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Charter Schools

Charter Schools

BOR-Authorized Charter School Policies, Procedures & Resources

Board of Regents-authorized charter schools are provided autonomy to innovate and achieve strong academic and developmental outcomes for students while being held accountable to the rigorous standards set forth in the 鶹Ƶ Charter School Performance Framework, monitoring agreement, the school’s charter, authorizer approved policies and procedures, and the Education Law, among other requirements. The 鶹Ƶ Charter School Office works closely with Board of Regents-authorized charter schools on transparent monitoring and oversight with the aim of fostering high quality public education options for all students, families, and communities. Board of Regents-authorized charter schools are encouraged to actively partner with the school’s 鶹Ƶ Charter School Office liaison to help address any questions.

Adding A Board of Trustee Member to an Existing BOR-Authorized Charter School

Adding a Board of Trustee Member to an Existing Board of Regents-Authorized Charter School ONLY

For all Board of Regents (“Regents”)-authorized charter schools, prior to the appointment or election of any new member to the school’s Board of Trustees, the Board of Trustees must submit to the 鶹Ƶ (“鶹Ƶ”) for approval the name of the proposed member and all required background information about the proposed member. The following outlines the steps required to complete this process:

Please note: It is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees for all Regents-authorized charter schools to conduct a current criminal history record check via fingerprinting which is deemed acceptable by 鶹Ƶ, review such results, and report such results to 鶹Ƶ through the steps outlined in the guidance memo. The Board of Trustees is also required to verify that any academic and/or professional credential or qualification presented by the proposed member is genuine. Do NOT submit/upload actual fingerprint clearances to the Charter School Office. (Seefingerprint guidancefor additional information.)

Please submit aformal letter usingthis templaterequesting 鶹Ƶ approval of a prospective candidate, including a formal Board of Trustees resolution incorporating the specific voted language contained in the template. Uploadthe following documentation for each applicant/candidate the Board of Trustees seeks to add:

  1. A formal Board of Trustees resolution incorporating the specific voted language contained below.
    • Motion [#]:The [Name of Charter School] Board of Trustees, having conducted a thorough criminal history record check via fingerprinting which is deemed acceptable by 鶹Ƶ, and having discovered no State or federal criminal history, or having provided information regarding such history to 鶹Ƶ, if found, and having verified that any academic and/or professional credential or qualification presented by the proposed member is genuine, and having reviewed the application in its entirety, has voted to select [NAME OF PROPOSED BOARD MEMBER] as a member to its Board of Trustees, with a term expiring on [DATE], pending approval by 鶹Ƶ. The resolution approving [NAME OF PROPOSED BOARD MEMBER] is adopted upon 鶹Ƶ’s approval.
    • Alternatively, you may usethis adaptable example of a Board of Trustees resolution.
  2. The finalized Board Meeting Minutes showing the Board Resolution incorporating the specific voted language contained in the template
  3. Background Information formfor the proposed Board of Trustees member, including a signed Statement of Assurance, which is part of the form
  4. Signeddisclosure of financial interest
  5. Resumé or curriculum vitae
  6. A copy of the proposed member’s diploma and an official transcript from his/her highest level of education (e.g. high school). If such documents cannot be provided, provide a notarized letter signed by the proposed member stating the highest level of education obtained and the reason why these documents cannot be provided, including a description of the good faith efforts made to obtain them
  7. By-laws showing:
    1. Number of Board of Trustee members (minimum/maximum)
    2. Types of representatives required if applicable (e.g., parent, community) or any other required qualifications
    3. Committee structure
  8. Board of Trustees roster, formatted in accordance with the Roster template.

A Charter School Office liaisonwill review the documentation within 45 business days of receiving all of the required documents. On behalf of 鶹Ƶ, the Charter School Office liaison will, in writing, request additional information, reject or approve the proposed member.

Please submit the request and accompanying documentation at

BOR-Authorized Charter Renewal Application Process

Charter Renewal Guidance forBoard of Regents-Authorized SchoolsONLY

SY 2024-2025 Renewal Application:

At the conclusion of the charter term for New York State Board of Regents-authorized charter schools, each charter school may elect to submit an application for charter renewal for consideration of a proposed subsequent charter term. As part of this process, the 鶹Ƶ (“鶹Ƶ”), on behalf of the Board of Regents (“Regents”), will carry out a summative review of the charter school’s performance throughout the entire current charter term. This review will be based on:

  • The Regents-endorsed Charter School Performance Framework for Regents-authorized charter schools;
  • The information provided by the charter school in its renewal application;
  • A site visit to the school; and
  • Other applicable data/information.

Charter schools that have met the rigorous standards set forth in theCharter School Performance Frameworkand the Board of Regents’Charter School Renewal Policymay then receive a renewal recommendation by 鶹Ƶ for consideration by the Board of Regents. Charter schools that do not meet these standards may be subject to a non-renewal recommendation and subsequent closure by the Board of Regents (see the Notes section below).

The Charter School Performance Framework and the Board of Regents’ Charter School Renewal Policy are the foundation of theRegents Oversight Plan, and provide the 鶹Ƶ Charter School Office (CSO) with a roadmap of the renewal process applicable to all Regents-authorized charter schools.

TheCharter School Performance Frameworkfor Regents-authorized charter schools was updated in November 2015, and again in 2019. It provides an outline of the quality benchmarks that will be evaluated during the renewal process by addressing three broad areas:

  1. The school’s academic success and ability to operate in an educationally sound manner;
  2. The school’s organizational viability and its ability to operate in a fiscally sound manner; and
  3. The school’s faithfulness to the terms of its charter and adherence to applicable laws and regulations.

In 2012, the Regents adopted aCharter School Renewal Policy, which outlines policy, processes and criteria for the renewal of Regents-authorized charter schools.

Completing the SY 2024-2025 Renewal Application:

To be considered for renewal beginning in 2025-2026, your charter school needs to be on this eligible applicant list:Charter schools whose charter terms expire at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.This list also provides the Charter School Performance Framework designation for your school (2015 or 2019).

Regents-authorized charter schools are required to submit a complete application for charter renewal using the鶹Ƶ CSO Survey Monkey Apply platform. Additional information on how to use the portal is available atInstructions on How to Use the Charter School Portal Renewal Application.

A complete application for charter renewal consists of:

Application Deadline:

  • Completed applications are due no later than 11:59 PM EDT on September 4, 2024.[1]

Notes:

Before applying for renewal, the board should carefully consider theRegents’ Oversight Plan, including, but not limited to, the and the standards set forth in the Charter School Performance Framework.[2] If the board does not apply for renewal, the charter will not be renewed, and the school will close on June 30th of the final year of the current charter term.

In addition to the review of an application for charter renewal, when making a decision to renew a school, the CSO considers additional evidence, including, but not limited to, annual reports, independent financial audits, state testing data, and site visit reports that have been collected throughout the entire charter term. A charter school may submit supplementary information, but such information does not supplant the standards of the Charter School Performance Framework.

1 In cases where a school’s charter agreement indicates a different due date, these guidelines constitute CSO approval, on behalf of the Commissioner, for a non-material revision to the charter agreement to accommodate this new deadline.

2 Please note, there are currently two versions of the Charter School Performance Framework. The 2019 version will apply to all Board of Regents-authorized charter schools authorized or renewed during the 2019-2020 school year and thereafter. The 2015 version will apply to all other Board of Regents-authorized charter schools.

BOR-Authorized Charter Revision Application Process

Charter Revision Request/GuidanceforBoard of Regents-Authorized SchoolsONLY

Revisions to a charter may require the approval of either the Board of Regents (for material charter revisions) or the Commissioner of Education (for non-material charter revisions) before the school can implement the change. In some instances, proposed changes are not even revisions at all. Use this guidance document to navigate through the revision/change process for all Board of Regents-authorized charter schools.

All proposed material charter revisions must be submitted to the no later than December 1st of the year prior to the academic year in which the proposed revision will commence.

Charter Revision Guidance(Updated 10/1/2024)

Appendix A – Sample Enrollment/Grade Revision Charts

Appendix B – Sample Facilities Table

Appendix C – Planning Year Statement of Assurance

Appendix C2 – Final Planning Year Statement of Assurance

Appendix D – 2025-2030 5-Year Renewal Budget

Appendix E – Fiscal Impact Table

Guidance on the Submission of Plans to Restructure an Existing Education Corporation At Risk of Non-Renewal/Closure

Guidance on the Submission of Plans to Restructure an Existing Education Corporation At Risk of Non-Renewal/Closure for BOR-Authorized Schools ONLY

I. Introduction

The Performance Framework outlines the standards, benchmarks and indicators that represent the high-level of performance necessary for charter schools authorized by the Regents to earn a charter renewal. The Regents and the Department evaluate three areas of charter school performance using quantitative and/or qualitative data and evidence, compiled over the course of the school’s charter term.

  • Educational Success
  • Organizational Soundness
  • Faithfulness to Charter and Law

The above key areas are measured by corresponding performance benchmarks. Though each performance benchmark is important, the Regents and the Department will considerincreases in student academic achievement for all groups of students described in Section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) of the ESEA as the most important factor when determining to renew or revoke a school’s charter.

Student performance is held as a paramount indicator of a charter school’s academic success because the nature of charter schools allows them to be procedurally untethered; they are afforded the opportunity to make strides toward innovative education practices that are beyond the threshold of what traditional public schools could realize. In exchange for this autonomy, charter schools are held to a higher degree of accountability and, ultimately, proof that this freedom promotes a rich academic environment that produces results surpassing other traditional educational paths.

The Framework clearly outlines the performance benchmarks that charter schools are expected to meet, Department renewal recommendations and Regents’ renewal decisions are not dictated by a formula or point system. The Regents will make a charter renewal decision based on the totality of evidence presented by the charter school, and the Regents have the discretion to consider many relevant qualitative and quantitative factors when making these decisions.

Renewal Outcomes:

The following three renewal outcomes are possible:

  1. Full-Term Renewal: A school’s charter may be renewed for the maximum term of five years. For a school to be eligible for a full-term renewal, during the current charter term, the school must have compiled astrong and compelling recordof meeting or exceeding Benchmark 1, and at the time of the renewal analysis, have met substantially all the other performance benchmarks in the Framework;
  2. Short-Term Renewal:A school’s charter may be renewed for a shorter term, typically of three years. In general, the option for a short-term renewal will be available only to schools applying for their first renewal, and the past practice of granting multiple short-term renewals to charter schools that have not been academically successfully will no longer be continued. For a school to be eligible for short-term renewal, a school must either:
    • Have compiled a mixed or limited recordof meeting Benchmark 1, but at the time of the renewal analysis, have met substantially all the other performance benchmarks in the Framework which will likely result in the school’s being able to meet Benchmark 1 with the additional time that short-term renewal permits; or
    • Have compiled an overall record of meetingBenchmark 1, but falls far below meeting one or more of the other performance benchmarks in the Framework; or
  3. Non-Renewal:A school’s charter will not be renewed if the school fails to meet the benchmark for either full-term or short-term renewal. In the case of non-renewal, a school’s charter will be terminated upon its expiration and the school will be required to comply with the Department’s Closing Procedures to ensure an orderly closure by the end of the school year.

II. About the Submission of Plans to Restructure an Existing Education Corporation At Risk of Non-Renewal

The 鶹Ƶ Charter School Office (the “CSO”) may accept plans to restructure charter schools at-risk of non-renewal and closure due to academic underperformance. In accepting such plans, the CSO endeavors to hold existing education corporations/boards of trustees, charter management organization (“CMO”), and schools accountable for academic underperformance by terminating the current governing board of trustees and educational program BUT alternatively accept a new or restructured board of trustees to govern and operate a new educational programfor the same students utilizing the same charter.

The current Board of Trustees of the existing education corporation using the guidance contained herein must submit a plan that will allow the ‘essentially new charter school’ to operate under a new or restructured governing board to oversee a new/restructured educational program and operations that will serve the same students utilizing the same charter.The CSO will treat any resultant school as a new school with a five-year charter. The resultant school willnotbe eligible to apply for or receive a federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) grants.

If the submitted plan meets the high standards of the Board of Regents (the same standards that apply to the approval to create a new charter school), the CSO may recommend to the Regents that the charter be renewed, subject to the following requirements:

  1. The current Board of Trustees of the existing education corporation submits the plan to restructure the charter school;
  2. The plan may not be filed in conjunction with a for-profit management partner;
  3. The plan must demonstrate that the “new operator” and/or restructured board has the organizational capacity to effectively operate the school given the unique circumstances pertaining to the renewal situation;
  4. The plan must meet the standard for describing a high-quality educational program and providing sufficient evidence that the restructured charter school is likely to operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner, meet all Performance Framework standards for Board of Regents-authorized charter schools, improve student learning and achievement of the students enrolled and to be enrolled in the schools and materially further the purposes set out in Education Law § 2850(2)as well asmeet any additional requirements established by the Board of Regents as part of their rigorous commitment to student achievement; and
  5. The plan must have viable strategies to attract and retain students with disabilities, ELLs and economically disadvantaged students.

In addition, any successful new operator and/or restructured board must agree to the following as part of the terms and conditions of a positive recommendation being presented to the Board of Regents:

  1. The proposed new operator and/or restructured board must serve all grade levels currently served and students currently enrolled in the school that wish to remain enrolled, except for those who would have graduated from the highest grade (or aged out at 21). A plan may not propose or include any additional grades beyond those identified in the approved charter;
  2. The proposed new operator and/or restructured board may propose a new school name which does not need to be resemble the existing name;
  3. The proposed new operator and/or restructured board will be required to accommodate or account for existing contracts, assets and liabilities. (The key concept is that the new operator and/or restructured board cannot vitiate the existing contracts through the restructuring process, (unlike the process of a bankruptcy restructuring);
  4. A successful new operator and/or restructured board will be required to perform its own due diligence on the existing school(s) and agree to accept the charter(s) “as is” in terms of compliance issues, resources, liabilities, liens and existing contracts and obligations. The Board of Regents and 鶹Ƶ makes no representations about the schools, their condition or states of compliance with applicable law, other than the fact that the schools are in good standing in terms of their corporate existence;
  5. 鶹Ƶ will apply its normal review standards for an initial charter application in evaluating any proposal for a proposed educational program tailored to address the current renewal circumstances. If 鶹Ƶ’s review of the plan is positive, 鶹Ƶ will recommend that Board of Regents approval as a restructured charter application to the Board of Regents with restrictions so long as the current education corporation board(s) of trustees’ assents;
  6. The successful new operator and/or restructured board may replace all existing staff members;
  7. Except for good cause shown, a successful plan must replace all existing education corporation board members, all existing school leaders/administrators, and the CMO (if applicable);
  8. The new operator and/or restructured board acknowledges that the school may have existing debt and obligations to be repaid; terms of grants that must be fulfilled and be in possession of restrictive gifts with terms that must be honored. The Board of Regents and 鶹Ƶ make no representations about the fiscal condition of the education corporation;
  9. The decision to accept or reject the restructuring plan and proposed new operator rests solely with the Board of Regents;
  10. The decision by the Board of Regents is final and not appealable; and
  11. If the Board of Regents approves the plan, the education corporation must be maintained (鶹Ƶ will entertain any potential merger later as a separate revision).

Review Process for Restructured Plans:

The review process will include a:

  1. 鶹Ƶ staff review of the plan with a focus on academic, legal and fiscal soundness;
  2. 鶹Ƶ staff interview of the proposed new operator and/or restructured board and proposed education corporation trustees; and
  3. Request for Amendment process to resolve 鶹Ƶ concerns, assure compliance with the Act and all applicable laws, rules and regulations and to conform to existing conditions at the school(s).

In addition, in cases where the proposed new board would partner with a non-profit CMO or a non-profit, community, or educational partner organization, 鶹Ƶ will review the organization’s business plan and conduct a due diligence review of the organization in the same manner as is done for new or initial charter school applications. The process requires the organization to provide information regarding the organization’s structure, staffing, finances, future growth plans, and the academic performance of other schools it serves that enroll similar student populations to determine the organization’s capacity to support the restructured school. At their discretion, 鶹Ƶ staff may also conduct an interview of representatives of the proposed CMO or partner organization in conjunction with the overall evaluation process.

If more than one plan is submitted to meet the Board of Regent’s rigorous standards, 鶹Ƶ will give greater weight to those proposed new operators and/or restructured boards that successfully demonstrate the following:

  • Experience and expertise in implementing a program serving a similar student population;
  • Experience and expertise in implementing a school turnaround model;
  • Ability to provide remediation to meet a range of student needs across the given grade span; and
  • The ability to effectively serve all at-risk student populations, including students with disabilities, English language learners, young parents, and economically disadvantaged students.

Business Plan Requirement:

Proposed new operators and/or restructured boards that meet either of the two following criteria must also submit a business plan:

  1. Applicants submitting a plan in conjunction with an organization that would be responsible for managing and/or providing significant portions of the school’s academic program; in this case the CMO or partner organization must complete a business plan to be submitted with the Application; or
  2. Existing Board of Regents approved education corporations seeking to operate this charter school and maybe later merge them into the education corporation; in this case, the education corporation must complete and submit a business plan in conjunction with the Application.

III. Process for Submission of an Application to Restructure an Existing Education Corporation At Risk of Non-Renewal

Using the 2018 RFP, the current board of an existing education corporation is the recognized applicant for submission of a plan to restructure an existing education corporation at-risk of non-renewal. Such a plan is akin to the submission of an application to establish a new charter school where applicant groups are expected to fully address a set of requests and evaluation criteria that directly align to the requirements and priorities stated in the Charter Schools Act. In reviewing the restructuring plans, the Department seeks to assess the will, skill, and capacity of the proposed board to launch and sustain a quality public charter school in New York State and demonstrate educational alignment and operational compliance with the requirements and educational priorities of the Act. This information becomes part of the approved charter and sets the conditions under which an education corporation may operate a school.

The plan to restructure a charter school may not exceed75 pagesand the required attachments may not exceedan additional 75 pages, with certain exceptions outlined in the attachment information. Upon submission, 鶹Ƶ staff will screen the Full Applications for compliance with submission requirements.

Evaluation of Restructuring Plans:

Review panels (referred to as peer reviewers) with expertise in charter school operations, and when appropriate, knowledge that is relevant to the proposed school design, will evaluate Full Applications. Each reviewer will independently evaluate and rate how well the proposed plan addresses the evaluation criteria. articulated in each section of the application. Reviewers will rate the response to each criterion asMeets the Standard, Approaches the Standard, or Does Not Meet the Standard, as defined in the sample evaluation rubric in Appendix A. The review panelists will develop a summary rating for each application section, as well as for the Full Application.

Note Regarding Criminal Background Check/Fingerprint Scan:Proposed board members will be required to undergo criminal background checks via fingerprint scans. 鶹Ƶ will contact each member to arrange for the required fingerprint scans. The result of the background check may be shared with senior managers at the Department and/or the Board of Regents if a concern is noted.The inability or unwillingness of any member of the applicant group to promptly undergo the required criminal background checks via fingerprint scans within the timeframe requested in advance of the Board of Regents meeting shall be grounds for denying a charter recommendation.

Capacity Interview:

Restructuring plans that substantially meet the evaluation criteria and demonstrate the proposed board of trustees has the required skills to operate a high-quality charter school will be invited to a Capacity Interview. Unless otherwise noted by 鶹Ƶ, all Capacity Interviews will be held at 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234. 鶹Ƶ officials conduct the Capacity Interview foremost to assess the capacity of the proposed board of trustees to effectively launch and oversee the proposed charter school. 鶹Ƶ staff use the interview to evaluate the proposed board members’ understanding of academic and operational accountability as well as the community to be served. The interview also provides the proposed board of trustees with the opportunity to present and elaborate on the information provided in the Full Application, and respond to any technical questions that may have been generated by reviewers during the review process.

鶹Ƶ Recommendation for Approval or Denial of the Application:

Based on the review of the proposed plan and Capacity Interview, 鶹Ƶ will determine whether to recommend approval of the restricting plan to the Board of Regents. Plan that do not meet the rigorous standards required will not receive a recommendation for Board of Regents approval.

A plan that is recommended to the Board of Regents for approval will provide a detailed and complete school design plan that:

  • Demonstrates the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner;
  • Is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes of the Act;
  • Includes clear strategies to meet or exceed enrollment and retention targets for students with disabilities, students who are English language learners, and economically disadvantaged students;
  • Provides evidence of public outreach that conforms to the process prescribed by the Regents for soliciting and incorporating community input regarding the proposed charter school;
  • Meets all requirements set forth in the Charter Schools Act as well as all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; and
  • Would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the proposed charter school.

In addition to all the above, the proposed board of trustees must demonstrate appropriate knowledge, capacity, and ability to effectively create, maintain, and oversee a high-quality charter school. For applications that meet all these conditions, 鶹Ƶ will recommend that the Board of Regents approve the application and issue a charter.

If recommended for approval, 鶹Ƶ will provide the proposed board members with an opportunity to review the terms and conditions of the initial charter agreement (contract) between the proposed school and the Board of Regents, and to sign said agreement. This will occur in preparation for the Board of Regents meeting at which the Regents will act to approve or deny charters.

The inability or unwillingness of all newly proposed board members to promptly undergo a fingerprint/background check in accordance with 鶹Ƶ procedures for Adding a Board of Trustee Member to an Existing Board of Regents-Authorized Charter School (seehttp://www.nysed.gov/charter-schools/add-board-member) within the timeframe requested shall be grounds for denying a charter recommendation.

IV. Content of A Plan to Restructure an Existing Education Corporation At-Risk of Non-Renewal

The current board of an existing education corporation is the recognized applicant for submission of a plan to restructure an existing education corporation at-risk of non-renewal. The current board must submit a plan to restructure the existing education corporation that addresses the same a set of requests and evaluation criteria for the development of a new charter school application as outlined in the 2018 Request for Proposals.

*If you have any questions regarding the Guidance, please contact the charter school'sLiaison. Any other comments or concerns can be sent toCharterSchools@nysed.gov.

Guidelines for Submitting an Application for a BOR-Authorized Merger/Consolidation

Guidelines for Submitting an Application for Merger/ConsolidationforBoard of Regents-Authorized SchoolsONLY

Application for the Merger/Consolidation of Multiple Education Corporations

PLEASE NOTE:

  1. This guidance document is primarily for education corporations that seek to have the surviving education corporation authorized by the Board of Regents. In the event that the surviving education corporation is authorized by a charter entity other than the Board of Regents, the education corporation will notify the 鶹Ƶ Charter School Office (CSO) no later than December 1st prior to the year in which the merger goes into effect. An electronic copy of the merger application submitted to the other charter authorizer must also be submitted to the CSO at CharterSchools@nysed.gov on or before the December 1st deadline.
  2. A consolidation occurs when two or more existing corporations [for ex. (A) and (B)] are combined into a newly created corporation (C) which begins its corporate existence, and the corporate existence of each constituent corporation (A) and (B) terminates. A merger occurs when two or more existing corporations [for ex. (A) and (B)] combine, with the corporate existence of one of the constituent corporations [for ex. (A)] continuing as the surviving corporation, and the corporate existence of (B) terminates.
  3. Any charter school not authorized by the Regents merging with a Regents authorized charter school, where the surviving education corporation will be authorized by the Regents, will be required to adopt the (including the Charter School Performance Framework) as a part of the merger.
  4. All submissions of materials, as well as any questions, should be directed to the liaison for the school authorized by the Board of Regents.
  5. An answer must be provided for each numbered application prompt.
  6. If the applicant is proposing a cross-authorizer merger, any pending revision requests (excluding the merger) must be resolved prior to the acceptance of the merger application by the Board of Regents.
  7. In addition to the documents and information requested herein, if the applicant is proposing a cross-authorizer merger, the authorizing entity must provide documentation confirming approval of the proposed merger into an education corporation authorized by the Board of Regents before the application will be considered.
  8. Additional and/or clarifying documentation and assurances may be requested prior to the acceptance of the merger application. The Department may also schedule a school visit to assess the academic, organizational and fiscal soundness of schools proposing to merge into an education corporation authorized by the Board of Regents. 9. The narrative portion of the application should not exceed twenty-five (25) total pages, and shall not exceed the page limitations set forth in the heading for each Part of the application. The font shall be Calibri or Times New Roman 12-point font. Do not condense the space between letters or the space between sentences and/or paragraphs.
Updating Charter School Information in SEDREF

Updating Charter School Information in SEDREF

All public contact information for charter schools, along with other entities doing business with the State Education Department, is maintained in the State Education Department Reference File (SEDREF) system, along with other key institutional data. The Department and the Charter School Office rely on the information in the SEDREF system for most communications with schools via email, phone, and mail. Therefore, it is important that charter school staff routinely review and update public contact information.

SEDREF public information for each school includes school name, address, phone, fax, grades served, and website URL and also the names and contact information for several key personnel titles at the school. For charter schools, although these titles might not exactly mirror what a particular school calls them, the titles or roles that are of most importance for information and communication purposes are:

  • Board of Trustee President
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Director of Special Education
  • Information Officer
  • Title I Coordinator
  • Additional Contact

Updating school information in SEDREF can be accomplished by following these three steps:

  1. If necessary, look up the school's BEDS code in thecharter school directory. Once the school is located:
    1. Click on the school’s name;
    2. Click on “Institutional data”; and
    3. Locate the school’s BEDS code, which is listed as “SED Code” in the right hand column.
  2. Go tothe, enter the BEDS code in the "SED Code" field, and review the Administrative Positions.
  3. If an update is needed, emaildatasupport@nysed.govto provide the new person’s information (name, email address and phone number). Be sure to provide the school's BEDS code and copy theCharter School Office.

The contact information for many new charter schools is often not complete or up-to-date on SEDREF. Please review the SEDREF information for to ensure that all information is current.

Any updates that involve a school name change or a change of school district must be approved by the Board of Regents or go into effect by operation of law before a change can be made to SEDREF. A change in location that will result in a change in district, or Community School District in New York City, must also approved by the school’s authorizer before the school can request a change can be made to SEDREF. (Changes in school district or CSD location will result in a change to the school’s BEDS code.) If these circumstances are applicable, please work directly with the authorizer bt all changes to SEDREF should be requested directly by the school once authorizer approval is granted.

Questions may be directed to the Department'sOffice of Information and Reporting Servicesor (518) 474.7965.

鶹Ƶ Weighted Lottery Generator

鶹Ƶ CSO Weighted Lottery Generator - For Schools Receiving CSP Funds

Prior to amendments made to the 2014 federal Non-Regulatory Charter Schools Program (CSP) Guidance, charter schools receiving CSP funds were not permitted to weight admissions lotteries to favor certain student subgroups. With the approval of the U.S. Department of Education, New York State charter schools may now weight admissions through the use of a Weighted Lottery Generator created by the Charter School Office.

The Weighted Lottery Generator is only intended to be used by schools receiving CSP funds. Please be sure to carefully read the guidance below for use of the Generator. Charter schools will not be permitted to use the program without first following the directions contained in the guidance. For planning purposes, charter schools may only weight foroneat-risk subgroup of educationally disadvantaged students (i.e., economically disadvantaged students, English language learners, or students with disabilities). Consideration ofonesubgroup weight should be reflected in a request to modify a current enrollment policy in order to use the Weighted Lottery Generator.

Guidelines for Use of the 鶹Ƶ Weighted Lottery Generator

Procedure for Requesting a Certificate of Good Standing/Existence

How to Request a Certificate of Good Standing/Existence

A Certificate of Good Standing (otherwise known as a Certificate of Existence) can be obtained by either of the steps below:

  1. Send an email toMeghan.Nickel@nysed.govandKirti.Goswami@nysed.gov,
    OR
  2. Send a fax to Meghan and Kirti at 518-473-2925.

In your request, please be sure to include the following:

  • The full name of the entity
  • The number of copies required (If more than one original is requested, please include this information in your request.)
  • The address the document/s should be sent to

Please notethat there is no fee for processing this request. Also note that the overall process typically takes 7-10 business days to complete, although it is not unusual for more complicated situations to takedoublethat time; Please plan accordingly.

Other BOR-Authorized Charter School Policies & Procedures