Fifteen new public charter schools authorized by the University Trustees, with nearly 4,000 students, are operating this school year. Of those, three schools are starting their second year of operation. Two additional schools are scheduled to open in 2001. Under the New York Charter Schools Act, proposed by Governor George E. Pataki and signed into law in 1998, the State University can authorize the creation of 50 new public charter schools. SUNY s review process, which these applications are currently undergoing, is one of the most rigorous in the nation, involving some of the country most accomplished charter school experts and practitioners.
Charter schools are public schools that are publicly funded and independent of school districts.
In exchange for greater flexibility, they are held to a higher level of accountability and operate under five-year licenses granted by the State University of New York and the Board of Regents. A list of the newest and withdrawn applications follows.