and Community Services, at mparzych@mail.nysed.gov, or call 718-722-4520.

 

 

CURRENT EVENTS:

 

"Cap Lift" Promotion Placed in NYC dailies this week

 

As Albany lawmakers close out the final week of the legislative session with much uncertainty surrounding the fate of the cap lift, the Charter Center is running promotions in several NYC dailies underscoring the positive attributes of public charter schools and urging that the cap be lifted.

 

The promotion, featuring the names of school leaders, parent coordinators and officials representing 49 NYC public charter schools, is appearing in the New York Daily News, El Diario and the New York Sun. The ad was also distributed to all 212 state legislators on Monday.

 

We thank all of the charter school leaders and their respective parent coordinators for their participation in the promotion. The ads will be posted this week on the "Breaking News" section of our Web site: http://www.nycchartercenter.org.

 

 

Cap Lift Status

 

Today, our Assembly allies Sam Hoyt (D-Buffalo) and William Boyland (D-Brooklyn) introduced legislation (A.11381-A) calling for a cap lift and other positive changes to the law.

 

In the Senate, Steve Saland (R-Poughkeepsie), Chair of the Senate Education Committee, introduced an amended bill. His bill would effectively place a moratorium on public charter schools in every district in the state, with the exception of NYC, by requiring school district approval of any proposed charter school. The amendments included a charter school "tuition relief fund" to provide grants to districts that claim fiscal hardship as a result of district children enrolling in charter schools.

 

In the Assembly, Cathy Nolan (D-Queens), Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, may also introduce a comprehensive charter school bill along the lines of the Saland bill, but to date it has not emerged. The Center is monitoring these proceedings very carefully.

Although there have been few signs of real progress over the course of the past two weeks on the cap lift, we remain hopeful and optimistic of action by the Governor in this session (ending June 23) or in a special session. We will keep you updated as events unfold. 

MISSION:

 

The mission of the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence is to stimulate the supply of high-quality charter schools and support ongoing student excellence in all NYC charter schools, impacting the effectiveness of public education. As an independent nonprofit, the Charter Center is an advocate, bridge and catalyst for the achievement of academic and operational success and sustainability of all NYC charters schools for each young person.