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Click here to sign up for the Charter Center's weekly and quarterly e-letters. NEW NATIONAL STUDY SHOWS CHARTER QUALITY CONCERNSAs public charter schools in New York City complete another outstanding year and new charter leaders work night and day to open in September, there is some difficult national news about charter schools. Today the Stanford University Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) released a report that compares achievement results of charters and peer schools in 15 states plus the District of Columbia. (New York State and 24 other states that host charter schools WERE NOT considered in this study.) The study reveals that in aggregate, charter students are not fairing as well as their peers in other public schools. It also states that, “The problem of quality is the most pressing issue that charter schools and their supporters face.” Indeed, it is precisely because of this that U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has called not just for increasing the number of charter schools in the United States but also increasing the accountability to which charter schools are subject. And the report’s showing that charter school performance varies extremely widely state to state, is in support of this agenda. A bright spot in the study is that when it comes to serving ELL students and students in poverty, charter schools are outperforming their peer schools in reading and math. As we know that this report will likely be the subject of much discussion (even if it has nothing to do directly with your work), we urge you to read the attached report and remain diligent about educating your families and elected officials on the importance of high quality charter schools as well as the need to gain parity in funding so New York City can continue to deliver strong results. We have no doubt that this study will be debated and many interesting facts will come to light. We will pass on any highlights and also encourage you to watch the National Alliance Public Charter Schools’ postings http://www.publiccharters.org on this topic. MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF NYC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS PROFICIENT IN MATH
New York City public charter school students outpaced their peers in the city’s conventional public schools on the 2008-09 state math exam, scoring 8.9 percentage points higher than students citywide. When compared to students throughout New York State, city charter school students outpaced their peers by 4.3 percentage points. Most notably, public charter school students in New York City collectively achieved proficiency rates nearly equivalent to white students statewide -- with 90.7 percent of New York City charter school students scoring proficient or better, compared to 92.2 percent of white students statewide scoring proficient or better. Roughly 92 percent of all public charter school students are African-American and Hispanic; about 80 percent are eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch. Click to view news release and individual charter school results by school and grades. “The results of this year's math test are a testament to the hard work of teachers, principals, and most of all, students in public schools across the city, and this is particularly true in our charter schools,” said Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein. “Charter schools have not only closed the longstanding achievement gap between New York City and the rest of the state, they have also essentially closed the achievement gap that exists between poor, African-American and Hispanic students and their white peers.” “Taken in conjunction with public charter school students’ performance on this year’s state English Language Arts exam, it’s crystal clear that charters are closing the gaps in achievement and providing some of our most underserved students with the education they deserve,” said James Merriman, CEO of New York City Charter School Center. STATES'S HIGHEST COURT HEARS ORAL ARGUMENTS ON COMPTROLLER V. CHARTER SCHOOLSYesterday afternoon, the state Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court, heard oral arguments in the lawsuit by 15 charter co-plaintiffs against the Office of the State Comptroller to stop the excessive and unnecessary auditing of public charter schools. The New York City Charter School Center and New York Charter Schools Association also are co-plaintiffs and representatives from both organizations attended the Court hearing in Albany. Our case is grounded on the limitations placed on the Comptroller’s auditing power by Article V of the New York State Constitution, as such limits do not encompass charter schools since they are not political subdivisions of the state. Furthermore, we argue that the financial oversight of charter schools by the Board of Regents and the charter authorizer (which themselves can be audited by the OSC), is sufficient. The state is making the case that charter schools are public schools and receive public money and therefore should be audited. The constitutional restrictions are largely ignored in the state’s defense of the Comptroller’s expansive auditing reach. Arguing on behalf of the charter school plaintiffs was Joseph F. Wayland of the law firm of Simpson, Thacher and Bartlett, who also argued on behalf of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case before the Court of Appeals. John J. Henry of Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna serves as our co-counsel. Charter schools won the at the trial court level, which was decided last year. This ruling was reversed by the Appellate Division last January. The outcome of this case is impossible to know and we’ll avoid speculation. We are confident in our arguments and very pleased with the hearing today and the work of our co-counsels. The seven-member court will decide the case in the next 30 to 60 days – a ruling that will be final. Please contact the New York Charter Schools Association or the Charter Center if you wish to discuss the case or have any questions. Click here to view legal briefs filed on behalf of Petitioners, Charter schools, State Comptroller and the New York State United Teachers. JOIN OUR PETITION! PROTECT STATE FUNDING OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS!Albany increased overall state education aid to all public school districts by $1.2 billion in this year’s state budget. Yet, the Legislature slashed $50 million to public charter schools as part of a funding freeze. To their credit, Governor Paterson and Senate Majority Leader Smith pledged to restore a portion of the funds to charter schools. The action by the governor and majority leader will help charter schools avert devastating cuts to their staff and programs. But the fight is not over. We need to make sure the voices of charter school parents, teachers and supporters are heard in Albany. Join our online petition! Help us send a strong message to Albany lawmakers that cuts to charter schools put teacher jobs and innovative school programs at risk. Make your voice heard! Join our petition! Obama Ads Supporting Charter Schools Placed in Albany publicationsThe Charter Center ran advertisements in Albany publications to underscore President Obama’s enthusiastic support for expanding the number of public charter schools. 
NEW CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZATIONSWith 20 charter schools already approved to open for the 2009-2010 academic year, New York City has exceeded last year’s record of 18 new charter school openings. To date, a total of 103 public charter schools have been approved to operate in New York City. This includes five additional schools scheduled to open in 2010. The roster of 2009 charter schools include two all-girls elementary schools, the first charter school to open on Staten Island, two high schools in Brooklyn and a school in Queens that will emphasize conservation themes and preserving natural resources. We will provide specific information on all new schools as it becomes available. Below is a list of the 20 NYC charter schools approved to open in fall 2009:
CHANGES IN THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT THAT AFFECT EXISTING CHARTER SCHOOLSIn addition to the creation of 100 additional charter schools statewide, at least 50 of which must be located in New York City, The Charter Schools Act contains "significant new restrictions and requirements related to the issuance, revision, and renewal of charters."
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