LBD10438-01-9
S. 4237 2
federal laws and regulations governing the placement of students with
disabilities] SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISIONS
TWO-A, THREE AND THREE-A OF SECTION THIRTY-TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN OF THIS
CHAPTER. THE CHARTERS OF ALL CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT WERE ISSUED ON OR
BEFORE JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN SHALL BE DEEMED AMENDED TO
REQUIRE COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISIONS TWO-A,
THREE AND THREE-A OF SECTION THIRTY-TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN OF THIS
CHAPTER.
§ 3. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 4 of section 2851 of the education
law, as added by chapter 101 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as
follows:
(e) The means by which the charter school will meet or exceed THE
enrollment [and retention targets as prescribed by the board of regents
or the board of trustees of the state university of New York, as appli-
cable, of students with disabilities, English language learners, and
students who are eligible applicants for the free and reduced price
lunch program which shall be considered by the charter entity prior to
approving such charter school's application for renewal. When developing
such targets, the board of regents and the board of trustees of the
state university of New York shall ensure (1) that such enrollment
targets are comparable to the enrollment figures of such categories of
students attending the public schools within the school district, or in
a city school district in a city having a population of one million or
more inhabitants, the community school district, in which the charter
school is located; and (2) that such retention targets are comparable to
the rate of retention of such categories of students attending the
public schools within the school district, or in a city school district
in a city having a population of one million or more inhabitants, the
community school district, in which the proposed charter school would be
located] REQUIREMENTS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVI-
SION TWO OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE.
§ 4. Subdivision 2 of section 2852 of the education law, as amended by
section 2 of part D-2 of chapter 57 of the laws of 2007, is amended to
read as follows:
2. An application for a charter school shall not be approved unless
the charter entity finds IN WRITING that:
(a) the charter school described in the application meets the require-
ments set out in this article and all other applicable laws, rules and
regulations;
(b) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in
an educationally and fiscally sound manner;
(c) granting the application is likely to improve student learning and
achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision
two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of this article; and
(d) in a school district where the total enrollment of resident
students attending charter schools in the base year is greater than five
percent of the total public school enrollment of the school district in
the base year (i) granting the application would have a significant
educational benefit to the students expected to attend the proposed
charter school [or] AND (ii) the school district in which the charter
school will be located consents to such application.
In reviewing applications, the charter entity is encouraged to give
preference to applications that demonstrate the capability to provide
comprehensive learning experiences to students identified by the appli-
cants as at risk of academic failure. UPON MAKING A DETERMINATION OF
WHETHER AN APPLICATION FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL BE APPROVED, THE CHAR-
S. 4237 3
TER ENTITY SHALL PROVIDE DETAILED WRITTEN FINDINGS RELATED TO EACH OF
THE REQUIREMENTS IN THIS SUBDIVISION, WHICH SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO
THE CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICANT, BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
IN WHICH THE PROPOSED CHARTER SCHOOL WOULD BE LOCATED.
§ 5. Subdivision 5 of section 2852 of the education law, as amended by
chapter 101 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
5. (A) Upon approval of an application by a charter entity, the appli-
cant and charter entity shall enter into a proposed agreement allowing
the applicants to organize and operate a charter school. Such written
agreement, known as the charter, shall include [(a)] (I) the information
required by subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty-one of
this article, as modified or supplemented during the approval process,
[(b)] (II) in the case of charters to be issued pursuant to subdivision
nine-a of this section, information required by such subdivision, [(c)]
(III) A PROVISION PROHIBITING THE CHARTER SCHOOL FROM ENTERING INTO,
RENEWING OR EXTENDING ANY AGREEMENT WITH A FOR-PROFIT OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT
CORPORATE OR OTHER BUSINESS ENTITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT OR
OPERATION OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL UNLESS THE AGREEMENT REQUIRES SUCH ENTI-
TY TO PROVIDE STATE AND LOCAL OFFICERS HAVING THE POWER TO AUDIT THE
CHARTER SCHOOL PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE WITH ACCESS TO THE ENTITY'S
RECORDS RELATING TO THE COSTS OF, AND FEES FOR, PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES
TO THE SCHOOL, (IV) any other terms or conditions required by applicable
laws, rules and regulations, and [(d)] (V) any other terms or condi-
tions, not inconsistent with law, agreed upon by the applicant and the
charter entity. In addition, the charter shall include the specific
commitments of the charter entity relating to its obligations to oversee
and supervise the charter school. Within five days after entering into a
proposed charter, the charter entity other than the board of regents
shall submit to the board of regents a copy of the charter, the applica-
tion and supporting documentation for final approval and issuance by the
board of regents in accordance with subdivisions five-a and five-b of
this section.
(B) NO CHARTER SCHOOL HAVING A CHARTER THAT WAS ISSUED AND APPROVED ON
OR BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL ENTER INTO, RENEW
OR EXTEND THE DURATION OF ANY AGREEMENT WITH A FOR-PROFIT OR NOT-FOR-
PROFIT CORPORATE OR OTHER BUSINESS ENTITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION,
MANAGEMENT OR OPERATION OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL UNLESS THE AGREEMENT
REQUIRES SUCH ENTITY TO PROVIDE STATE AND LOCAL OFFICERS HAVING THE
POWER TO AUDIT THE CHARTER SCHOOL PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE WITH ACCESS
TO THE ENTITY'S RECORDS RELATING TO THE COSTS OF, AND FEES FOR, PROVID-
ING SUCH SERVICES TO THE SCHOOL. ANY AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO, RENEWED OR
EXTENDED IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE NULL, VOID AND WHOLLY
UNENFORCEABLE, AND A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE GROUNDS FOR
REVOCATION OR TERMINATION OF A CHARTER PURSUANT TO SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT
HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE.
§ 6. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 9-a of section
2852 of the education law, as amended by section 2 of subpart A of part
B of chapter 20 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(i) that the proposed charter school would meet or exceed THE enroll-
ment [and retention targets, as prescribed by the board of regents or
the board of trustees of the state university of New York, as applica-
ble, of students with disabilities, English language learners, and
students who are eligible applicants for the free and reduced price
lunch program. When developing such targets, the board of regents and
the board of trustees of the state university of New York, shall ensure
(1) that such enrollment targets are comparable to the enrollment
S. 4237 4
figures of such categories of students attending the public schools
within the school district, or in a city school district in a city
having a population of one million or more inhabitants, the community
school district, in which the proposed charter school would be located;
and (2) that such retention targets are comparable to the rate of
retention of such categories of students attending the public schools
within the school district, or in a city school district in a city
having a population of one million or more inhabitants, the community
school district, in which the proposed charter school would be located]
REQUIREMENTS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF
SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE; and
§ 7. Section 2853 of the education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 2-b to read as follows:
2-B. IN ANY CASE WHERE A CHARTER SCHOOL ENTERS INTO, RENEWS OR EXTENDS
ANY AGREEMENT WITH A FOR-PROFIT OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS OR CORPORATE
ENTITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT OR OPERATION OF A CHARTER
SCHOOL, THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A FORMAL CONTRACT WITH
SUCH ENTITY. ANY SUCH CONTRACT SHALL BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE
CHARTER ENTITY.
§ 8. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 2853 of the education
law, as amended by chapter 101 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read
as follows:
(a) A charter school may be located in part of an existing public
school building, in space provided on a private work site, in a public
building or in any other suitable location. Provided, however, before a
charter school may be located in part of an existing public school
building, the charter entity shall provide notice to the parents or
guardians of the students then enrolled in the existing school building
and shall hold a public hearing for purposes of discussing the location
of the charter school. ALL CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO BY SUCH CHARTER
SCHOOL, OR ANY EDUCATION CORPORATION ORGANIZED TO OPERATE A CHARTER
SCHOOL, OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC ENTITY, INCLUDING THE STATE, A PUBLIC BENE-
FIT CORPORATION, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITY ACTING ON
BEHALF OF ANY OF THESE ENTITIES, INVOLVING THE CONSTRUCTION, RECON-
STRUCTION, DEMOLITION, EXCAVATION, REHABILITATION, REPAIR, RENOVATION,
OR ALTERATION OF ANY CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITY SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE
REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED THREE OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW
AND ARTICLES EIGHT AND NINE OF THE LABOR LAW. A charter school may own,
lease or rent its space.
§ 9. The opening paragraph and subparagraph 1 of paragraph (e) of
subdivision 3 of section 2853 of the education law, as added by section
5 of part BB of chapter 56 of the laws of 2014, are amended to read as
follows:
[In] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH SEVEN OF THIS PARAGRAPH, a
city school district in a city having a population of one million or
more inhabitants, charter schools that first commence instruction or
that require additional space due to an expansion of grade level, pursu-
ant to this article, approved by their charter entity for the two thou-
sand fourteen--two thousand fifteen school year or thereafter and
request co-location in a public school building AND DEMONSTRATES TO THE
CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL
CAPACITY TO PROCURE ADEQUATE FACILITIES shall be provided access to
facilities pursuant to this paragraph for such charter schools that
first commence instruction or that require additional space due to an
expansion of grade level, pursuant to this article, approved by their
charter entity for those grades newly provided.
S. 4237 5
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, within
the later of (i) five months after a charter school's written request
for co-location and (ii) PROVIDED THAT A CHARTER SCHOOL DEMONSTRATES
THAT IT LACKS THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY TO PROCURE ADEQUATE FACILITIES,
thirty days after the charter school's charter is approved by its char-
ter entity, the city school district shall either: (A) offer at no cost
to the charter school a co-location site in a public school building
approved by the board of education as provided by law, or (B) offer the
charter school space in a privately owned or other publicly owned facil-
ity at the expense of the city school district and at no cost to the
charter school FOR THREE YEARS. The space must be reasonable, appropri-
ate and comparable and in the community school district to be served by
the charter school and otherwise in reasonable proximity.
§ 10. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 3 of section 2853 of the education
law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 7 to read as follows:
(7)(A) NO CHARTER SCHOOL THAT, EITHER ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ANY
CHARTER AFFILIATE, HAS ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT INTEREST IN, OR MAY BE
ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST FROM, ANY ASSET OR ASSETS OF
ANY KIND OR NATURE THAT ALONE OR COMBINED HAVE A VALUE EXCEEDING ONE
MILLION DOLLARS, SHALL BE OFFERED OR ENTITLED TO RECEIVE: (I) A CO-LO-
CATION SITE IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING AT NO COST; OR (II) A SPACE IN A
PRIVATELY OR PUBLICLY OWNED FACILITY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
(B) NOTHING IN THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL PROHIBIT A CHARTER SCHOOL FROM
RECEIVING A CO-LOCATION IN A PUBLIC BUILDING AT FAIR MARKET VALUE UNLESS
DOING SO WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE SIZE OF CLASSES IN ANY OTHER SCHOOL
IN THE BUILDING.
(C) AS USED IN THIS SUBPARAGRAPH THE TERM "CHARTER AFFILIATE" MEANS:
(I) ANY ENTITY THAT IS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY CONTROLLED BY, IN CONTROL
OF, OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH, THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR (II) ANY ENTITY
THAT PROVIDES MANAGEMENT, FUNDRAISING OR OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
SERVICES TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL.
§ 11. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 4 of section 2853 of the education
law, as amended by section 1 of part BB of chapter 56 of the laws of
2014, is amended to read as follows:
(c) A charter school may contract with the governing body of a public
college or university for the use of a school building and grounds, the
operation and maintenance thereof. Any such contract shall provide such
services or facilities at [cost] FAIR MARKET VALUE. [A school district
shall permit any charter school granted approval to co-locate, to use
such services and facilities without cost.]
§ 12. Section 2853 of the education law is amended by adding 3 new
subdivisions 5, 6 and 7 to read as follows:
5. DISCLOSURE. (A) A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL REPORT:
(I) BY THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR, THE NAME,
ADDRESS AND TOTAL COMPENSATION PAID TO EACH PERSON SERVING AS A CHARTER
EXECUTIVE IN THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR; AND
(II) WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF RECEIPT, THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ANY INDI-
VIDUAL, CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, OR ENTITY PROVIDING A CONTRIBUTION,
GIFT, LOAN, ADVANCE OR DEPOSIT OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE TO THE
CHARTER SCHOOL OR CHARTER AFFILIATE AND THE AMOUNT OF EACH SUCH CONTRIB-
UTION, GIFT, LOAN, ADVANCE OR DEPOSIT.
(B) IF A CHARTER SCHOOL EITHER ALONE OR TOGETHER WITH ANY CHARTER
AFFILIATE HAS ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT INTEREST IN, OR MAY BE ENTITLED TO
RECEIVE ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN, ANY ASSET OR ASSETS OF ANY KIND OR
S. 4237 6
NATURE, ALONE OR TOGETHER, WITH A VALUE IN EXCESS OF ONE MILLION
DOLLARS, THE CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL:
(I) ENSURE THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL AND
EACH CHARTER AFFILIATE CONFORM TO AND ARE REPORTED ACCORDING TO GENERAL-
LY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES; AND
(II) ENSURE THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL AND
ANY CHARTER AFFILIATE ARE AUDITED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED
AUDITING STANDARDS BY AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT OR AN
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT, THAT SUCH AUDIT RECEIVES AN "UNQUALIFIED"
OPINION AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, COMPLIANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND THAT SUCH AUDIT IS COMPLETED WITHIN NINE
MONTHS OF THE CONCLUSION OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
(C) IF A CHARTER SCHOOL EITHER ALONE OR TOGETHER WITH ANY CHARTER
AFFILIATE HAS ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT INTEREST IN, OR MAY BE ENTITLED TO
RECEIVE ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN, ANY ASSET OR ASSETS OF ANY KIND OR
NATURE, ALONE OR TOGETHER, WITH A VALUE IN EXCESS OF ONE MILLION
DOLLARS, IT SHALL ALSO REPORT BY THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY OF EACH
ENSUING CALENDAR YEAR THE FOLLOWING:
(I) THE MOST RECENT AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL
AND ANY CHARTER AFFILIATE WHICH SHALL CONFORM TO AND BE REPORTED ACCORD-
ING TO GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES;
(II) THE MOST RECENT AUDITOR'S REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
THE CHARTER SCHOOL AND ANY CHARTER AFFILIATE;
(III) THE "UNQUALIFIED" OPINION RECEIVED FROM THE AUDITOR OF THE MOST
RECENT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, COMPLIANCE WITH
GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES; AND
(IV) ANY COMPENSATION OR REMUNERATION, WHETHER PAID OR GIVEN, INCLUD-
ING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SALARY, BONUS, AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION AND ANY
BENEFIT HAVING MONETARY VALUE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERQUI-
SITES, FRINGE BENEFITS, EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEFINED CONTRIBUTION
RETIREMENT PLANS AND OTHER RETIREMENT OR SEVERANCE BENEFITS RECEIVED BY
A CHARTER EXECUTIVE FROM ANY SOURCE.
(D)(I) EACH REPORT REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED
BY A STATEMENT, UNDER OATH, BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SCHOOL'S BOARD OF
TRUSTEES OR OTHER APPROPRIATE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THAT,
AFTER THE DUE INQUIRY, THE REPORTS ARE TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF
HIS OR HER KNOWLEDGE AND HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO EACH MEMBER OF THE
SCHOOL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
(II) A CHARTER SCHOOL TO WHICH PARAGRAPHS (B) AND (C) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
SION DO NOT APPLY SHALL, BY THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY OF EACH CALEN-
DAR YEAR, SUBMIT A STATEMENT AS PART OF ITS REPORT PURSUANT TO SUBPARA-
GRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, UNDER OATH, BY THE
CHAIRPERSON OF THE SCHOOL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES OR OTHER APPROPRIATE
MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THAT, AFTER THE DUE INQUIRY, THE CHAR-
TER SCHOOL EITHER ALONE OR TOGETHER WITH ANY CHARTER AFFILIATE DOES NOT
HAVE ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT INTEREST IN OR MAY BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE
ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN ANY ASSET OR ASSETS OF ANY KIND OR NATURE,
ALONE OR TOGETHER, WITH A VALUE IN EXCESS OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
(E) ANY REPORT REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE MADE TO
THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE SCHOOL'S CHARTER ENTITY, AND THE COMPTROLLER
OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS LOCATED IN NEW YORK CITY AND
THE COMPTROLLER OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS LOCATED
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ENSURE THAT SUCH
REPORT IS MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE VIA THE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICIAL INTERNET
WEBSITE WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF ITS RECEIPT.
S. 4237 7
(F) A CHARTER SCHOOL'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SUBDIVISION SHALL BE A VERY SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN DETERMINING WHETHER
THE CHARTER ENTITY OR THE BOARD OF REGENTS TERMINATES THE SCHOOL'S CHAR-
TER.
(G) AS USED IN THIS SUBDIVISION:
(I) "TOTAL COMPENSATION" SHALL INCLUDE: (A) ANY COMPENSATION OR REMUN-
ERATION, WHETHER PAID OR GIVEN, BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR
ANY CHARTER AFFILIATE, FOR SERVICES RENDERED TO, ON BEHALF OF, OR AT THE
REQUEST OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SALARY,
BONUS, AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION AND (B) ANY BENEFIT HAVING MONETARY
VALUE PROVIDED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR ANY CHARTER
AFFILIATE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERQUISITES, FRINGE BENEFITS,
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEFINED CONTRIBUTION RETIREMENT PLANS AND
OTHER RETIREMENT OR SEVERANCE BENEFITS.
(II) "CHARTER AFFILIATE" MEANS: (A) ANY ENTITY THAT IS, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, CONTROLLED BY, IN CONTROL OF, OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH
THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR (B) ANY ENTITY OR AFFILIATE THEREOF THAT PROVIDES
MANAGEMENT, FUNDRAISING, OR OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE
CHARTER SCHOOL.
(III) "CHARTER EXECUTIVE" MEANS: (A) AN OFFICER, DIRECTOR, TRUSTEE,
CONSULTANT, SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEE OF A CHARTER SCHOOL OR CHARTER AFFIL-
IATE OR (B) ANYONE WHO EXERTS OPERATIONAL OR MANAGERIAL INFLUENCE OR
CONTROL OVER THE SCHOOL INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INFLUENCE OR
CONTROL OVER THE SCHOOL THROUGH A CHARTER MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
6. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION. (A) NO CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL PROVIDE ANY
COMPENSATION TO ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ALSO AN OFFICER, DIRECTOR, TRUS-
TEE, CONSULTANT, OR EMPLOYEE OF A CHARTER AFFILIATE OR TO ANY INDIVIDUAL
WHO EXERTS OPERATIONAL OR MANAGERIAL INFLUENCE OR CONTROL OVER THE
SCHOOL THROUGH A CHARTER AFFILIATE.
(B)(I) NO CHARTER SCHOOL OR CHARTER AFFILIATE SHALL PERMIT THE TOTAL
COMPENSATION RECEIVED BY A CHARTER EXECUTIVE TO BE GREATER THAN ONE
HUNDRED NINETY-NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER ANNUM, INCLUDING NOT ONLY STATE
FUNDS AND STATE-AUTHORIZED PAYMENTS BUT ALSO ANY OTHER SOURCES OF FUND-
ING, AND GREATER THAN THE SEVENTY-FIFTH PERCENTILE OF THAT COMPENSATION
PROVIDED TO CHARTER EXECUTIVES OF OTHER CHARTER SCHOOLS AND CHARTER
AFFILIATES WITHIN THE SAME OR COMPARABLE GEOGRAPHIC AREA AS ESTABLISHED
BY A COMPENSATION SURVEY IDENTIFIED, PROVIDED, OR RECOGNIZED BY THE
DEPARTMENT AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF THE BUDGET.
(II) IF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF THE BUDGET
FIND GOOD CAUSE AFTER CONSIDERING THE FACTORS SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH
(IV) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, A WAIVER OF THE LIMIT ON TOTAL COMPENSATION THAT
A CHARTER EXECUTIVE MAY RECEIVE MAY BE GRANTED, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE TOTAL COMPENSATION EXCEED ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY
PERCENT OF LEVEL I OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RATES OF BASIC PAY FOR
THE EXECUTIVE SCHEDULE PROMULGATED BY THE UNITED STATES OFFICE OF
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.
(III) THE APPLICATION FOR A WAIVER MUST BE FILED NO LATER THAN THE
FIFTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY OF THE YEAR FOR WHICH THE WAIVER IS SOUGHT.
THE APPLICATION SHALL BE TRANSMITTED IN THE MANNER AND FORM SPECIFIED BY
THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF THE BUDGET. A WAIVER
MAY BE ONLY FOR THE SINGLE CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH IT IS GRANTED.
(IV) THE FOLLOWING FACTORS, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER DEEMED RELEVANT
BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF THE BUDGET, SHALL
BE CONSIDERED IN THE DETERMINATION OF WHETHER GOOD CAUSE EXISTS TO GRANT
A WAIVER:
S. 4237 8
(A) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION THAT IS THE SUBJECT
OF THE WAIVER REQUEST IS COMPARABLE TO THAT GIVEN TO COMPARABLE CHARTER
EXECUTIVES OF CHARTER SCHOOLS OR CHARTER AFFILIATES OF THE SAME SIZE AND
WITHIN THE SAME OR COMPARABLE GEOGRAPHIC AREA;
(B) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE CHARTER SCHOOL WOULD BE UNABLE TO PROVIDE
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AT THE SAME LEVELS OF QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY
WITHOUT A WAIVER OF THE LIMIT ON TOTAL COMPENSATION THAT A CHARTER EXEC-
UTIVE MAY RECEIVE;
(C) THE NATURE, SIZE, AND COMPLEXITY OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR CHARTER
AFFILIATE'S OPERATIONS;
(D) THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR CHARTER AFFILIATE'S REVIEW AND APPROVAL
PROCESS FOR THE TOTAL COMPENSATION THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE WAIVER,
INCLUDING WHETHER SUCH PROCESS INVOLVED A REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOL, WHETHER SUCH REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED BY AT
LEAST TWO INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS OR INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES, WHETHER SUCH REVIEW INCLUDED AN ASSESSMENT OF COMPARABILITY
DATA INCLUDING A COMPENSATION SURVEY, AND A CONTEMPORANEOUS SUBSTANTI-
ATION OF THE DELIBERATION AND DECISION TO APPROVE THE TOTAL COMPEN-
SATION;
(E) THE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE POSSESSED BY OR REQUIRED FOR THE
CHARTER EXECUTIVE'S POSITION; AND
(F) THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR CHARTER AFFILIATE'S EFFORTS, IF ANY, TO
SECURE A CHARTER EXECUTIVE WITH THE SAME LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE, EXPER-
TISE, AND SKILLS FOR THE POSITION OF THE CHARTER EXECUTIVE AT LOWER
LEVELS OF COMPENSATION.
(V) TO BE CONSIDERED, AN APPLICATION FOR SUCH A WAIVER SHALL COMPLY
WITH THIS PARAGRAPH IN ITS ENTIRETY.
(VI) UNLESS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED BUT NOT RECEIVED
FROM THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR CHARTER AFFILIATE, A DECISION ON A TIMELY
SUBMITTED WAIVER APPLICATION SHALL BE PROVIDED NO LATER THAN SIXTY
CALENDAR DAYS AFTER SUBMISSION OF THE APPLICATION.
(VII) IF GRANTED, A WAIVER TO A CHARTER EXECUTIVE SHALL REMAIN IN
EFFECT FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR IT IS ISSUED IN, BUT SHALL BE DEEMED
REVOKED IF:
(A) THE TOTAL COMPENSATION THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE WAIVER
INCREASES; OR
(B) NOTICE OF REVOCATION IS PROVIDED TO THE CHARTER EXECUTIVE AT THE
DISCRETION OF THE DEPARTMENT AS A RESULT OF ADDITIONAL RELEVANT CIRCUM-
STANCES.
(VIII) INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH A WAIVER APPLICATION
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PUBLIC DISCLOSURE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SIX OF THE
PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
(IX) WHERE A WAIVER IS GRANTED, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE IT PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE VIA THE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICIAL INTERNET WEBSITE WITHIN FIVE
DAYS.
(C) NO CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL USE FUNDS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO SECTION
TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX OF THIS ARTICLE OR ALLOW A CHARTER AFFIL-
IATE TO USE FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE CHARTER SCHOOL TO PROVIDE A TOTAL
COMPENSATION TO A CHARTER EXECUTIVE GREATER THAN ONE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE
THOUSAND DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
(D) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL
RESULT IN THE ASSESSMENT OF A PENALTY AGAINST THE PAYOR IN AN AMOUNT
EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION PAID OR PROVIDED IN VIOLATION OF
THIS SUBDIVISION.
(E) A CHARTER SCHOOL'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SUBDIVISION SHALL BE A VERY SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN DETERMINING WHETHER
S. 4237 9
THE CHARTER ENTITY OR THE BOARD OF REGENTS TERMINATES THE SCHOOL'S CHAR-
TER.
(F) AS USED IN THIS SUBDIVISION:
(I) "TOTAL COMPENSATION" SHALL INCLUDE: (A) ANY COMPENSATION OR REMUN-
ERATION, WHETHER PAID OR GIVEN, BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR
ANY CHARTER AFFILIATE, FOR SERVICES RENDERED TO, ON BEHALF OF, OR AT THE
REQUEST OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SALARY,
BONUS, AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION AND (B) ANY BENEFIT HAVING MONETARY
VALUE PROVIDED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR ANY CHARTER
AFFILIATE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERQUISITES, FRINGE BENEFITS,
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEFINED CONTRIBUTION RETIREMENT PLANS AND
OTHER RETIREMENT OR SEVERANCE BENEFITS.
(II) "CHARTER AFFILIATE" MEANS: (A) ANY ENTITY THAT IS, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, CONTROLLED BY, IN CONTROL OF, OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH
THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR (B) ANY ENTITY OR AFFILIATE THEREOF THAT PROVIDES
MANAGEMENT, FUNDRAISING, OR OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE
CHARTER SCHOOL.
(III) "CHARTER EXECUTIVE" MEANS: (A) AN OFFICER, DIRECTOR, TRUSTEE,
CONSULTANT, SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEE OF A CHARTER SCHOOL OR CHARTER AFFIL-
IATE OR (B) ANYONE WHO EXERTS OPERATIONAL OR MANAGERIAL INFLUENCE OR
CONTROL OVER THE SCHOOL INCLUDING, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, INFLUENCE OR
CONTROL OVER THE SCHOOL THROUGH A CHARTER MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
7. NOTIFICATION OF DISENROLLMENT. WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS OF A
STUDENT WHO WAS ENROLLED BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL CEASING TO BE ENROLLED, A
CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL NOTIFY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DISTRICT IN WHICH
THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS LOCATED OR, FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS LOCATED WITHIN THE
GEOGRAPHIC AREA SERVED BY THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW
YORK, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW
YORK, OF THE NAME OF SUCH STUDENT.
§ 13. Subparagraph 5 of paragraph (e) of subdivision 3 of section 2853
of the education law, as amended by section 11 of part A of chapter 54
of the laws of 2016, clause (B) as amended by section 5 of part YYY of
chapter 59 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
(5) For a new charter school whose charter is granted or for an exist-
ing charter school whose expansion of grade level, pursuant to this
article, is approved by their charter entity, if the appeal results in a
determination in favor of the charter school, FOR SIX YEARS the city
school district shall pay the charter school (A) FOR THE INITIAL THREE
YEARS IN WHICH AID IS PAYABLE, an amount attributable to the grade level
expansion or the formation of the new charter school that is equal to
the lesser of:
[(A)] (I) the actual rental cost of an alternative privately owned
site selected by the charter school or
[(B)] (II) thirty percent of the product of the charter school's basic
tuition for the current school year and [(i)] (I) for a new charter
school that first commences instruction on or after July first, two
thousand fourteen, the charter school's current year enrollment; or
[(ii)] (II) for a charter school which expands its grade level, pursuant
to this article, the positive difference of the charter school's enroll-
ment in the current school year minus the charter school's enrollment in
the school year prior to the first year of the expansion; AND
(B) IN THE FOURTH YEAR, THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL PAY NINETY
PERCENT MULTIPLIED BY THE AMOUNT CALCULATED PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (A) OF
THIS SUBPARAGRAPH; AND
S. 4237 10
(C) IN THE FIFTH YEAR, THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL PAY SIXTY
PERCENT MULTIPLIED BY THE AMOUNT CALCULATED PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (A) OF
THIS SUBPARAGRAPH; AND
(D) IN THE SIXTH YEAR, THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL PAY THIRTY
PERCENT MULTIPLIED BY THE AMOUNT CALCULATED PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (A) OF
THIS SUBPARAGRAPH.
§ 14. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 2854 of the education
law, as amended by section 10-b of part A of chapter 56 of the laws of
2014, is amended to read as follows:
(b) A charter school shall meet the same health and safety, civil
rights, and student assessment requirements applicable to other public
schools, except as otherwise specifically provided in this article. A
charter school shall be exempt from all other state and local laws,
rules, regulations or policies governing public or private schools,
boards of education, school districts and political subdivisions,
including those relating to school personnel and students, except as
specifically provided in the school's charter or in this article. Noth-
ing in this subdivision shall affect the requirements of compulsory
education of minors established by part one of article sixty-five of
this chapter, NOR SHALL ANYTHING IN THIS SUBDIVISION AFFECT THE REQUIRE-
MENTS OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL TO COMPLY WITH SECTION ONE HUNDRED THREE OF
THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW AND ARTICLES EIGHT AND NINE OF THE LABOR LAW
WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, DEMOLITION, EXCA-
VATION, REHABILITATION, REPAIR, RENOVATION, OR ALTERATION OF ANY CHARTER
SCHOOL FACILITY.
§ 15. Subdivision 2 of section 2854 of the education law, as added by
chapter 4 of the laws of 1998, paragraph (a) as amended by chapter 101
of the laws of 2010, and paragraph (b) as amended by section 3 of
subpart A of part B of chapter 20 of the laws of 2015, is amended to
read as follows:
2. Admissions; enrollment; students. (a) A charter school shall be
nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices,
and all other operations and shall not charge tuition or fees; provided
that a charter school may require the payment of fees on the same basis
and to the same extent as other public schools. A charter school shall
not discriminate against any student, employee or any other person on
the basis of ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability or any
other ground that would be unlawful if done by a school. Admission of
students shall not be limited on the basis of intellectual ability,
measures of achievement or aptitude, athletic ability, disability, race,
creed, gender, national origin, religion, or ancestry; provided, howev-
er, that nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent the
establishment of a single-sex charter school or a charter school
designed to provide expanded learning opportunities for students at-risk
of academic failure or students with disabilities and English language
learners; and provided, further, that the charter school shall demon-
strate good faith efforts to attract and retain [a comparable] AN EQUAL
or greater enrollment of students with disabilities, English language
learners, and students who are eligible applicants for the free and
reduced price lunch program when compared to the enrollment figures for
such students in the school district in which the charter school is
located. A charter shall not be issued to any school that would be whol-
ly or in part under the control or direction of any religious denomi-
nation, or in which any denominational tenet or doctrine would be
taught.
S. 4237 11
(b) (I) Any child who is qualified under the laws of this state for
admission to a public school is qualified for admission to a charter
school. Applications for admission to a charter school shall be submit-
ted on a uniform application form created by the department and shall be
made available by a charter school in languages predominately spoken in
the community in which such charter school is located. [The]
(II) A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL ENROLL AND CONTINUALLY KEEP ENROLLED THE
MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: (A)
STUDENTS WHO ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AS DEFINED IN REGULATIONS OF
THE COMMISSIONER, (B) STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE OR ARE MANDATED TO RECEIVE
ANY SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE, (C) STUDENTS WHO HAVE INDIVIDUAL EDUCA-
TION PLANS THAT MANDATE THEY RECEIVE SERVICES FOR AT LEAST SIXTY PERCENT
OF THE SCHOOL DAY OUTSIDE THE GENERAL EDUCATION SETTING, (D) STUDENTS
WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FREE LUNCH IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE I OF THE
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT, AND (E) STUDENTS WHO RESIDE IN
TEMPORARY OR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS A
CHARTER SCHOOL MUST ENROLL AND CONTINUALLY KEEP ENROLLED IN EACH SUCH
CATEGORY SHALL BE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT, AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE
STUDENTS AUTHORIZED TO BE SERVED BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL IN ITS CHARTER,
IS EQUAL TO THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS IN EACH CATEGORY THAT NON-CHARTER
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT WHERE THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS LOCATED
ENROLLED IN THE PRECEDING JUNE IN ALL OF THE GRADES COMBINED WHICH ARE
SERVED BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, FOR THE
CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, DISTRICT SHALL MEAN THE
COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SHALL INCLUDE ALL NON-CHARTER PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, EXCEPT THOSE IN DISTRICT SEVENTY-FIVE, GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED
IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
(III) PRIOR TO A CHARTER SCHOOL SELECTING OR ENROLLING STUDENTS FOR
THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROVIDE THE CHARTER SCHOOL
WITH THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS IT MUST ENROLL AND CONTINUALLY KEEP
ENROLLED IN EACH CATEGORY PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARA-
GRAPH. THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS EACH CHARTER SCHOOL MUST ENROLL
AND CONTINUALLY KEEP ENROLLED IN EACH CATEGORY PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH
(II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE MADE PUBLIC BY THE COMMISSIONER NO LATER
THAN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS AFTER IT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE CHARTER
SCHOOL.
(IV) A CHARTER school shall enroll each eligible student who submits a
timely application by the first day of April each year[,] unless the
number of applications exceeds the capacity of the grade level or build-
ing OR WOULD CAUSE THE CHARTER SCHOOL TO BE BELOW THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF
STUDENTS IT MUST ENROLL AND CONTINUALLY KEEP ENROLLED IN EACH CATEGORY
PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. In such cases, students
shall be accepted from among applicants by a random selection process,
provided[, however,] that SEPARATE RANDOM SELECTION PROCESSES SHALL BE
CONDUCTED FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT IN ANY CATEGORY SET FORTH IN SUBPAR-
AGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND FOR STUDENTS IN EACH CATEGORY SET
FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH SUCH THAT A CHARTER SCHOOL
ENROLLS AT LEAST THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
(V) WHERE A CHARTER SCHOOL DOES NOT ENROLL THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF
STUDENTS IT MUST ENROLL AND CONTINUALLY KEEP ENROLLED IN EACH CATEGORY
SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE CHARTER SCHOOL
SHALL HOLD OPEN A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF ENROLLMENT SPACES SUCH THAT IT IS
POSSIBLE FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOL, CONSISTENT WITH ITS CHARTER, TO SUBSE-
QUENTLY ENROLL THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS REQUIRED BY SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF
THIS PARAGRAPH.
S. 4237 12
(VI) A CHARTER SCHOOL MAY PROVIDE an enrollment preference [shall be
provided] to pupils returning to the charter school in the second or any
subsequent year of operation and pupils residing in the school district
in which the charter school is located, and siblings of pupils already
enrolled in the charter school PROVIDED THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL ENROLLS
AND CONTINUALLY KEEPS ENROLLED THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS REQUIRED
IN EACH CATEGORY PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND
HOLDS OPEN THE NUMBER OF ENROLLMENT SPACES AS REQUIRED BY SUBPARAGRAPH
(V) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. Preference may also be provided to children of
employees of the charter school or charter management organization,
PROVIDED THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL ENROLLS AND CONTINUALLY KEEPS ENROLLED
THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS REQUIRED IN EACH CATEGORY PURSUANT TO
SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND HOLDS OPEN THE NUMBER OF ENROLL-
MENT SPACES AS REQUIRED BY SUBPARAGRAPH (V) OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND
provided FURTHER that such children of employees may constitute no more
than fifteen percent of the charter school's total enrollment.
(VII) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, IF A STUDENT WITHDRAWS FROM A
CHARTER SCHOOL AS A RESULT OF A VOLUNTARY DECISION OF THE STUDENT'S
PARENT OR GUARDIAN AND, AS A DIRECT RESULT, THE CHARTER SCHOOL NO LONGER
HAS THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN EACH CATEGORY REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL NEVERTHE-
LESS BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE CONTINUALLY KEPT ENROLLED THE MINIMUM NUMBER
OF STUDENTS REQUIRED BY SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH IF, WITHIN
THIRTY DAYS OF THE STUDENT BEING WITHDRAWN, THE CHARTER SCHOOL REPLACES
THE STUDENT THAT WAS WITHDRAWN WITH A DIFFERENT STUDENT SUCH THAT THE
CHARTER SCHOOL HAS THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN EACH CATEGORY
REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, PROVIDED
HOWEVER, THAT THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL NOT APPLY (A) IF THE CHARTER
SCHOOL WAS ALREADY IN VIOLATION OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (II)
OF THIS PARAGRAPH AT THE TIME THE STUDENT WAS WITHDRAWN OR (B) IF THE
DECISION OF THE STUDENT'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN WAS SUBSTANTIALLY MOTIVATED
BY ANY ACTION OR INACTION OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL, OR ANY OF ITS AGENTS OR
EMPLOYEES, THAT WAS IN VIOLATION OF ANY LAW, RULE, OR REGULATION.
(VIII) (A) A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL REPORT THE NAMES OF ANY PARENTS OR
GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ON A WAITLIST FOR ENROLLMENT IN THE CHAR-
TER SCHOOL TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DISTRICT IN WHICH THE CHARTER
SCHOOL IS LOCATED OR, FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS LOCATED WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC
AREA SERVED BY THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE
CHANCELLOR OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, WHETHER
EACH SUCH STUDENT IS IN ONE OF THE CATEGORIES SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH
(II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND, IF SO, WHICH ONE.
(B) A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT, AT ANY TIME, DOES NOT HAVE ENROLLED THE
MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS REQUIRED IN EACH CATEGORY PURSUANT TO SUBPAR-
AGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOTIFY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
DISTRICT IN WHICH THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS LOCATED OR, FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS
LOCATED WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA SERVED BY THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF
THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE
CITY OF NEW YORK, WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE DATE OF THE SCHOOL BEING BELOW
THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS. A SEPARATE NOTIFICATION SHALL BE
PROVIDED EACH TIME A CHARTER SCHOOL'S ENROLLMENT FALLS BELOW THE MINIMUM
IN ANY CATEGORY PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
(C) WHERE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DISTRICT OR THE CHANCELLOR OF THE
CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK RECEIVES NOTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (B) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, HE OR SHE SHALL FIRST OFFER
THE ENROLLMENT SPACES TO ANY PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE IN
A CATEGORY IN WHICH THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS BELOW THE MINIMUM SET FORTH IN
S. 4237 13
SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH WHO ARE ON THE SCHOOL'S WAITLIST,
THEN TO ANY PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE IN A CATEGORY IN
WHICH THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS BELOW THE MINIMUM SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH
(II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH WHO ARE ON THE WAITLIST OF ANOTHER CHARTER SCHOOL
IN THE DISTRICT IN WHICH THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS LOCATED OR, FOR CHARTER
SCHOOLS LOCATED WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA SERVED BY THE CITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THEN TO ANY OTHER PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS
WHO ARE IN A CATEGORY IN WHICH THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS BELOW THE MINIMUM
SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH WHO RESIDE IN THE
DISTRICT; SUCH PROCESS OF ENROLLMENT OFFERS SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL THE
CHARTER SCHOOL IS NO LONGER BELOW SUCH MINIMUM IN ANY CATEGORY OR SUCH
SUPERINTENDENT OR CHANCELLOR CERTIFIES THERE ARE NO SUCH STUDENTS SEEK-
ING ENROLLMENT.
(D) OFFERS MADE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE MADE IN WRITING
IN THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN'S PRIMARY LANGUAGE. WHERE AN OFFER IS MADE
PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH AND THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN ACCEPTS, THE
CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL ENROLL THE STUDENT WITHIN FIVE CALENDAR DAYS OF THE
OFFER BEING ACCEPTED.
(IX) (A) FOR EACH MONTH DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL
REPORT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THEN ENROLLED, AS OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE
MONTH, IN EACH CATEGORY SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH
AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THEN ENROLLED, AS OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE
MONTH, THAT ARE IN NONE OF THE CATEGORIES SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II)
OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
(B) REPORTS PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE MADE TO THE BOARD
OF REGENTS, THE SCHOOL'S CHARTER ENTITY, THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CITY OF
NEW YORK FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS LOCATED IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE COMP-
TROLLER OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF
THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DISTRICT IN WHICH
THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS LOCATED OR, FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS LOCATED WITHIN THE
GEOGRAPHIC AREA SERVED BY THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW
YORK, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW
YORK. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ENSURE THAT SUCH REPORT IS MADE PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE VIA SUCH DEPARTMENT'S OFFICIAL INTERNET WEBSITE WITHIN FIVE
DAYS OF ITS RECEIPT.
(C) REPORTS PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE MADE ON THE FIFTH
DAY OF THE ENSUING MONTH DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED
BY A STATEMENT, UNDER OATH, BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SCHOOL'S BOARD OF
TRUSTEES OR OTHER APPROPRIATE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THAT,
AFTER THE DUE INQUIRY, THE REPORTS ARE TRUE AND CORRECT AND HAVE BEEN
PROVIDED TO EACH MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
(X) The commissioner shall establish regulations to require that the
random selection [process] PROCESSES conducted pursuant to this para-
graph be performed in a transparent and equitable manner and to require
that the time and place of the random selection process be publicized in
a manner consistent with the requirements of section one hundred four of
the public officers law and be open to the public. [For] EXCEPT WHERE
ANOTHER DEFINITION IS PROVIDED, FOR the purposes of this paragraph and
paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the school district in which the
charter school is located shall mean, for the city school district of
the city of New York, the community district in which the charter school
is located.
(XI) THE COMMISSIONER MAY, BY REGULATION, REQUIRE THE BOARD OF EDUCA-
TION OF EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE CHANCELLOR OF THE CITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK TO PROVIDE TO HIM OR HER SUCH INFORMA-
S. 4237 14
TION AS IS NECESSARY TO CALCULATE THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS A CHAR-
TER SCHOOL MUST ENROLL AND CONTINUALLY HAVE ENROLLED PURSUANT TO SUBPAR-
AGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. SUCH INFORMATION SHALL BE MADE PUBLIC BY
THE COMMISSIONER WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS OF RECEIPT.
(XII)(A) IF A CHARTER SCHOOL FAILS TO ENROLL THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS
REQUIRED BY SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH THE APPROPRIATE SCHOOL
DISTRICT SHALL WITHHOLD FROM THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S FUNDING AN AMOUNT
EQUAL TO THE ADDITIONAL PER PUPIL FUNDING THE CHARTER SCHOOL WOULD HAVE
RECEIVED HAD EACH STUDENT NOT ENROLLED AS REQUIRED BY SUBPARAGRAPH (II)
OF THIS PARAGRAPH BEEN ENROLLED.
(B) MONEY WITHHELD BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS
SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE RETURNED TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRIBUTION TO
EACH OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, USING AN EQUITABLE FORMULA DETERMINED BY
THE COMMISSIONER, PROVIDED THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR SCHOOLS FROM WHICH THE
MONIES ARE WITHHELD SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO THE RETURN OF ANY MONEY
WITHHELD PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH OR ANY ADDITIONAL MONIES AS A
RESULT OF THE COMMISSIONER'S DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS PURSUANT TO THIS
SUBPARAGRAPH.
(XIII) (A) NO CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL FIRST COMMENCE INSTRUCTION IF IT IS
OPERATED BY, MANAGED BY, AFFILIATED WITH, IN THE SAME CHAIN AS, SHARES
THE SAME MANAGEMENT COMPANY AS, OR HAS ANY COMMON CHARTER APPLICANT AS,
A SCHOOL THAT HAS BEEN IN VIOLATION, WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS, OF THE
ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
(B) NO CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL EXPAND BEYOND THE GRADES WITH ENROLLED
STUDENTS, EVEN IF SUCH EXPANSION IS AUTHORIZED BY ITS CHARTER, IF IT HAS
BEEN IN VIOLATION, WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS, OF THE ENROLLMENT REQUIRE-
MENTS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
(C) A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT DOES NOT HAVE ENROLLED THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF
STUDENTS AS REQUIRED BY SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT BE
OFFERED OR ENTITLED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (E) OF SUBDIVISION THREE OF
SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE (1) A CO-LOCA-
TION SITE IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING AT NO COST OR (2) SPACE IN A
PRIVATELY OWNED OR OTHER PUBLICLY OWNED FACILITY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE
CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN CO-LOCATED
IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING OR GIVEN SPACE IN A PRIVATELY OWNED OR OTHER
PUBLICLY OWNED FACILITY PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH AND THEN FAILS TO
CONTINUALLY HAVE ENROLLED THE REQUIRED MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS SHALL
BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF SUCH SPACE FOR SUCH PERIOD
OF TIME OF NON-COMPLIANCE.
(XIV) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE ENFORCEABLE BY THE
COMMISSIONER OR BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION. ANY EMPLOYEE OF
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS LOCATED OR THE PARENT
OR GUARDIAN OF A STUDENT ATTENDING THE DISTRICT IN WHICH THE CHARTER
SCHOOL IS LOCATED SHALL HAVE STANDING TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
PARAGRAPH.
(XV) A CHARTER SCHOOL'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
PARAGRAPH SHALL BE A VERY SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN DETERMINING WHETHER THE
CHARTER ENTITY OR THE BOARD OF REGENTS TERMINATES THE SCHOOL'S CHARTER.
(B-1) PRIOR TO SUBMISSION OF ENROLLMENT COUNTS TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT
PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX OF
THIS ARTICLE, ON OR AFTER OCTOBER FIRST OF THE TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN--
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY SCHOOL YEAR AND OCTOBER FIRST OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR
THEREAFTER, A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER THAT SCHOOL
DISTRICT IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE OF EACH STUDENT FOR WHOM
ENROLLMENT IS CLAIMED. SUCH RESIDENCY DETERMINATION SHALL BE MADE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER AND THE RESIDENCY
S. 4237 15
POLICY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS LOCATED,
PROVIDED THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL MAY FULFILL SUCH REQUIREMENT BY REQUIR-
ING THAT THE PARENTS OR OTHER PERSONS IN PARENTAL RELATION REGISTER
THEIR CHILD WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED AS THEIR
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF
LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE PARENTS OR OTHER PERSONS IN PARENTAL RELATION
SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO ANNUALLY PROVE THEIR CONTINUED RESIDENCY,
PROVIDED THAT THEY EITHER ANNUALLY CERTIFY TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL AND THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE THAT THEIR RESIDENCY HAS NOT CHANGED OR
NOTIFY THE CHARTER SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THEIR RESIDENCY
HAS CHANGED AND THAT A NEW SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE SHOULD BE IDEN-
TIFIED PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH. UPON MAKING A RESIDENCY DETERMI-
NATION, A CHARTER SCHOOL MAKING ITS OWN RESIDENCY DETERMINATION SHALL
PROMPTLY SUBMIT ITS PROOF OF RESIDENCE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IDENTIFIED
AS THE DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE FOR PURPOSES OF ENROLLMENT OF THE STUDENT
IN SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION
TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX OF THIS ARTICLE, AND THE PROVISION OF
SERVICES PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED
FIFTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE. IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE OVER THE RESIDEN-
CY OF A STUDENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL MAKE ITS OWN RESIDENCY DETER-
MINATION PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER AFTER CONSIDER-
ING THE PROOF OF RESIDENCY SUBMITTED BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL, AND SUCH
DETERMINATION MAY BE APPEALED TO THE COMMISSIONER BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL
OR BY THE PARENT OR OTHER PERSON IN PARENTAL RELATION OR BOTH PURSUANT
TO SECTION THREE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS CHAPTER. DURING THE PENDENCY OF
SUCH APPEAL, THE STUDENT SHALL BE DEEMED ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SERVICES PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF
SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE, AND THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT SHALL BE LIABLE FOR CHARTER SCHOOL TUITION, PROVIDED THAT UPON
A FINAL DETERMINATION IN SUCH APPEAL THAT THE STUDENT IS NOT A RESIDENT
OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY DEDUCT THE COST OF SUCH
TUITION AND SERVICES FROM FUTURE PAYMENTS DUE THE CHARTER SCHOOL. THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT APPLY TO CHARTER SCHOOLS LOCATED
IN A CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE.
(c) A charter school shall serve one or more of the grades one through
twelve, and shall limit admission to pupils within the grade levels
served. Nothing herein shall prohibit a charter school from establishing
a kindergarten program.
(d) A student may withdraw from a charter school at any time and
enroll in a public school. [A charter school may refuse admission to any
student who has been expelled or suspended from a public school until
the period of suspension or expulsion from the public school has
expired, consistent with the requirements of due process]
(I) A STUDENT MAY ONLY BE DISCIPLINED, SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED FROM A
CHARTER SCHOOL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVI-
SIONS TWO-A, THREE, AND THREE-A OF SECTION THIRTY-TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN
OF THIS CHAPTER. EVERY CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL DEVELOP A CODE OF CONDUCT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED ONE OF
THIS TITLE.
(II) EVERY CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL SUBMIT A DETAILED ANNUAL REPORT
REGARDING DISCIPLINARY MEASURES IMPOSED ON STUDENTS. THE REPORT SHALL BE
SUBMITTED TO THE CHARTER ENTITY AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS AS PART OF THE
ANNUAL REPORT REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION TWENTY-
EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-SEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE. THE REPORT SHALL BE IN A FORM
PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER, AND SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED
TO, NUMBER OF CLASSROOM REMOVALS, NUMBER OF IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS,
S. 4237 16
NUMBER OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS, NUMBER OF EXPULSIONS, AND THE
ACTION THE STUDENT TOOK THAT LED TO EACH DISCIPLINARY MEASURE IMPOSED.
SUCH DATA SHALL BE DISAGGREGATED BY RACE/ETHNICITY, STATUS AS A STUDENT
WITH A DISABILITY AND STATUS AS AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER. THE REPORT
SHALL BE POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.
(III) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION:
(A) THE TERM "SUPERINTENDENT," "SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS," "DISTRICT
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS," OR "COMMUNITY SUPERINTENDENT," AS USED IN
SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION THIRTY-TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAP-
TER, AS SUCH TERMS RELATE TO CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL MEAN THE CHAIRPERSON
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR THE CHIEF SCHOOL OFFI-
CER OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL; AND
(B) THE TERM "BOARD OF EDUCATION" OR "BOARD," AS USED IN SUBDIVISION
THREE OF SECTION THIRTY-TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER, AS SUCH
TERMS RELATE TO CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL MEAN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
CHARTER SCHOOL.
§ 16. Subdivision 1 of section 2855 of the education law, as amended
by chapter 101 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
1. The charter entity, or the board of regents, may terminate a char-
ter upon any of the following grounds:
(a) When a charter school's outcome on student assessment measures
adopted by the board of regents falls below the level that would allow
the commissioner to revoke the registration of another public school,
and student achievement on such measures has not shown improvement over
the preceding three school years;
(b) [Serious violations] A VIOLATION of law;
(c) [Material and substantial] A violation of the charter[, including
fiscal mismanagement];
(d) When the public employment relations board makes a determination
that the charter school [demonstrates a practice and pattern of egre-
gious and intentional violations of] HAS VIOLATED subdivision one of
section two hundred nine-a of the civil service law involving interfer-
ence with or discrimination against employee rights under article four-
teen of the civil service law; or THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBCHAPTER II OF CHAPTER SEVEN OF TITLE TWENTY-NINE
OF THE UNITED STATES CODE, OR ANY PERSON OR ENTITY TO WHOM THE NATIONAL
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD HAS LAWFULLY DELEGATED ITS AUTHORITY, MAKES A
DETERMINATION THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL HAS VIOLATED SECTION 158(A) OF
TITLE TWENTY-NINE OF THE UNITED STATES CODE; OR
(e) [Repeated failure to comply with the requirement to meet or exceed
enrollment and retention targets of students with disabilities, English
language learners, and students who are eligible applicants for the free
and reduced price lunch program pursuant to targets established by the
board of regents or the board of trustees of the state university of New
York, as applicable. Provided, however, if no grounds for terminating a
charter are established pursuant to this section other than pursuant to
this paragraph, and the charter school demonstrates that it has made
extensive efforts to recruit and retain such students, including
outreach to parents and families in the surrounding communities, widely
publicizing the lottery for such school, and efforts to academically
support such students in such charter school, then the charter entity or
board of regents may retain such charter.] FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT
HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE; OR
S. 4237 17
(F) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE DATA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED
IN SUBDIVISIONS TWO AND TWO-A OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-SEV-
EN OF THIS ARTICLE.
§ 17. Subdivision 3 of section 2855 of the education law, as added by
chapter 4 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
3. (A) In addition to the provisions of subdivision two of this
section, the charter entity or the board of regents may place a charter
school falling within the provisions of subdivision one of this section
on probationary status to allow the implementation of a remedial action
plan. The failure of a charter school to comply with the terms and
conditions of a remedial action plan may result in summary revocation of
the school's charter.
(B) A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT IS PLACED ON PROBATIONARY STATUS SHALL ANNU-
ALLY NOTIFY THE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF ALL STUDENTS AND APPLICANTS OF
THE PLACEMENT. THE INITIAL NOTICE SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED WITHIN TWO WEEKS
OF BEING PLACED ON PROBATIONARY STATUS. SUCH NOTICE SHALL BE WRITTEN AND
DELIVERED VIA MAIL. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL IDENTIFY ALL CHARTER SCHOOLS ON
PROBATIONARY STATUS ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE AND SHALL ALSO POST THE
REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN.
§ 18. Subdivision 4 of section 2855 of the education law, as added by
chapter 4 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
4. (A) Any individual or group may bring a complaint to the board of
trustees of a charter school alleging a violation of the provisions of
this article, the charter, or any other provision of law relating to the
management or operation of the charter school. If, after presentation of
the complaint to the board of trustees of a charter school, the individ-
ual or group determines that such board has not adequately addressed the
complaint, they may present that complaint to the charter entity, which
shall investigate and respond. If, after presentation of the complaint
to the charter entity, the individual or group determines that the char-
ter entity has not adequately addressed the complaint, they may present
that complaint to the board of regents, which shall investigate and
respond. The charter entity and the board of regents shall have the
power and the duty to issue appropriate remedial orders to charter
schools under their jurisdiction to effectuate the provisions of this
section.
(B) AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL
PROVIDE THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF EACH STUDENT ENROLLED IN THE CHARTER
SCHOOL INFORMATION DETAILING THE PROCESS BY WHICH A COMPLAINT CAN BE
BROUGHT AGAINST THE CHARTER SCHOOL PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS
SUBDIVISION. IN ADDITION TO DETAILING THE PROCESS BY WHICH A COMPLAINT
CAN BE BROUGHT, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE
LIMITED TO THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
CHARTER SCHOOL IN WHICH THE STUDENT IS ENROLLED, THE CONTACT INFORMATION
FOR THE CHARTER ENTITY OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL, AND THE CONTACT INFORMA-
TION FOR THE BOARD OF REGENTS, IF THE BOARD OF REGENTS IS NOT THE CHAR-
TER ENTITY. SUCH INFORMATION SHALL ALSO BE POSTED AND UPDATED ANNUALLY
ON THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S WEBSITE.
§ 19. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 2856 of the education law are
renumbered subdivisions 3 and 4 and a new subdivision 2 is added to read
as follows:
2. IN THE EVENT THAT IN ANY SCHOOL YEAR A CHARTER SCHOOL RECEIVES
COMBINED PAYMENTS FROM ANY LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL SOURCE THAT EXCEED
EXPENDITURES FOR SUCH SCHOOL YEAR RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF SUCH CHAR-
TER SCHOOL BY SEVEN PERCENT, THEN ANY EXCESS FUNDS ABOVE SUCH AMOUNT
S. 4237 18
SHALL BE RETURNED PROPORTIONATELY TO ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE PAID
TUITION TO SUCH CHARTER SCHOOL.
§ 20. Subdivision 3 of section 2856 of the education law, as added by
chapter 4 of the laws of 1998 and as renumbered by section nineteen of
this act, is amended to read as follows:
3. (A) In the event of the failure of the school district to make
payments required by this section, the state comptroller shall deduct
from any state funds which become due to such school district an amount
equal to the unpaid obligation. The comptroller shall pay over such sum
to the charter school upon certification of the commissioner. The
commissioner shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of
this subdivision.
(B) AT LEAST THIRTY DAYS PRIOR TO SUBMISSION OF A REQUEST FOR AN
INTERCEPT OF STATE FUNDS PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION,
THE CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL PROVIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE WITH A
LIST OF STUDENTS WHOSE TUITION IS PROPOSED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE INTER-
CEPT AND DOCUMENTATION OF ANY SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE
CHARTER SCHOOL, THE COST OF WHICH WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE INTERCEPT.
IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OBJECTS TO INCLUSION OF THE TUITION OR COST OF
SERVICES IN THE INTERCEPT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL PROVIDE THE CHARTER
SCHOOL WITH A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF ITS REASONS FOR OBJECTING TO THE
INTERCEPT THAT IDENTIFIES THE STUDENTS WHOSE COSTS ARE IN DISPUTE AND
THE CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL SCHEDULE A RESOLUTION SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE
OF RESOLVING THE DISPUTE, WHICH SHALL BE HELD WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS
OF RECEIPT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S OBJECTION. EACH PARTY SHALL ENSURE
THAT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES WHO ATTEND THE RESOLUTION ARE FULLY AUTHOR-
IZED TO BIND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL, AND ANY AGREEMENT
REACHED AT THE RESOLUTION SESSION SHALL BE FINAL AND BINDING UPON BOTH
PARTIES. IN THE EVENT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT NOTIFY THE CHARTER
SCHOOL OF ITS OBJECTIONS WITHIN TEN DAYS OF ITS RECEIPT OF THE LIST OF
STUDENTS OR FAILS TO PARTICIPATE IN A RESOLUTION SESSION, THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE WAIVED ITS OBJECTIONS TO THE INTERCEPT
AND THE CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO OFFER A RESOLUTION
SESSION. IF THE PARTIES ARE UNABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT AT A RESOLUTION
SESSION, THEY MAY AGREE TO SCHEDULE ADDITIONAL RESOLUTION SESSIONS OR,
IF ONE OF THE PARTIES INFORMS THE OTHER THAT AGREEMENT IS NOT POSSIBLE,
THE DISPUTE MAY BE RAISED BY THE DISTRICT AS A CHARTER SCHOOL COMPLAINT
PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE
OF THIS ARTICLE, OR, IF THE DISPUTE CONCERNS THE RESIDENCY OF A STUDENT,
AN APPEAL MAY BE BROUGHT PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT PROCESS AN INTERCEPT FOR TUITION OR THE COST OF
SERVICES OF A STUDENT WHOSE COSTS ARE IN DISPUTE UNTIL THE CHARTER
SCHOOL NOTIFIES THE DEPARTMENT THAT A RESOLUTION SESSION HAS BEEN HELD
AND NO AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED, OR THAT NO RESOLUTION SESSION IS
REQUIRED BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FAILED TO PROVIDE TIMELY NOTICE OR
FAILED TO PARTICIPATE IN A SCHEDULED RESOLUTION SESSION.
(C) IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE OVER THE RESIDENCY OF A STUDENT, THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL MAKE ITS OWN RESIDENCY DETERMINATION PURSUANT TO
THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER AFTER CONSIDERING THE PROOF OF RESI-
DENCY SUBMITTED BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL, AND SUCH DETERMINATION MAY BE
APPEALED TO THE COMMISSIONER BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL OR BY THE PARENT OR
OTHER PERSON IN PARENTAL RELATION OR BOTH PURSUANT TO SECTION THREE
HUNDRED TEN OF THIS CHAPTER. DURING THE PENDENCY OF SUCH APPEAL, THE
STUDENT SHALL BE DEEMED ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SHALL BE ENTI-
TLED TO SERVICES PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT
HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE, AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL BE
S. 4237 19
LIABLE FOR CHARTER SCHOOL TUITION, PROVIDED THAT UPON A FINAL DETERMI-
NATION IN SUCH APPEAL THAT THE STUDENT IS NOT A RESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY DEDUCT THE COST OF SUCH TUITION AND
SERVICES FROM FUTURE PAYMENTS DUE THE CHARTER SCHOOL.
§ 21. Subdivision 2 of section 2857 of the education law, as amended
by chapter 101 of the laws of 2010, is amended and a new subdivision 2-a
is added to read as follows:
2. Each charter school shall submit to the charter entity and to the
board of regents an annual report. Such report shall be issued no later
than the first day of August of each year for the preceding school year
and shall be made publicly available by such date and shall be posted on
BOTH the charter school's [website] AND THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITES. The
annual report shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the
commissioner and shall include at least the following components:
(a) a charter school report card, which shall include measures of the
comparative academic and fiscal performance of the school, as prescribed
by the commissioner in regulations adopted for such purpose. Such meas-
ures shall include, but not be limited to, graduation rates, dropout
rates, performance of students on standardized tests, college entry
rates, total spending per pupil and administrative spending per pupil.
Such measures shall be presented in a format that is easily comparable
to similar public schools. In addition, the charter school shall ensure
that such information is easily accessible to the community including
making it publicly available by transmitting it to local newspapers of
general circulation and making it available for distribution at board of
trustee meetings[.];
(b) discussion of the progress made towards achievement of the goals
set forth in the charter[.];
(c) a certified financial statement setting forth, by appropriate
categories, the revenues and expenditures for the preceding school year,
including a copy of the most recent independent fiscal audit of the
school and any audit conducted by the comptroller of the state of New
York[.];
(d) efforts taken by the charter school in the existing school year,
and a plan for efforts to be taken in the succeeding school year, to
meet or exceed THE enrollment [and retention targets set by the board of
regents or the board of trustees of the state university of New York, as
applicable, of students with disabilities, English language learners,
and students who are eligible applicants for the free and reduced price
lunch program established pursuant to paragraph (e) of subdivision four
of section twenty-eight hundred fifty-one of this article.] REQUIREMENTS
OF SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION
TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE;
(E) FOR ANY CHARTER SCHOOL THAT CONTRACTS WITH A MANAGEMENT COMPANY OR
ANY OTHER ENTITY THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL, A
DETAILED STATEMENT OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL BY THE
MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND/OR ANY OTHER ENTITY AND THE AMOUNT THE CHARTER
SCHOOL PAYS FOR SUCH SERVICES. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL POST THE ANNUAL
REPORTS SUBMITTED BY CHARTER SCHOOLS ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE; AND
(F) A NOTICE OF ANY RELATIONSHIP THAT MAY EXIST BETWEEN ANY MEMBER OF
A CHARTER SCHOOL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES OR CHARTER SCHOOL STAFF AND ANY
FOR-PROFIT OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATE OR OTHER BUSINESS ENTITY THAT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT OR OPERATION OF SUCH
CHARTER SCHOOL OR RELATED VENDOR.
S. 4237 20
2-A. EACH CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL POST CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE
SCHOOL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS WELL AS THE NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION
OF THE SCHOOL'S CHARTER ENTITY ON THE WEBSITE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL.
§ 22. Subdivision 7 of section 179-q of the state finance law, as
added by chapter 166 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
7. "Not-for-profit organization" or "organization" means a domestic
corporation incorporated pursuant to or otherwise subject to the not-
for-profit corporation law, a charitable organization registered with
the secretary of state, a special act corporation created pursuant to
chapter four hundred sixty-eight of the laws of eighteen hundred nine-
ty-nine, as amended, a special act corporation formed pursuant to chap-
ter two hundred fifty-six of the laws of nineteen hundred seventeen, as
amended, a corporation authorized pursuant to an act of congress
approved January fifth, nineteen hundred five, (33 stat. 599), as
amended, a corporation established by merger of charitable organizations
pursuant to an order of the supreme court, New York county dated July
twenty-first, nineteen hundred eighty-six and filed in the department of
state on July twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred eighty-six, or a corpo-
ration having tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the United
States Internal revenue code, and shall further be deemed to mean and
include any federation of charitable organizations. PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
THAT A PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL ENTITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION SEVENTY-
ONE OF PART C OF CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND FOUR
SHALL NOT BE DEEMED A "NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION" OR "ORGANIZATION"
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE.
§ 23. This act shall take effect immediately.