About SUNY's New School Review Process Recognized with the 2010 Award for Excellence in Improving Authorizer Practice by the National Association of Charter Schools Authorizers I. Applying to SUNY to Open a New Charter School The May 2010 amendments to the New York Charter Schools Act require SUNY to seek new school applications by issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to Establish NYS Charter Schools. SUNY’s RFP organizes questions into six categories: background of the lead applicant and origin of the application; plans for academic success; academic accountability goals and measures; organizational structure and governance; budget and fiscal policies; and school policies and procedures. Each question contains detailed guidance outlining the Institute’s expectations about what a strong response should include. In fact, the RFP questions and related guidance are designed to help applicants articulate how they will make the vision of their school a reality. Given the significant responsibility of starting a school, the RFP is intentionally rigorous. It is not uncommon for a successful proposal to range in length between 700 and 1,000 pages. On average, SUNY approves 38% of those who apply. For reference, the most recently issued RFP is available on the Institute’s website at: www.newyorkcharters.org/ openAppKit.htm. A collection of recently approved proposals is also available on the Institute’s website as a resource for applicants: www.newyorkcharters.org/SampleApps.html. II. SUNY’s RFP (Application) Review Process The review process begins when applicants submit a required Letter of Intent to submit a full proposal. Letters of Intent must demonstrate that the community outreach process has begun. Applicants submitting satisfactory Letters of Intent will be invited to submit a full proposal. The review of full proposals is a progressive process, i.e., an application must satisfy the requirements of the first step to move onto the next. Applications New To SUNY: • Review to ensure minimum eligibility criteria met • Full Review by Institute Academic/Legal/Fiscal Staff • Review by an External Panel of Education Experts • Panel and Staff Convene to Discuss Findings Observations • Institute Interview of Applicant Group and Due Diligence Review of Any Proposed Management or Partner Organization (Questionnaire & Interview) • Requests for Amendments Process (Iterative Exchange to Answer Institute Questions and Address Concerns) • Interview with members of Trustees’ Education Committee; Trustee Feedback Informs Institute Recommendation • Institute Conducts Preference Scoring Per the Charter Schools Act (if applicable) • Institute Prepares Final Recommendation for Consideration by the Trustees’ Education Committee and Full Board • Regents Review, Issue Corporate Paperwork Applications from Existing SUNY Schools • Review to ensure minimum eligibility criteria met • Full Review by Institute Academic/Legal/Fiscal Staff • Analysis of Student Performance Data from Existing School • Panel and Staff Convene to Discuss Findings Observations • Institute Interview of Applicant Group and Due Diligence Review of Any Proposed Management or Partner Organization (Questionnaire & Interview) • Requests for Amendments Process (Iterative Exchange to Answer Institute Questions and Address Concerns) • Interview with members of Trustees’ Education Committee; Trustee Feedback Informs Institute Recommendation • Institute Conducts Preference Scoring Per the Charter Schools Act (if applicable) • Institute Prepares Final Recommendation for Consideration by the Trustees’ Education Committee and Full Board • Regents Review, Issue Corporate Paperwork ________________________________________________________________ Letters of Intent to Apply to Open a New Charter School Below is a table listing key information extracted from Letters of Intent to Establish a New York State Charter School that were Submitted by May 25, 2012 in Response to the January 2012 SUNY Request for Proposals to Establish NYS Charter Schools. This list was updated last on June 14, 2012. * Entries that begin with an "NP" will not result in the submission of a full proposal as they have been withdrawn from consideration by the applicant or do not sufficiently meet the Institute's requirements. The table columns are separated by columns and list the following information, in order from left to right: Proposed School District or NYC CSD, Proposed Charter School Name, Grade(s) Yr 1, Grade(s) Yr 5, # of Students Yr. 1,# of Students Yr. 5, Desired Opening Date, Lead Applicant, Contact Phone #, Charter Management Organization, Partner Organization Brentwood Union Free School District, Dignitas Academy Charter School, K-2, K-6,168, 456, Fall 2013, Giovanni Mata and Ellenmorris Tiegerman, Ph.D., 516/609-2000 (Dr. Tiegerman), School for Language and Communication Development Buffalo City School District, College & Career Girls Prep Charter High School, 9, 9-12, 84, 336, July 2013, Constance M. Moss, Ph.D., 716/854-4397 Jericho Union Free School District, Doshi STEM Charter School at SUNY College at Old Westbury, 9, 9-12, 125, 450, Fall 2013, Calvin O. Butts III, D.Minn., Michael Kinane, 516/876-3202, The College At Old Westbury, State University of New York; AU Foundation" Massapequa School District Full Potential Academy, 6-8, 6-8, 108, 248, Fall 2013, Tom Sheehan, 516/795-5000, YMCA of Long Island Middletown City School District, Liberty Public Charter School (LPCS), K-2, K-6, 210, 510, Fall 2013, Farah Petion, 845/538-3450 Newburgh City School District, Hudson Scholars Charter School, K-2, K-8, 196, 570, Fall 2013, Nicholas Valentine, 845/561-1899 Oswego City School District, Renaissance Charter School of Oswego, 5-6, 5-10, 88, 264, Fall 2013, Rodica Leta, Ph.D., 315/342-2459 Plattsburgh City School School District, Adirondak Charter School, K-4, K-8, 108, 252 September 2013, Christy Bezrutczyk, 518/569-0257 Rochester City School District, Rochester Prep Charter School, 3 an 5, K-2, 5-8, 87, 563, Fall 2013, Geoffrey Rosenberger (True North Rochester Preparatory Charter School), Anna Hall, 518/598-2117, "Uncommon Schools, Inc." Roosevelt Union Free School District, Choice Charter Shool, 6 and 9, 6-12, 160, 560, August 2013, Jacob Dixon, 516/992-5052, Choice For All "NP" Shenendehowa Central School District, Saratoga Leadership Academy Charter Middle School, 7-8, 5-8, 80, 150, September 2013, Michael Christensen, 518/598-3364, Management Company (name T.B.A.) Syracuse City School District, Central New York Institute for Academic Performance, 9, 9-12, 50, 200, Fall 2013, Patrina Thomas and Angela Arrey-Wastavino, Ph.D., 315/403-0562 (Ms. Thomas), Strength In Motion NYC CSD #4 (Manhattan), East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School II, K-1, K-5, 108, 324, Fall 2013, Jeff Ginsburg (East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School), 212/831-0650, East Harlem Tutorial Program NYC CSD #7 (Bronx), MiniVentures Bridge Academy of Technology, Arts and Sciences Charter School, K-2 and 5, K-8, 156, 432, Fall 2013, Shayla M. Williams, 347/992-9139, MiniVentures of NY, Inc. Early Care and Education Center "NP" NY CSD #8 (Bronx), Prestige Preparatory Middle School, 7, 7-11, 60, 300, September 2013, Martin Smallhorne and Courtney Hawkins, 917/209-8582, Federation of Employment and Guidance Services NYC CSD #11 (Bronx), Pathways in Education Charter School - Bronx, NY, 9-12, 9-12, 245, 400, Fall 2013 , Bill Toomey, 626/921-8200, Pathways Management Group (PMG) NYC CSD #14 (Brooklyn), Williamsburg Ascend Charter School, K-1, K-5, 208, 643, Fall 2013, Stephen F. Wilson, 347/464-7600 ext. 1075, Ascend Learning, Inc. "NP" NYC CSD #14 (Brooklyn), Beginning with Children Charter School III, K-1, K-5, 100, 300, Fall 2013, Denniston Reid and Geri Licurse, 212/318-9112, Beginning with Children Foundation NYC CSD #16, CSD #17, CSD #19, CSD #23, CSD #32 (Brooklyn), Achievement First Central Brooklyn Charter School, 5, K-9, 96, 798, August 2013, Kelly Wachowicz (Achievement First Brownsville Charter School), Tony Siddall 347/630-1578, Achievement First NYC CSD #17 (Brooklyn), Lamad Academy Charter School, 5, 5-8, 125, 500, September 2013, Pamela Washington, 347/408-5172 NYC CSD #17 or CSD #18 (Brooklyn), Explore Schools Charter School, 6, K-3, K-8, 240, 540, Fall 2013, Morty Ballen, 646/319-0002, Explore Schools NYC CSD #19 (Brooklyn), Our World Unlimited Charter School, K-2, K-6, 48, 112, Fall 2013, "Everbell Boampong-Bishop, Keena Flourney-White and William Bishop", 347/837-8885 (Ms. Bishop) NYC CSD #24 (Queens), Middle Village Preparatory Charter School, 6, 6-8, 120, 360, Fall 2013, Michael Michel, 718/869-2933 NYC CSD #28 (Queens), KIVA Academy, K-2, K-6, 140, 440, Fall 2013, "Marianna Freydlin, Karen Helfand, Deniz Tamer and Nekpen Osuan", 917/476-9925 (Ms. Freydlin) NYC CSD #28 (Queens), Advanced Leaders Institute of New York Charter School for Girls (ALINY), 6, 6-10, Unknown, Unknown, Fall 2013, Ronda Rojas, Ronnine Erima AbitBartley, 917/805-7204 (Ms. Rojas), Windows of Opportunity NYC CSD #29 (Queens), Achievers of New York Charter School for Purpose-Centered Education & Entrepreneurship, 6, 6-8, 110, 330, Fall 2013, Lori N. Jones-Dessalines and Nelly Sorto, 516/605-5759 (Ms. Jones-Dessalines) "NP" NYC CSD #30 (Queens), Inspire Math NYC Charter School (IMNYC), K-2, K-6, 189, 429, Fall 2013, Dr. Aras Konjhodzic, Hayro Kadribeg, 347/256-2287 , NYC CSD #31 (Staten Island), John W. LaVelle Preparatory Charter School North, 6, 6-10, 90, 353, September 2013, Kenneth Byalin, Ph.D., 347/581-4147, John W. LaVelle Preparatory Charter School NYC CSD #31 (Staten Island), Staten Island Green Charter School for Environmental Discovery (SIGCS), K-1, K-5, 150, 300, Fall 2013, "Carole B. Reiss, Ph.D.", 718/680-5232