M E M O R A N D U M

							January 22, 2013

To:		Members of the Charter Schools Committee

From:	Joseph W. Belluck, Chair, Charter Schools Committee
		
Subject:	Charter Schools Stimulus Fund Grants

Action Requested

      The proposed resolution authorizes the approval of $3,169,074 in New York Charter Schools Stimulus Fund facilities grants to various charter schools authorized by various charter entities pursuant to State Finance Law section 97-sss.
      
Resolution

      I recommend that the Charter Schools Committee adopt the following resolution:
      
Resolved that the grants to the charter schools identified below, in the amounts and from the programs specified, be, and hereby are, approved with such conditions and restrictions as the SUNY Charter Schools Institute (the “Institute”) deems necessary and appropriate; and be it further

Resolved that funds awarded pursuant to this resolution but not spent by the awardees may be awarded by the Institute to any partial awardee or to the next highest scoring project(s) submitted through the request for application process. 



      New York Charter Schools Stimulus Fund Grants:
Facility Grants (Totaling $3,169,074):
Hebrew Language Academy Charter School (Brooklyn)
(Authorized by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education)				$200,000

Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls (Albany)
	(Authorized by the Board of Regents)		$191,500

Academy of the City Charter School (Queens) (Authorized by the Board of Trustees)		$200,000

VOICE Charter School of New York (Queens)
(Authorized by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education)				$200,000

University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men (Rochester) (Authorized by the Board of 
Trustees)						$200,000

Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School (Brooklyn)
(Authorized by the Board of Regents)		$149,000

Genesee Community Charter School (Rochester) (Authorized by the Board of Regents)		$200,000

West Buffalo Charter School (Buffalo)
(Authorized by the Board of Regents)		$130,903

East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School (Manhattan) (Authorized by the Board of 
Trustees)						$200,000

Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys (Albany)
	(Authorized by the Board of Regents)		$200,000

New York City Montessori Charter School (Bronx)
(Authorized by the Board of Regents)		$195,750

New Hope Charter School (Brooklyn)
(Authorized by the Board of Trustees)		$200,000

Central Queens Academy Charter School (Queens)
(Authorized by the Board of Trustees)		$200,000

Tech International Charter School (Bronx)
(Authorized by the Board of Trustees)		$200,000

Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School (Syracuse) (Authorized by the Board of 
Regents)						$200,000

Broome Street Academy Charter High School (Manhattan) (Authorized by the Board of 
Trustees)						$100,000

Amani Public Charter School (Mount Vernon)
(Authorized by the Board of Regents) (partial)	$  67,307

Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter School
(Brooklyn) (Authorized by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education) (partial) 	$  67,307

DREAM Charter School (Manhattan)
(Authorized by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education) (partial)		$  67,307


Background

	Pursuant to Resolution No. 2012-038 dated June 12, 2012, the Board of Trustees delegated authority to the Charter Schools Committee to award grants to charter schools.  

	The New York State Legislature made funds available in the 2012-13 State Education Department budget for services and expenses related to the development, implementation and operation of charter schools.  The New York State Division of the Budget made $3,103,625 available to SUNY for distribution to charter schools authorized by all state authorizers including the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, the Board of Regents and the Buffalo City Board of Education.  Pursuant to State Finance Law section 97-sss, these funds may be used for “discretionary financial support, including grants . . . to charter schools . . . for start-up costs and costs associated with the acquisition, renovation, financing or construction of charter school facilities.”  SUNY also intends to award approximately $65,000 from previous SSF grants, which schools were awarded but did not use.

	On September 4, 2012, SUNY released a Request for Proposal (T002404) (the “RFP”) (copy on file in the Albany office of the SUNY Charter Schools Institute (the “Institute”)) to enable eligible charter school education corporation applicants to compete for funds for expenses associated with the acquisition, renovation or construction and financing of certain charter school facilities not located in free public space.  The Institute set the maximum for a facility grant at $200,000.  Pursuant to the grant program previously approved by the Board of Trustees on April 25, 2000 (Resolution 00-64), the Institute convened a review panel, and scored and ranked all proposals in the manner outlined in the RFP.  

	Should the Charter Schools Committee adopt this resolution, the Institute, working with SUNY, will be given the authority to enter into contracts with the grantees that set forth conditions under which the grant monies are to be disbursed as described in the RFP including, but not limited to, submission of budgets and other supporting documentation.  
Committee Resolution	-2-	January 22, 2013


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