BILL NUMBER: S5978

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
requirements for applications for charter schools

 
PURPOSE:

To include school districts and community school districts in the
approval process for the issuance of new charter schools in over-en-
rolled districts.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends paragraph d of subdivision 2 of section 2852 of educa-
tion law to include school districts and New York City community school
districts in the approval of new charters when the districts are already
over-enrolled with charter students.

Section 2 establishes the effective date.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Current education law establishes a threshold for the denial of new
charter school applications when the district in which the charter is to
be located has already reached at least five percent of its student
enrollment in charter schools. However, there is an exception to this
provision that allows the charter to be approved in these over-enrolled
charter districts when a "significant educational benefit to the
students expected to attend the proposed charter" exists.

This bill would add another level of approval by the school district or
in New York City the community school district in order for additional
charter schools to be approved in areas of high concentration of charter
pupils. Educators and community members in areas where there is a
proliferation of charters have raised increasing concerns over the
fiscal impact of charter schools on traditional public schools in their
districts. This measure affords these individuals with an opportunity to
participate in the process for charter approvals.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPACT:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.