State Education Department Releases Draft RFP To Establish Charter Schools Authorized By The Board Of Regents;

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has posted its Draft Request for Proposals to Establish Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents - 2012 Charter School Application Kit and is now accepting public comment on this draft on behalf of the NYS Board of Regents.

The application kit has been revised based on experience and feedback from charter school applicants in the 2010 and 2011 RFP cycles to ensure that NYSED's rigorous review process yields the highest quality charter school applications for recommendation to the Board of Regents for approval.  A copy of the draft RFP application is available for download at:

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/psc/startcharter.html.

Comments from the public regarding the draft RFP must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., December 19, 2011, via email to the NYSED Charter School Office (charterschools@mail.nysed.gov) or via mail to the NYSED Charter School Office, 89 Washington Ave., 471EBA, Albany, NY 12234. 

Comments also may be provided verbally to Department staff at the Charter School Application Information Sessions, scheduled on December 12 in (New York City) and December 19 (via webinar).  More information about location and registration for the information sessions may be found at:

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/psc/documents/NovDecInfosessions.pdf.

Staff will closely review and consider all comments in the process of finalizing the 2012 application materials and guidance. The final NYSED 2012 Charter School Application Kit will be posted on January 3, 2012.

Applicants will have two opportunities to submit charter applications to NYSED in 2012 for school launch in fall of 2013.  The Department welcomes applications from high capacity founding groups who seek to provide innovative and high quality educational options for the families of New York State.