Volume II, Issue 25, December 4, 2006
Charter Leader News
This Issue of the Charter Leader News features information on the following . .
.
Advocacy
Teacher Certification Update
Emerging Leaders Fellowship
Math Assessment Rubric
DECEMBER 13 SPECIAL SESSION HOLDS HOPE FOR CAP LIFT
As we approach the year's
end, prospects that a deal could be constructed to raise the cap on public charter schools look favorable.
Earlier this week, Governor Pataki called a
Special Session of the Legislature to consider legislation pertaining to the civil confinement of sex offenders. Because his action requires
the Legislature to convene on December 13, an opportunity now exists for a three-way agreement on legislation to raise the existing 100-school cap on
charter schools.
The New York City Center for Charter School
Excellence is moving forward under the assumption that a deal is in fact possible. To that end, we met on Thursday, November 30, with Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver and his senior staff for nearly an hour to discuss the merits of a cap lift and increasing the number of high-quality public
charter schools in communities of need. It was both positive in tone and productive.
The Center emphasized recent charter school test
score performance, strong parental demand and the impact charter schools are having on public education reform efforts in New York.
Although the Speaker did not indicate whether he
would support a cap lift during Special Session deliberations, we appreciated his willingness to meet and engage in a direct dialogue on this issue.
We look forward to a continued exchange of ideas and information with him and his Assembly colleagues. The Charter Center will also continue to reach
out to Governor Pataki, other legislative leaders and to Governor-elect Spitzer on how a bill agreeable to all parties might be
constructed.
In the meantime, we strongly urge charter school
leaders to use this window of opportunity to communicate with your local Assembly Member and State Senator. Please write or call them with a
simple message: “When you convene in Albany on December 13, please make sure that the Legislature lifts the cap on charter
schools.”
If you need information on who your local
officials are and how to contact them, please contact Jeff Maclin at jmaclin@nycchartercenter.org.
Thank you.
OPERATIONS NEWS
Deadline for Individual Evaluation for Childhood Education Certificates - Feb. 1,
2007:
The individual
evaluation pathway for the “initial certificate” in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) is only available to candidates who qualify and
apply for a certificate by February 1, 2007. After this deadline, candidates will be required to complete a teacher preparation
program AND BE RECOMMENDED BY THE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY for their first initial certificate.
Also note that at this time, the individual evaluation pathway for the initial certificate in
all other classroom titles is only available to candidates who qualify and apply for a certificate by February 1, 2009. This
includes Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2) certificates, Middle Childhood Education (Grades 5-9) certificates; and all titles in adolescence
education (Grades 7-12), special subject (K-12), students with disabilities (all grade ranges), career and technical education, etc.
These
deadlines do not apply to pupil personnel or school leadership titles. The deadlines also do not apply to applicants for additional
certificates, applicants through the Interstate Agreement, or applicants for professional certificates, supplementary certificates, teaching
assistant certificates, or certificate extensions.
Please contact Caryl Cohen at ccohen@nycchartercenter.org if you have any questions regarding this information.
Note to Teachers/Teaching Assistants Applying for Certification:
Teachers and teaching assistants who are applying for certification should
apply and pay the application fee via the State Education Department’s online TEACH system accessible via www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert.
Please note that the TEACH system can only support applications submitted via a PC. It will not accept
applications submitted via a MAC, even though the system does not always generate an error message.
FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES
Emerging Leaders Fellowship (ELF):
The Charter Center is excited to announce its new Emerging Leader
Fellowship (ELF). This program is designed to train excellent teachers and transform them into excellent secondary leaders in their own
schools. Recognizing the gaps between current leadership programs and school needs, the Center has created a practicum-based
Fellowship that trains high-performing teachers while they are still in the classroom, giving them the tools they need to grow professionally without
leaving the school culture they are so invested in.
The Fellowship offers a stipend to both the participant and the school,
ensuring that excellence is maintained while future leaders are cultivated. Keep a look out for an application packet in the mail - deadlines are
quickly approaching and the Fellowship year begins this summer. If you have any questions, please contact Glenn Liebeck at gliebeck@nycchartercenter.org.
TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES
Math Assessment Rubric Training for Grades 3 through 8 – December 9th from 9am to 12pm:
In collaboration with the New York City Center for Charter School
Excellence and the NYC Department of Education Office of New Schools, math assessment rubric training sessions will be offered to the New York City
Charter Schools on Saturday, Dec 9th from 9:00am- 12:00pm for grades 3-8. Charter schools are invited to send one
teacher from each grade in their building. Teachers will be trained in the format and rubrics of the New York State Math
Assessment.
For more information please contact Heather Caudill at hcaudill@nycchartercenter.org.
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.
