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Volume I, Issue 22, December 22, 2005

Charter Leader News

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

NCLB and Teacher Certification
Charter School Growth Fund
Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award
Charter School Community Forums

As we approach a new year, we know you share our determination and commitment to removing the biggest obstacle to future expansion of the city's charter school movement - the statutory "cap."

In the weeks to come the Charter Center will be engaged in various efforts to draw attention to this issue, from hosting community forums and promoting charter schools in the media, to meeting with city officials and pressing the flesh with state lawmakers in Albany.

We need school leaders, board members, funders and parents to be equally engaged. Beginning with the release of the Governor's budget in January, through the end of the Legislative Session in June, it is crucial that we make the most of all opportunities to raise public awareness about charter schools and eliminating the "cap."

Until then, we extend our warmest wishes to you for holidays, and hope you have a safe and prosperous New Year.

Thank you.

*At your direction, we can include other leaders from your school or your Education Management Organization (EMO) on the distribution list. Please let us know.

OPERATIONS NEWS

NCLB and Teacher Certification – Compliance required by July 1, 2006:

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law requires all public school teachers who provide direct instruction in one or more core academic subjects be "highly qualified" (HQ) by the end of the 2005-06 school year. The Charter Center is developing assessment tools for school leaders to determine if teachers meet HQ requirements – these will be posted on our Web site in early January.

One-on-one consultations will also be available to all schools. If you would like to receive the teacher highly qualified self-assessment tools in advance to distribute to your teachers prior to the holiday break, please email Laura Smith at: lsmith@nycchartercenter.org. Otherwise, we will notify all schools of their availability in early 2006.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Charter School Growth Fund Seeking Qualified Applicants:

The Charter School Growth Fund (CSGF) is seeking applicants for it 2006 cohort planning process. A regional information meeting for prospective New York applicants will be held on January 4, 2006, from 11:00 to 12:30 p.m., at the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence, 111 Broadway, Suite 604, New York, NY, 10006.

Qualified charter school operators are encouraged to apply before the February 6, 2006, deadline. Eligibility criteria and application forms are available at the Fund’s Web site. CSGF is a philanthropic venture firm that makes early-stage grants and loans for the development of charter management and support organizations that provide a quality education option to underserved students. CSGF accomplishes this mission by providing proven charter school operators with the guidance and resources necessary to create self-sufficient networks of high-performing schools. To learn more, visit: www.chartergrowthfund.org.

CURRENT EVENTS

Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award: $100,000 Cash Prize:

A $100,000 prize will be awarded to an extraordinary K-12 teacher in an underserved community. Nominees must be currently employed in a U.S. K-12 school, public or private, where at least 50 percent of students qualify for the federal government's Free and Reduced Lunch program.

Candidates for the award must have measurable academic results in the classroom, documented by student scores on national or state standardized tests. To nominate a teacher, please visit www.kinderaward.org. Nominations are due by February 1, 2006, and the award will be presented in the summer of 2006.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Catherine North, Director, Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award, at (415) 503-8654, or email cnorth@kipp.org.

Charter Center and Hispanic Federation Partner on Community Forums - Jan. 10 (Bronx) and Jan. 12 (Brooklyn):

To help raise awareness about charter schools in New York City's Latino communities, the Charter Center is collaborating with the Hispanic Federation on a series of community forums aimed at providing Latino parents and their children access and information about charter schools.

The first forum will take place on Tuesday, January 10, 2006, at VIP Community Services located at 1870 Crotona Avenue, in the Bronx. On Thursday, January 12, Brooklyn-based El Puente will host a community forum at its 211 South Fourth Street headquarters. Both forums are from 5:30 pm to 7 pm, and will feature a panel of city and state education officials, local charter school leaders, parent representatives and staff from the New York State Charter Schools Association. In addition to informing prospective parents about schools, upcoming lotteries and application procedures, the forums will also serve to educate professionals and local organizations about starting charter schools in their communities. Refreshments will be served

For more information on the forums, please contact Jeff Maclin at 212-437-8310, or email: jmaclin@nycchartercenter.org. Additional charter school community forums will be held in Manhattan and Queens. Look for details in the Charter Leader News.

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 charter schools for each young person.