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S5050Senate2009-2010 SessionSame asA9164Same asS6265

Relates to the incorporation of charter schools

Sponsor Malcolm A. SmithSD-14Affects Education
Status
Senate Floor Calendar
Impact
Pending
Passage
Pending

Bill progress

Step 3 of 7

Floor calendar · May 10

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Malcolm A. Smith

Senator · Senate District 14

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. Advanced to third reading
  2. 2nd report cal.
  3. 1st report cal.488
  4. Reported and committed to finance
  5. Print number 5050a
  6. Amend and recommit to education
  7. Referred to education
  8. Returned to senate
  9. Died in assembly
  10. Referred to education
  11. Delivered to assembly
  12. Passed senateVote 55–4
Show 3 earlier actions
  1. Ordered to third reading cal.972
  2. Committee discharged and committed to rules
  3. Referred to education

Companion bills

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.

A9164Assembly

Relates to the incorporation of charter schools

In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Sam Hoyt

S6265Senate

Relates to the incorporation of charter schools

In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Malcolm A. Smith

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 incorporation of charter schools

Purpose

This legislation would ensure that charter authorizers have ample time to collect data prior to making decisions on a charter school's future. It clarifies that five-year charters issued to charter schools are valid for five school years and the period of time between the issuance of the charter and the first day of instruction.

Summary of provisions

Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 and paragraph (p) of subdivision 2 of section 2853 of the education law are amended by clarifying that five year charters mean five school years plus the time between the date the charter is issued and the beginning of the first school year.

Justification

Under current law, charter schools are authorized to incorporate for five years after their initial approval, and then must apply to renew their charter. Since opening a school is a complex endeavor, many charter school boards take a year or more to hire staff, find a location and plan curriculum before opening for instruction. Currently, this means that many charter schools come up for their first renewal with only two or three years of student data for the authorizer to review. As this is not sufficient information in many cases, authorizers routinely issue one-year extensions, a process that consumes state and school resources unnecessarily.

Granting a charter for five school years, therefore, will streamline the process and better use the authorizers' and schools' staff time. Allowing the education corporation to incorporate immediately after approval is necessary to allow for the normal business that is required to open a school, such as acquiring space and entering into contracts with teachers, and this language clarifies current practice.

Legislative history

2009: Passed Senate, Referred to Assembly Education

Fiscal implications

There are no costs to the state anticipated.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it becomes law.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.