Resources

Family Handbook Exemplars

A family handbook provides charter school families with answers to their most common questions and helps to guide families and students in the school’s processes and policies related to the following:

School Calendar
Communication
Academics
Student Support
Student Behavior and Discipline
English Language Learners
Family Engagement
Student Health

Distributing Individualized State Test Score Information to Parents

Charter school parents do not have access to the DOE parent NYC Schools Account to view their child’s standardized test score results. The responsibility of communicating these standardized test score results, such as those from the state grades 3-8 ELA and Math exam, lies solely with the charter school. Most charter schools send out a letter to parents following exam administration with test score information.

Parent Engagement Handbook

Parents play a vital role in a child’s life and education. It is important for parents to engage their child and build strong partnerships with his/her educators and schools.

School Discipline Codes

Examples of student discipline codes, including those from the panel discussion “Student Discipline and School Culture” held at the Charter Center in October 2015.

FAQs: Open Meetings Law

Did you know that New York City charter schools are subject to the requirements of New York State's Open Meetings Law (OML)? The OML is based on a presumption of access that provides the public with the right to know in advance about meetings of public bodies and then to observe the meetings and deliberations. It applies explicitly to charter schools under the Charter Schools Act of 1998.

Student Discipline – Basic Procedures

A short guide to the basic procedural requirements for due process when suspending or expelling a student. Includes examples of language for the student or family handbook to ensure families are aware of their rights and responsibilities. First released during the panel discussion “Student Discipline and School Culture” held at the Charter Center in October 2015.

10 Things Everyone Should Know About Charter Schools

This informational brochure, published in October 2010, details 10 quick facts that everyone should know about New York City charter schools. It is a helpful resource for schools to utilize during recruitment as well as for news organizations and the general public who want to know more about charter schools in the city.

Parent Advocacy and Engagement

Parents are important advocates for their schools. This presentation, intended for pre-authorization planning teams, focuses on effective practices for parent engagement and advocacy strategies. In addition to offering numerous tips and advice, this presentation specifically covers steps needed to include a parent engagement plan on the charter application.

Creating Effective Community Engagement

This presentation, intended for pre-authorization planning teams, focuses on effective practices for community engagement and advocacy strategies. In addition to offering numerous tips and advice, this presentation specifically covers steps needed to include a community engagement plan on the charter application.

Education Plan: Support for Learning

This presentation is part of the Application Development Program commissioned by the New York City Charter School Center. Created by charter school expert Cynthia Millinger, Education Plan: Support for Learning assists planning teams in developing an outreach program to involve the parents and local community. Building a program that will pass the selective criteria of the authorizing agencies is a main theme of this presentation.