Tips on Protecting Confidentiality of Student Records:

The SUNY Charter Schools Institute's (CSI) new Web site (www.newyorkcharters.org) is a great resource for not just SUNY authorized charter schools, but for all New York City public charter schools. A good example is this briefing memo on protecting the confidentiality of student records along with sample forms that schools can use: http://www.newyorkcharters.org/StudentRecordsFERPA.htm.

Form 5, could be used to notify parent of their rights.

SUNY was pleased to share this link with the charter school community. Any comments, suggestions or updates to individual school profiles can be submitted via email: charters@suny.org.

Recruiting Operations Support

The Charter Center is offering support to assist your school recruit Operations Directors at the end of the school year, as well as during a mid-year transition. This support includes the following: a job description template; review of and feedback on job descriptions; initial screening and review of resumes; conducting initial phone interviews; and, feedback on candidates.

We suggest posting job descriptions with Monster (http://www.monster.com/), Craigslist (http://newyork.craigslist.org/), and Idealist (http://www.idealist.org/). In addition, the Center will pay for the Operations Director job description to be placed on a site that targets graduate school alumni. If you are interested in this support or have suggestions, please contact Vinice Davis, Director of School Operations: vdavis@nycchartercenter.org.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

State Stimulus Fund Grants Awarded to 11 NYC Public Charter Schools:

Eleven NYC public charter schools were awarded more than $1.6 million in facilities financing and start-up/implementation grants by the Charter Schools Institute's Board of Trustees. The funding comes from $3.8 million in State Stimulus Fund Grants made available in the 2006-07 State Education Department budget for services and expenses related to the development, implementation and operation of charter schools in New York.

Charter schools authorized by the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor of the NYC Department of Education and the Buffalo City Board of Education were eligible to compete for grants.

State Facility Financing Grants:

Grand Concourse Charter School

Achievement First Endeavor Charter School

Leadership Prep Charter School

Carl C. Icahn Charter School

Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School

NYC Center for Autism Charter School

Amber Charter School

State Start-Up/Implementation Grants:

Manhattan Charter School

Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School

Bedford-Stuyvesant Collegiate Charter School*

Leadership Prep Charter School

The Charter Center congratulates all grant recipients. If your school applied and did not receive an award, please contact Tony Lopez at: alopez@nycchartercenter.org, or call 212-437-8304 to receive support in time for the next round of grants.

*Scheduled to open in fall 2007.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Register Now! March 3, 2007 Charter School Career Fair:

For the fifth consecutive year, CharterSchoolJobs.com (in partnership with Teachers College, Columbia University and the Charter Center) is hosting a charter school career fair on March 3, 2007.  The Charter Center has agreed to cover the entire cost ($250) for up to 44 NYC public charter schools. All NYC public charter schools are eligible for this offer. The only requirement is that a $100 security deposit be received to ensure your school’s participation at the fair.

NYC charter school registrant schools will receive a $100 security deposit refund check in their registration packets on the day of the event. NYC registered schools that fail to attend will lose their $100 security deposit. 

To register, please go to www.charterschooljobs.com  by February 16. If you have questions about this fair, please contact Jessica Nauiokas at jnauiokas@nycchartercenter.org or at 212-437-8307.

CURRENT EVENTS 

Two NYC Public Charter Schools Awarded Five-Year Renewals:

Community Partnership Charter School in Brooklyn and Harbor Sciences and Arts Charter School in East Harlem were awarded five-year renewals this month by their respective authorizers. The Charter Center extends congratulations to school leaders, teachers, parents and students for the recognition that comes with hard work and the commitment to excellence in education.

Center's VP for Resource and Leadership Development Reducing Hours to Pursue Dream:

Effective February 5, the Charter Center's Vice President for Resource and Leadership Development, Tony Lopez, will convert to part-time (two days per week) with his primary focus being work on the Charter School Fundraising Consortium and assisting schools with their fundraising needs. Chief Operations Officer Dirk Tillotson will assume Governance functions and provide Governance support to current charter schools as well as to charter school planning teams.

The reduced hours will allow Tony to pursue a life-long dream to establish a nonprofit organization called Aprendes. The organization will focus on education excellence and philanthropy for Latino students and communities in NYC. We are excited for Tony and applaud his commitment to serving our city's Latino young people. 

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.