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Who cares
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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to charter schools
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Catherine Nolan
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to charter schools
Purpose
This bill would amend the education law to subject all charter schools to the same review process, by allowing only the Board of Regents to issue charters.
Summary of provisions
Sections 1 amends the Education Law §2851 to define the board of regents as the charter entity for all charters. Section 3 sets the effective date as the first July after which this act takes effect.
Existing law
Under current law, applications for new charter schools are submitted to the New York State Board of Regents, the SUNY Board of Trustees or a local school district and, in New York City, the chancellor. These entities review applications and forward approved applications to the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents may accept, reject or return an application for further development. The SUNY Board of Trustees, local school district or New York City chancellor may then re-submit applications. The Board of Regents may accept, reject or again return the application approved by local school districts but it must accept an application re-submitted by SUNY Board of Trustees even if the board does not address the Regents' questions or concerns.
Justification
The exception of SUNY approved applications from the Board of Regents oversight is troubling. It has introduced inconsistency into the review of charter applications. The criteria for approval of a charter application or the evaluation of that criteria differ. In fact, applications rejected by the Regents can proceed through SUNY rather than address what can be problematic flaws in their proposals. As a result, the credibility of some schools and in fact the approval process is called into question. It also makes oversight problematic and erratic. This legislation amends the application process to assure consistent review of charter applications. It establishes a process which is reliable and accountable. This bill will subject all charter schools to the same review standards and level the playing field for charter school applicants.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
July 1, 2009.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.