U.S. Department of Education Secretary, Margaret Spellings,
came to New York City yesterday bearing gifts in the form of a check for $8.3 million -- awarded to Civic Builders, Inc. -- to stimulate renovations
and construction of charter school facilities in New York City and Newark. (Click here to read articles in the April 7 NY Sun, and April 8 New York Post, on grants.)
The grant is part of the USDOE’s Credit Enhancement
for Charter School Facilities program, which provides assistance to help charter schools meet their facility needs and helps to improve their
credit to allow them to obtain financing for school facilities. Joining Secretary Spellings for yesterday’s check presentation ceremony were
NYC Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Civic Builders CEO David Umansky and Charter Center CEO James Merriman. James opened
the program and had the honor of introducing Mayor Booker, who has been a real friend of charter schools in
Newark.
Civic Builders is a nonprofit facilities developer that
finances and develops charter schools in New York City. They are currently working with Democracy Preparatory Charter School in Harlem, Achievement
First Endeavor Charter School in Brooklyn and Carl C. Icahn Charter School Bronx North, among others. Civic Builders will use the grant to help build
14 to 15 charter schools in New York City and Newark.
The lack of public and private capital funds is one of the
biggest challenges charter school operators face. To spur charter school facility solutions the NYC Department of Education (DoE) launched a matching
program for charter school facility development in 2005 using $250 million in its five-year capital program. These kinds of charter-friendly
initiatives have been credited with attracting high-quality operators to the sector in New York City and made possible their ability to expand beyond
a single site.
A longer-term solution being promoted by the Center is
public facilities financing legislation. Such legislation, in combination with ongoing programs that leverage private investment,
is important if the city is to continue to attract top-notch charter school operators and make the prospect of starting a charter school less
daunting.
Reminder! Charter School Lobby Day is Tuesday,
May 6 in Albany
The Center is working with the New York
Charter Schools Association (NYCSA) to organize this year’s Charter School Lobby Day (May 6). As in the past, we will assist
participating schools with scheduling, transportation, agenda items and talking points.
We are encouraging all schools to identify at least
one parent who can attend. If you or a member of your school community will be joining us on May 6, we ask that you confirm no later than
April 18. This will allow us ample time to schedule meetings and make appropriate travel arrangements. NOTE: On
Monday, May 5, the Center, NYCSA and Democrats for Education Reform will host a reception in Albany for state legislators. Howard
Fuller, founder and director of Marquette University’s Institute for the Transformation of Learning in Milwaukee, is the guest speaker. If you
are interested in participating in the May 6 Lobby Day, or wish to attend the May 5 reception, please contact Jeff Maclin.
