Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases the number of charter schools permitted in New York.

Highlights:

• Requires charter schools to demonstrate efforts to attract and retain high-need students, including students who are at risk for educational failure or students who are otherwise in need of assistance and support (Sec. 5). 

• Increases the number of charter schools being issued from 200 to 460 (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes an education corporation operating a charter school to house any grade at more than one site (Sec. 8).

• Requires applications for admission to a charter school to be submitted on a uniform application form created by the department and to be made available in languages reflective of an individual community and the location of the charter school (Sec. 12).

• Specifies that any application for admission to a charter school from students with disabilities or English language learners who do not comprise at least 50 percent of a charter's school enrollment are entitled to receive priority consideration with their application submission (Sec. 12).

• Authorizes each common, central, central high school, and union free school district to enter into contracts with approved educational management organizations for the purpose of managing individual schools within the district in order to improve persistently lowest-achieving schools (Sec. 16).

Full Bill Text