Senate Bill S592A

                                BILL NUMBER:S592A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to notice to school districts
regarding intent to attend a charter school

PURPOSE:
To provide notification to a school district when a parent or
guardian intends to send a child to a charter school, in order for
the school district to create an accurate budget.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill would amend subdivision 2 of §2854 of
the education law to provide that a parent or guardian shall give
notice to school districts wherein child resides of intent to send
child to charter school and also provide notice to nonpublic school
if a child intends not to attend a nonpublic school.
Such provisions shall not apply to a parent or person in parental
relation of a child residing in a city school district in a city of
one million or more.

EXISTING LAW:
The Education Law currently allows for similar school
district notification by parents with regard to transportation of
children attending nonpublic school.
              

JUSTIFICATION:
As the popularity of charter schools grows it becomes
increasingly important that public school districts be notified in a
timely manner of a child's intended departure, giving sufficient time
for the school to adjust its budget.

For example, in 2001 in a city school district in New York State, the
school district gave approximately eight thousand dollars ($8000),
out of its established budget, to the local charter school for each
child who chose to go to the charter school. The school district
created its 2001 budget believing that not all the classrooms would
be filled in the then forthcoming charter school. Regrettably, when
the charter school opened filled to capacity, the city school
district had a revenue shortfall of nearly 1.2 million dollars. Had
the parents or guardians of the children notified the school district
of their upcoming charter school enrollment, this would have been
avoided.

In 2009, there were 140 charter schools operating in New York State,
with approximately 47,600 students enrolled. In May of 2010 the
State Legislature moved to increase the maximum number of chatter
schools in New York State to accommodate the demand for this type of
educational alternative. With the average expenditure per student in
New York State reaching $17,173 it is essential that school districts
have up-to-date information in order to operate efficiently and to
present an accurate budget to taxpayers.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:


2009-2010 Referred to Education (S.48)
2007-2008 Advanced to Third reading (S.1549-A/A.2423-A)
2005-2006 Passed Senate (S.786/A.4475)
2003-2004 Education Committee (S.4580/A.6438)
2002      Education Committee (S.6188/A.10609)

FISCAL IMPLICATION:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.