Relates to revisions to charter schools

• Democratic8

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Shelley Mayer says this is needed

Under current law, previously authorized charter schools may apply to revise their charter to serve additional grade levels. A charter originally approved as a K through 5 school, can become a K through 12 school. Charter schools do not have to serve new grade levels in the same location -- they can operate in multiple buildings, functionally operating multiple schools all under the same charter. This loophole in the law has allowed for significant expansion of the charter sector, without impacting the statutory cap on the number of charter schools in New York City or statewide. This legislation closes this loophole -- limiting charter expansion to grade levels included in the application's school classification, i.e. elementary, intermediate, middle school, junior high school, or high school, as defined by regulations of the Commissioner. Each grade added increases the financial burden on public schools, and in New York City, the burden of co-location. Charter organizations should be required to apply for a new charter in order to serve grades beyond the school clas- sification they originally applied under.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.