Charter Advocate

Who decides if a charter school proposal will be granted or denied?

Charter school proposals are sent to the office of the State Commissioner of Education. Districts named in the proposals (five contiguous districts from which students will be drawn) have sixty days to respond to the charter proposals. However, decisions about charter schools are made at the state level and not the community level and it is unclear how much weight, if any, the comments made by the affected districts are given. That means that the members of a community and their educational leaders are not a part of the charter school decision-making process.

from patch.com

Charter School Enrolment FAQs

Very useful charter school enrolment FAQ. FAQs from nyccharterschools.org
http://www.nyccharterschools.org/learn/about-charter-schools/maps-a-locations/enrollment-faq#immigration

Do I need proof of my family’s immigration status to enroll my child in a charter school?

No, schools cannot request this documentation.

Do charter schools have selective admissions?

No. Charter schools are free and open to all children, regardless of their academic skills or needs. They must take children on a first-come, first-served basis. However when more children apply than there are seats available, charter schools hold random admissions lotteries.

Do charter schools have to take students who are English Language Learners?

Yes. However, a majority of charter schools provide only English as a Second Language (ESL) support.  Parents should speak directly to school leaders to get a better understanding of the instructional strategies their schools use to support the academic growth of English Language Learners.

Do charter schools have to admit students who are receiving special education services?

Yes, charter schools work to meet the goals and objectives outlined in students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEP). However, just as with district schools, not every charter school provides an appropriate placement for every child. A majority of charter schools have appropriate placements and programs for children with less restrictive environments written into their special education program.

How old does my child need to be to apply to a charter school?

This depends on the individual schools and the grade levels they serve. Kindergarten is the earliest entry point for charter schools; typically children must turn 5 years old by December 31st of the year they are admitted.

How do I apply to a charter school?

Each school has its own application process. Interested students must apply directly to the school. Families can use our map feature to locate charter schools and learn more about what each school has to offer. Once you have identified the schools you are interested in applying to, you must call the school directly to find out about their admissions process.

Can I apply for a charter school that is not in my Community School District (CSD)?

Yes, although, as mentioned above, schools give admissions preference to students located in their CSD and many charter schools have long waiting lists of students who live within the CSD.

Can I apply to more than one charter school?

Yes. You can apply to as many charter schools as you want. Please note, however, that schools give preference to student applications from within their Community School District (CSD). You should visit a school’s profile page on our site to learn more about their admissions policies.

When is my application due?

Each school sets its own application deadline, but no school deadline is before April 1 for a child’s placement in August/September. You should inquire with individual schools about their deadlines. The Charter Center does not accept applications to charter schools.

What is the lottery?

The lottery is an admissions process required by New York State law that is held when there are more student applications to a charter school than seats available. The lottery randomly selects from all applicants for admission. Students who are not selected in the lottery will be placed on a waiting list for spaces that may become available in the future.

When is the lottery?

Each school sets its own lottery date. Most school admission lotteries are held in April for placement in the fall of that same year. Students who seek admission after the lottery date are placed on the waiting list. If there are vacancies and no waiting list, then they are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Is anyone given preference in the lottery?

Yes. The law requires charter schools to give preference to returning students, siblings of students already enrolled in the school and students who reside in the Community School District in which the charter school is located. Charter schools may also give preferences for students at-risk of academic failure. As a result, some schools give preferences for students who are English Language Learners, while other schools give preferences for students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunch. Still others have preferences for students who did not score at the proficient level on the state tests.

Does my child need to be present for the admissions process?

No, your child does not need to be present for the application submission or the lottery.

How do I know if my child gets in to a charter school?

The charter school will contact the family directly with either a letter or a phone call to let you know if your child has been accepted. You will then be required to contact the school in order to finalize the enrollment.

If my child is accepted, will he/she have to participate in the lottery each year?

No, students who are accepted through the lottery will be enrolled in the school and be able to remain there in future years. Parents must let the school know that they plan to return each year.

If my child is enrolled in a charter school, will his/her younger siblings also be able to attend that school?

Siblings of children in charter schools must still apply to a charter school. They will, however, receive preference in the lottery and are likely to get in if there is space in the school.

Can I transfer my child from one charter school to another?

No. Charter schools are independent from one another. If you would like to move your child to another charter school, you will need to go through the enrollment process for the school to which you wish to move.

If my child attends a charter middle school will they automatically be enrolled in a charter high school?

No. Any time a child moves from one school to another, families have to go through the enrollment process required by the next school. However, if a school that provides elementary grades at one site and middle school grades at another site, that child will have the right to move to the middle school from the elementary school.

How do I find a charter school?

The Charter Center map feature allows you to search for schools by your Community School District (CSD), address, borough, and grade level. Click here to visit the map feature. Please note that most charter schools give preference to student applications from within their CSD.

Charter School Facts

• Students and parents alike give their charter schools high grades. For example, a November poll showed nearly 3/4s of charter parents in Detroit rate their schools as above average to excellent. In contrast, only 44% of parents from other schools responded so positively.
• Charter students learn the basics, plus have opportunities for advanced work, including options such as dual college enrollment.
• Charter schools often feature a character education culture that builds on the foundation parents work hard to build at home.
• Because charters are small, teachers see each student's progress and respond accordingly.

Highlights of state MEAP results released in January 2007:

• Charter public schools in Detroit exceed the local district on 24 of 27 tests - up from 20 last year. They tie on two additional tests and are within 1 point on the remaining exam.
• Fifty charters - 42% of the 120 that took all 27 K-8 tests and had classes large enough to record scores - exceed the state average on 10 or more tests. More than half beat the state score on at least 20 tests.

What Charters are Like
Charter schools serve elementary, middle and high school students -- or any combination of those. Every charter is different, but most share basic traits:

• They're small, so students spend more time one-on-one with their teachers.
• Charters stress high expectations for all students, and the tight-knit environments help children excel.
• They're clean, orderly and fun, with lessons taught in hands-on, engaging fashion.
• Teachers, administrators and parents together support students and learning. There's a sense of community and constant collaboration.
• Decisions and policies focus on students and learning. Because charters are independent public schools -- not part of a larger district -- teachers and administrators are free to act quickly and with innovation as they monitor achievement and see what's needed to help the children.

Who Charter Teachers Are

• Charter teachers must meet state and federal certification requirements. They are also highly qualified teachers. Despite erroneous reports, many charter schools have fully certified staffs. Sometimes teachers fall outside normal certification because they're specialists, leading advanced, unique programs.
• Many educators say charters have revitalized their careers, thanks to the constant emphasis on students and an ability to act swiftly to serve children, without wading through bureaucracy.
• Charter schools are set up so excellent teachers are rewarded and retained, in the best interest of what works well for students.

How Accountable Charter Schools Are

• No other public schools are scrutinized like charters are. Charter authorizers (often state universities) have large staffs that monitor the schools and ensure compliance with lengthy, written performance contracts. Charters keep their contracts if they are academically and fiscally sound.
• The state also has staff assigned to monitor charters. This staff produces an annual report to the Legislature about charter schools, providing a review that exists nowhere else in public education.
• Charter schools have publicly appointed boards, and of course, they exist only if they serve families well and parents continue to enroll their children.

from www.charterschools.org

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