Volume III, Issue 15, June 25, 2007

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This issue of the Charter Leader News features...

 

Dollars and Cents: Funding Equity Panel Discussion

SUNY-CSI Update on Charter School Applications

No Child Left Behind NYS Field Memo #03-2007

Compliance Calendar

Operations Survey

Fiscal Audit Readiness Workshops Update

Busing Service Cutoff Looms for Schools Exceeding 180 Days

Charter Center Job Opportunities

Emerging Leadership Fellows Announcement

Blackboard Awards Honors Teacher of the Year

State Stimulus Fund Update

Operations ListServ

Recruitment and Retention Exit Survey Templates

DOE Job Fairs Recruitment

 

Dollars and Cents: Funding Equity Panel Discussion

 

The New York City Center for Charter School Excellence is excited to be playing a supporting role in this week's "Dollars and Cents" panel discussion hosted by the New York City Charter School Leaders' Advocacy and Equity Committee.

When:    Wednedsay, June 27
             6:00-8:00 PM
Where:   Learning Leaders Institute, 80 Maiden Lane

More than 40 people representing 16 NYC charter schools and 11 charter school planning teams have RSVP'd for the meeting, which will focus on a topic near and dear to the hearts of all school leaders - funding equity. For more information on the forum, featured panelists and content to be discussed, go to Current Events.

Just as the June 27 "Dollars and Cents" panel is designed to stimulate some "post-cap lift" dialogue among school leaders on funding equity issues, the Charter Center wants to develop more audience specific communication tools to serve schools. As a start, we would encourage people to sign up for our listserves on various topics (Operations, Governance, Grant Opportunities.) A listing of our current listserves can be found here: http://lists.nycchartercenter.org:81/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo

If there are other listserves that the school community would like us to create, please let us know by contacting Dirk Tillotson. The Center will unveil new communication initiatives later this summer.

 

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OPERATIONS NEWS
   

SUNY-CSI New Charter School Applications - Due Date June 29
The SUNY Charter Schools Institute (SUNY-CSI) will accept applications for new charter schools on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York on Friday June 29, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. SUNY-CSI's Web site, www.newyorkcharters.org, has detailed information about the SUNY application process, including an invitation to send a letter expressing your intent to apply, an updated Frequently Asked Questions document, and a memo detailing the recent changes to the New York Charter Schools Act that affect new school applicants. Of the 50 charters awarded to date by the SUNY Board of Trustees, 28 are for schools currently operating in New York City.

SUNY-CSI has also revised its application kit and timelines. Updated information is available at the following link: http://www.newyorkcharters.org/openAppKit.htm

 
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) NYS Field Memo #03-2007
An updated fact sheet with the latest information about the NCLB and Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) requirements for public school teachers of core academic subjects and NCLB Title I paraprofessionals is now available here. Districts preparing consolidated local applications for 2007-2008 NCLB funds should use it as a reference.  It supersedes the fact sheet issued as NCLB NYS Field Memo #05-2006 on October 27, 2006. Questions about this memo should be sent to NCLBNYS@mail.nysed.gov.

This memo has been made available on the Charter Portal, as well as the New York State Education Department Web site http://www.highered.nysed.gov/nclbhome.htm in Word and PDF formats.

 
Compliance Calendar
The Charter Center would like to enlist the help and input of school leaders in developing content for an online calendar that would feature relevant compliance deadlines and links to resources. Over the summer we will compile information on important dates and programs with the goal of activating the calendar by the start of the 2007-08 school year. Please contact Vinice Davis with any suggestions or recommendations. 

 
Operations Survey
School leaders will receive an "operations survey" in the next week. Through the survey the Center hopes to obtain school leader input on our operational focus for the upcoming year as well as gauge interest in various activities planned. Please take five to ten minutes to complete the survey and assist the Center is developing a comprehensive workshop and training schedule for the next year that reflects your needs and priorities.

Fiscal/Audit Readiness Workshops
On May 22 and 24, the NYC Center for Charter School Excellence conducted the first of a two-part series of fiscal workshop road shows in Manhattan and the Bronx. There were lively discussions with school leaders and operations leaders around the six high risk areas of the NY Office of State Comptroller's Audit (OSC).

All charter schools in New York should expect to be audited by March 31, 2010.  There are approximately 12 schools currently going through the OSC audit and only two that are complete. The OSC audit is extremely long and intense and is quite different from your annual financial audit. This audit asks: Are the school's systems of internal controls sufficient to safeguard school assets? It also reviews of documents over several years. The final report is a public document distributed to authorizers and posted on the OSC Web site.

Stay tuned to the CLN for more information on future audit/fiscal workshops. 

 
Reminder - Busing service cutoff looms for schools exceeding 180 days
Schools that have extended school years may have their bus service unexpectedly terminated this month. Please check with the Office of Pupil Transportation to ascertain the status of your school. Consistent with Education Law Section 3635, the district can not provide transportation to charter schools for more than 180 days (with the exception of five additional days as requested by the school at the beginning of the year and in accordance with the law). Schools need to check on the status of student transportation with OPT and plan accordingly. Please visit http://www.opt-osfns.org/opt/default.asp for more information. (Note: Schools can arrange for continuity of service with OPT at an additional cost.)

 
Charter Center Job Opportunities
The Center is always looking for quality team members, and is currently hiring for a number of positions, including VP of Facilities, Recruiter, and Administrative Assistant.  If you are aware of qualified candidates, please refer them to the Charter Center web site, http://nycchartercenter.org/jobs.asp.

 

OPERATIONS - CURRENT EVENTS - FUNDRAISING - TRAINING - CENTER RESOURCES - RECRUITMENT

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FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES

 

Fund Development Fellows
As part of our Fundraising Consortium, the Charter Center will host a number of graduate student fellows who will participate in year-long internships where they will be coached on development skills as well as work with a particular charter school on improving the school's capacity for development. Schools interested in participating in the Consortium, or in hosting a fellow, should contact Tony Lopez for details.

 

State Stimulus Fund - Final Reminder

 

SED-authorized Charter Schools: The RFP response is due by June 26, and is for the period July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008. It provides up to $200,000 for facilities, and $5,000 for start-up. NOTE: Approximately $770,000 is currently available for SED-authorized schools. Please check www.emsc.nysed.gov under funding opportunities for more details.

 

CSI- and DOE-authorized Charter Schools: The RFP response is due by July 9, and is for the period July 1, 2007-August 31, 2008. It provides up to $350,000 for facilities and/or $50,000 for start-up/implementation, with a combined maximum of $350,000. 

 

Jon Moscow of Sterner-Moscow Partnership offers technical assistance on the State Stimulus Fund application process on behalf of New York City Center for Charter School Excellence. Assistance can include brainstorming, feedback on application ideas, getting clarification of questions from SED, and review of narrative drafts. For assistance, please email your requests to Jon Moscow or call him at 917-568-6441. Be sure to indicate your current phase in the application process. 

 

 

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TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

 

 

Workshop on Certification and NCLB's Highly Qualified Requirements
SAVE THE DATE! July 17 (4:30-6:30pm) OR August 8 (4:30-6:30pm)

 

Caryl Cohen, the Center's Certification Consultant will review certification requirements, the NYS Interstate Compact for reciprocity and the No Child Left Behind teacher check lists for school leaders and HR personnel. Learn the basics so that your school can be in compliance with federal and state laws. This interactive presentation is open to school leaders and/or operations staff who deal with certification and related NCLB compliance for teachers and teaching assistants. Following an interactive presentation, workshop participants will be given an opportunity to ask questions.  Please email Caryl Cohen at ccohen@nycchartercenter.org no later than July 10 with your response and the specific date you are planning to attend.

 

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CENTER RESOURCES

 
Reintroducing the Operations Listserv!
The Operations Listserv is an online forum designed for charter school finance and operations professionals to help and learn from their peers. Several schools are already represented in the community and the list is growing every day. Here are some of the most recent postings:

• Are charter school students able to attend summer programs in their local districts' schools?
• Can someone recommend effective and efficient school lunch software?
• Here are two possible grant opportunities that will require very little work from you..

Click here to sign up for the Operations Listserv.

 

 

 

Documents Library: Newly Updated!

• No Child Left Behind NYS Field Memo #03-2007
• Exit Survey Documents
• The templates for each category (Teachers, School Leaders, and Operation Specialists) are available for download in the Documents Library in a folder called "Exit Survey Templates." Each grouping of templates has a cover letter with both close-ended and open-ended components in order to give schools comprehensive human resources feedback.
• PART ONE: Please print or email the cover letter and Part One (close-ended portions) to staff members who are leaving or have left your charter school within the past year. The Center will provide those schools who have completed the surveys with a complete report including an overview, statistics and helpful information for recruitment and retention efforts.

The directions on each cover letter ask the participants to mail that letter and their Part One responses directly to:

NYC Center for Charter School Excellence

ATTN: CCOHENSURVEY

111 Broadway, Suite 604

New York NY 10006

• PART TWO: Part Two consists of open-ended questions for you to conduct with the survey participants face-to-face or by phone so that the information can assist you in future development of retention strategies.

 

 

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CURRENT EVENTS

 

 

2007-2008 Emerging Leader Fellowship Cohort

We are proud to announce the 2007-2008 Emerging Leader Fellowship cohort. We have six dedicated and passionate fellows about to embark on their year-long training:

• Christine Algozo is the Science Department Chair and high school science instructor at Bronx Preparatory Charter School.
• Shaunte Edmonds is currently a 7th grade literacy teacher and team leader at Bronx Preparatory Charter School.
• Sara Getman is a 1st grade lead teacher at Girls Preparatory Charter School.
• Yesenia Michel currently works as an 8th grade math teacher and Math Department Chair at Bronx Preparatory Charter School.
• Ninoslav Mitic is a head teacher and supervisor at the New York Center for Autism.
• Nicholas Tishuk is currently the High School Coordinator of teaching and learning and English teacher at The Renaissance Charter School. 

We welcome the ELF fellows, and are excited to get started compiling the 2008-2009 cohort.

School Leaders - If you have a high performing teacher who you want to train and support to be part of your leadership team, keep your eyes out for the ELF Nomination Application that will be available this fall. As it grows into its second year, the Emerging Leader Fellowship promises to train high performing teachers to be effective and excellent members of your school leadership team.

 

  

2007 Blackboard Awards "Teacher of the Year" Doris Fleming

Congratulations to Doris Fleming of Sisulu Walker Charter School of Harlem, who was named the 2007 Blackboard Awards "Teacher of the Year" and recognized as a Rising Charter School Teacher. As part of the Reading First program, Fleming works on professional development and implementing innovative teaching strategies. She will accompany Karen Jones, principal of Sisulu-Walker, and four other Sisulu-Walker teachers who will represent New York at the National Reading First Conference.

 

 

Congratulations to Planning Grant Recipients
The Charter Center awarded its first set of "post cap lift" planning grants. Congratulations to Academic Leadership, Bronx Community Impact and Verrazano Prep for their strong applications and desire to serve our most vulnerable students. We hope the city's charter community will embrace these planning teams and help them in opening excellent schools in 2008.

 

 

Dollars and Cents: Funding Equity Panel Discussion - June 27

The NYC Charter School Leaders' Advocacy and Equity Committee is holding a June 27 panel discussion on funding equity entitled, "Dollars and Cents." Topics will include: Facilities Funding, Categorical Aid, Approved Operating Expenditure Formula Funding, CFE and the impact of increased City and State Education Funding on Charter Schools.

 

Featured Panelists:

Aamir Raza, NYC Department of Education

Joshua Morales, NYC Department of Education

Peter Murphy, New York Charter School Association

Harvey Newman, CEI-PEA

Jonathan Gyurko, United Federation of Teachers

Dirk Tillotson, NYC Center For Charter School Excellence

 

The panel will be moderated by Advocacy and Equity committee co-chairs Stacey Gauthier of Renaissance Charter School and Marc Waxman of Future Leaders Institute Charter School. For any additional questions, contact Jeff Maclin.

 

 

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FEATURED TOPIC

 

RECRUITMENT

 

Recruitment and Retention - Exit Survey Templates

The Center has launched several exit survey templates designed to assist school leaders in creating more effective recruitment and retention strategies.

The goal is to assist schools in gathering information that may shed some light on why teachers and staff members leave schools, and how best to retain them. In response to numerous requests from school leaders for help on this issue, the Center recruited a statistician to design exit survey templates for teachers, administrators and school operations staff.

Schools have the option of sending completed surveys back to us for analysis, or keeping them for internal purposes. The Center will send back detailed reports on all returned surveys with statistics that will hopefully assist schools in recruiting and retaining quality personnel. All survey responses are entirely confidential.

DIRECTIONS: Survey Documents are available electronically via the Charter Portal. Make sure that the surveys are distributed to the applicable audience (teachers, operations specialists, or school leaders) and reach those who are leaving the school now, during the summer, or have left within the past school year. (Please see Center Resources for more information.) If you have any questions, please contact Caryl Cohen at ccohen@nycchartercenter.org or Glenn Liebeck at gliebeck@nycchartercenter.org.

 
Recruitment at DOE Job Fairs
The New York City Center for Charter School Excellence will be a co-sponsor at four DOE Job Fairs. Five tables per fair allowing for a maximum of ten schools/EMOs/CMOs will be available at each fair for the school leader/designee to briefly meet candidates, schedule follow up school visits and provide informational brochures about their school. The Charter Center will have a designated table in another area to collect resumes and distribute general information about charter schools.

July 10
Brooklyn Marriott - shortage area subjects only such as math, science, English, Spanish, ESL, bilingual subjects and special education

July 25
Bronx - all subject areas

August 7
Brooklyn Marriott  - all subject areas

August 30
Brooklyn Marriott - all subject areas

To register to participate for this opportunity to meet prospective teaching candidates, please email Caryl Cohen at ccohen@nycchartercenter.org and indicate the date(s) of interest. Since availability is limited, please register now and provide a Job Fair contact for Caryl to send more detailed information.  

OPERATIONS - CURRENT EVENTS - FUNDRAISING - TRAINING - CENTER RESOURCES - RECRUITMENT

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BACK TO TOP

 

 

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.