New Year, New Beginnings: Exciting Updates and Opportunities from the Charter School Office | |
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Happy 2025!
I hope this new year brings you fresh inspiration for the remaining months of the 2024-25 school year.
Our office has been making great progress in staffing, with three talented new team members joining the CSO. We are thrilled to welcome them and look forward to their contributions as they support schools and advance the work of the Charter School Office.
This edition of our newsletter includes important reminders about facilities planning jurisdiction and other updates for schools to keep in mind. We are also proud to spotlight Math, Engineering and Science Academy Charter High School (MESA) Charter High School, which goes above and beyond graduation by offering innovative workforce and post-secondary programming. Additionally, we celebrate an incredible achievement: one of our charter schools has an Educator of the Year on its staff, an inspiration to us all!
Be on the lookout for our 2025 RFP and Charter School Application Kit, which will be released for public comment next month. This is an important step in our efforts to expand high-quality educational options for students across the state.
Wishing you all a successful rest of the school year!
Lisa Long, Ed.D.
Executive Director
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Meet Our New Team Members: A Warm Welcome to the CSO Family! | |
Emily Collins, Associate in Education Research | Emily Collins is the newest member of the CSO team, joining NYSED this week as an Associate in Education Research. Prior to NYSED, Emily worked at the American Institutes for Research (AIR), where she contributed to education program evaluations and helped schools and local education agencies increase their data capacity to improve student outcomes. Emily holds a BA in Psychology and Economics from Scripps College and an MA in Education Policy with a focus on K-12 Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. In her spare time, Emily loves to play all kinds of games and puzzles and explore Central Park. | |
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Paul Groff joined the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in August 2024. Prior to this, he taught elementary school in New York's capital district, working with students in grades 1, 3, 4, and 5. He also volunteered in an Ecuadorian kindergarten during his master's studies, gaining cultural competency and strategies for working with linguistically diverse students. With experience supporting students with disabilities and English language learners, Paul holds a BA in Sociology from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and an MS in Childhood Education from The College of Saint Rose.
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Andrew Dziuba, Education Finance Specialist | Andrew Dziuba joined the Charter School Office in September of 2024 and is new to state civil service. Before joining the CSO he worked as a mortgage underwriter and held various retail finance roles at Albany area financial institutions. Andrew provides fiscal evaluations and analysis for annual reports, renewal applications, and budgets for the CSO. He also provides assistance with oversight of NYSED’s CSP grant. Andrew holds a BA in Economics from UAlbany. | |
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NY Inspires Program: Multiple Pathways for High
School Diplomas and Ensuring Student Success in a
21st Century Society.
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The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has unveiled a comprehensive plan, the "New York Inspires" initiative, to transform the state's education system and create multiple pathways to a high school diploma. This plan, aligned with recommendations from the Blue-Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures, focuses on equity and aims to provide all students with the skills needed for success in the 21st century. The plan includes adopting the New York State Portrait of a Graduate, redefining credit requirements, phasing out traditional diploma assessments, and consolidating diploma types into one. The implementation will follow a phased approach, involving thorough planning, professional development, and ongoing stakeholder engagement to ensure effective execution. The changes are part of a broader effort to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in education and are set to impact students starting with the 2023 cohort. Full implementation will depend on Board of Regents approval. The initiative builds on years of stakeholder feedback and aims to provide students with more opportunities to showcase their knowledge and skills in diverse ways.
A recording of the November 2024 Board of Regents meeting and a list of frequently asked questions can be referenced on NYSED’s Graduation Measures webpage.
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Board of Regents-Authorized
Charter School Spotlight
Connecting Charter Schools Across New York State
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Math, Engineering, and Science Academy (MESA) Charter High School
High School Graduate Workforce Development Programs
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"Alumni Lab gave me a big push in the right direction. It also assured me that I am not behind in any way, I am right where I need to be. It also improved my foundation in my work life and becoming a professional. And I met Julie who I see as a mentor/advisor, and know I have someone I can reach out to.” -Alumni Lab Participant | |
Digital Marketing Fellows Mock Interview | |
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MESA Charter High School offers two exciting programs for high school graduates throughout the city. The school understands the work doesn’t end at graduation, which is why MESA’s innovative workforce and post-secondary programming is so important. With over 108,000 individuals aged 18-24 reported as out of school and out of work (OSOW), these initiatives aim to guide young people toward upward financial mobility. MESA’s Alumni Lab, now in its third year, is on track to serve over 200 out-of-school and underemployed young people. The Digital Marketing Career Lab will serve an additional 100, imbuing them with the cutting-edge social media marketing skills necessary to advance their careers.
Read the full description of these innovative programs and the many accolades they have received in the media.
For more information about these programs email jbloom@mesacharter.org or jkwong@mesacharter.org
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Congratulations to Riverhead Charter School's Patrick McKinney
Riverhead News-Review Educator of the Year
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Mr. McKinney, who holds a doctorate in educational innovation, is the founding principal of Riverhead Charter School's high school He has been with the school since its early days. Over the years, he has held numerous important roles, including founding elementary teacher, chair of the humanities department, director of curriculum and instruction, and principal of both the elementary and middle schools.
Riverhead Charter School Superintendent Dr. Raymond Ankrum said, "Dr. McKinney is a visionary educator who empowers students and families to thrive in the dynamic global education landscape."
Read the full article in the Riverhead News Review
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Reminder: NYSED Office of Facilities Planning Jurisdiction
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Pursuant to Section 2853 of the Education Law, any charter school located outside of New York City, which was chartered after July 31, 2010, falls under the jurisdiction of the NYSED Office of Facilities Planning (OFP). These schools must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) from OFP for any facility the school intends to occupy, whether permanently or temporarily, and whether by purchase or by lease. For leased spaces, the CO received from OFP is in addition to the separate CO the school must obtain from their local code enforcement entity. It is critical that schools submit a Letter of Intent to OFP as early as possible in the process of obtaining a new facility. Complete submission of all required project documents should be submitted to OFP a minimum of six (6) months prior to planned occupancy.
OFP is unable to expedite requests for a CO for schools that fail to submit within this timeframe without a valid justification for the delay. A school’s lack of awareness of the required timeline will not be considered a valid justification. Further, the NYSED Charter School Office will not issue a Consent to Open without a valid CO from OFP, and if leased an additional CO from the local code enforcement entity.
Additionally, charter schools falling under OFP’s jurisdiction must also seek approval from OFP a minimum of six (6) months in advance for any of the following changes:
· construction requiring a Building Permit;
· signing a lease extension;
· expansion to additional areas of an existing building;
· purchasing a building that was previously leased;
· or any change of usage (i.e. changing from admin to instructional or vice versa). These requirements apply to all buildings occupied by the school – not just those used for instruction. OFP should also be notified if an owned building is sold or if the school moves out of a leased space.
For details about which construction projects require a Building Permit and submission requirements, please refer to the Instruction Guide for Public School Districts and BOCES Obtaining Building Permits For Capital Construction Projects
Please reach out to Michael.Kosar@nysed.gov or EMSCFP@nysed.gov with any questions.
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BENCHMARKS
FOCUS: PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK BENCHMARK 10
Benchmark 10 of the 2019 Charter School Performance Framework: Legal Compliance, states, "The school complies with applicable laws, regulations, and the provisions of its charter."
Please read our Open Meetings Law Reminder to ensure your board of trustees' meetings are in compliance regarding the use of videoconferencing.
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| January 2025 Regents Exams: Support and Contact Information | For any questions or troubleshooting related to the January 2025 Regents Exams (scheduled Tuesday, January 21, through Friday, January 24), charter schools may contact the Office of Assessments via:
We wish you a seamless and successful testing period! | | NYSED-led TeachNY Initiative: Resources and Toolkits for recruiting aspiring teachers |
- The initiative inspires prospective teachers to explore the teaching profession.
- TeachNY's resources are free!
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Register for an informational session for school leaders on January 14, 2025, providing an overview of recruitment resources and toolkits
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Not able to attend the January 14th session? Please contact Proudy Bailey, TeachNY's Regional Program Manager, to receive access to TeachNY's recruitment resources.
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For questions, please email OTLD@nysed.gov
| | Updating SEDREF | Please make sure the school leader information is up-to-date in SEDREF so school leaders receive all correspondence on the New York State Testing Program sent out by the Office of State Assessment (OSA) during the school year. If your school needs to submit changes, please send the request on school letterhead, and include the following: school BEDS code, email address and phone number of the new individual, effective date of the change, and signature of current school leader. Please email the request to datasupport@nysed.gov. | | New York State Procedural Safeguards Notice for Students with Disabilities | The New York State Education Department Office of Special Education (OSE) has posted the May 2024 Procedural Safeguards Notice. As a reminder, the updates included both minor technical edits and formatting changes along with several substantive changes. The substantive changes include the:
- addition of a section on accelerated relief (pgs. 26-27);
- removal of the prohibition of attorney fees for special education mediation;
- highlighting special education mediation as a dispute resolution in a standalone section (pgs. 13-14); and
- change in hours of alternative instruction at the elementary and secondary level (pg. 33).
The Procedural Safeguards Notice must be provided to parents of a student with a disability at a minimum of one time per year and upon:
- initial referral or parental request for evaluation;
- request by a parent;
- the first filing of a due process complaint notice to request mediation or an impartial due process hearing;
- a decision to impose a suspension or removal that constitutes a disciplinary change in placement; and
- receipt of a parent's first State complaint in a school year.
The procedural Safeguards Notice is available in English and 15 other languages on the OSE website. Questions relating to the Procedural Safeguards Notice may be directed to the OSE Special Education Policy Unit at (518) 473-2878, speced@nysed.gov, or the Special Education Quality Assurance Office in your region. | | Social Emotional Learning and Assessment | The Office of Student Support Services released the fourth in a series of ‘SEL Snapshots’ to support the implementation of New York’s Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks. These two-page information sheets provide basic information about how social emotional learning (SEL) integrates with other areas of focus. The current release covers SEL & Assessment. Previous releases covered SEL, equity, adult practice, and SEL & Family and Community Engagement. Questions may be directed to the Office of Student Support Services at 518-486-6090 or StudentSupportServices@nysed.gov. | | The New York State Teacher of the Year Program Is Now Accepting Applications for 2026 Teacher of the Year | The Teacher of the Year program recognizes exemplary educators. Every year, a New York State Teacher of the Year is chosen to serve as an ambassador for New York State teachers and New York State’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year. Additional information including how to nominate a teacher and/or submit an application may be found on the NYSED Teacher of the Year website. The application deadline is February 7, 2025. Questions may be directed to the Office of Standards & Instruction at 518-474-5922 or toty@nysed.gov. | | Upcoming Webinar: Unpacking United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Anonymized Threat Response Guidance Toolkit | The New York State Education Department’s Center for School Safety will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, January 23, 2025, from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM to provide an overview of CISA’s Anonymized Threat Response Guidance: A Toolkit for K-12 Schools resource that was released in September 2024. The webinar and toolkit will assist local education agencies and their law enforcement and community partners to create tailored approaches to addressing anonymous threats. This session will highlight key ideas and support current school and district policies around cybersecurity and emergency operations planning. Click here to register for the session. Questions may be directed to the Office of Student Support Services at SafetyPlans@nysed.gov. | | Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Policy and Tools to Guide Decision-Making and Implementation | The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has updated its Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Policy and Tools to Guide Decision-Making and Implementation - December 2024 publication. This guidance document was developed to assist school personnel in making appropriate decisions for considering, documenting, and implementing testing accommodations for students with disabilities. This guidance document supersedes the guidance in the NYSED May 2006 Test Access and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities. Updates in the guidance document cover areas including, but not limited to, computer-based testing, assistive technology accommodations, tests read, and the procedures for the use of a scribe. New questions were added to B-4, C-3, C-5, and E-3. New information was added to A-7 and E-2. This guidance document should be used in conjunction with the School Administrator’s Manuals for all assessments and examinations included in the New York State testing program. For questions or technical assistance, email NYSED staff at speced@nysed.gov. | | Dates for 2026 Regents Examination Periods and the Elementary and Intermediate Testing Schedule | This communication is to help your school and district plan their calendars for the 2025-26 school year. Please refer to the following memos; “Regents Exam dates 2025-2026” and “Elementary Intermediate Testing Schedule 2025-2026” for further information. The Regents Examination schedules for January, June, and August within these dates will be announced before the 2024-25 school year ends. Questions may be directed to the Office of State Assessment at 518-474-9502 or emscassessinfo@nysed.gov. | | Transportation Safety
Reminder | All vehicles used for school transportation, regardless of whether the vehicle is owned or rented, are subject to New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) regulations and inspection. Please note that Education Law §3621(6) defines a school bus to include “any vehicle or other means of conveyance used for the purpose of transporting pupils.” These vehicles must comply with 17 NYCRR Part 720 regulations. Please see the NYSDOT school bus safety inspection manual.
Additionally, all bus drivers must be qualified under Article 19-A of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law. More information on these requirements is available on the NYS DMV Bus Driver Unit webpage.
Please also refer to NYSED Commissioner’s Regulation 156.3. | | |
Resources for Data and Reporting | | |
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Charter School Office
(518) 474-1762
89 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12234
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