Students in Temporary Housing: Students’ Rights and Schools’ Responsibilities
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the McKinney-Vento Act guarantees educational rights for students experiencing homelessness or residing in unstable housing situations. To ensure these students and their families receive the support they need, all charter schools are required to appoint a dedicated staff member as the McKinney-Vento liaison. This liaison serves as a […]
Charter School Legal Issues: “Friends Of” Organizations
A “Friends of XYZ Charter School” organization is a separate, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that is created to raise funds, awareness and otherwise support a charter school or the charter school movement. This white paper from the Lawyers Alliance for New York is a guide for any charter school who is thinking of establishing one.
Governance: Bylaws and Conflict of Interest Policies for Charter Schools
All charter schools must have a set of bylaws and conflict of interest policies that comply with New York law. When was the last time your school reviewed these documents? Do they comply with the New York Nonprofit Revitalization Act, General Municipal Law, and Opening Meetings Law? Corey Callahan, the Charter Center’s Director of Legal […]
The Facility Access Process: Co-Location and Private Space
In March 2014, state law was changed to grant a subset of NYC charter schools a statutory right to facilities assistance. Education Law §2853(3)). Charter schools that are new, or adding grade levels, can go through a legally defined process (referred to as “Facilities Access Process”) that results in a charter school either receiving co-located […]
Student Immunizations
Children attending daycare and pre-K through 12th grade in New York State must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule to attend or remain in school.
Creating Effective Community Engagement
Engaging with the community is crucial for educational institutions, and the resources below aim to equip schools with simple yet powerful tools to foster meaningful connections with elected officials, local decision-makers, parents, and other key stakeholders. By implementing the strategies outlined in these presentations, pre-authorization planning teams can strengthen their community relationships, build trust, and […]
Staff Handbook
Clear expectations promote strong performances. A comprehensive staff handbook is the best way to ensure all employees understand the professional standards and culture of the school. Several extensive handbooks are attached, each with particular strengths. SBuffalo’s CS Handbook has thorough sections on social media and computer use and mentions confidentiality of student records. Hebrew CS […]
SPED: Regulations and Procedures
The Regulations of the Commissioner are available online. Part 200 is the law regulating special education in New York State. The Standard Operating Procedures Manual is a how-to guide explaining the entire special education referral, evaluation, and placement process in New York City. The NYC DOE Protocols for SPED in Charter Schools were developed by the Office of Legal Services, the Office […]
ELL/MLL Learner Support
In today’s diverse educational landscape, catering to the diverse needs of students is paramount. Among these needs, supporting Multilingual Learners (MLL) or English Language Learners (MLL/ELL) stands as a crucial priority. These students bring a wealth of cultural backgrounds and languages to the classroom, enriching the learning environment. However, to ensure their academic success and […]
FAQs: Open Meetings Law
Did you know that New York City charter schools are subject to the requirements of New York State’s Open Meetings Law (OML)? The OML is based on a presumption of access that provides the public with the right to know in advance about meetings of public bodies and then to observe the meetings and deliberations. […]
