Charter Schools

Developing New Charter Schools

The New York City Department of Education (DOE) is committed to improving opportunities for students by creating schools and programs that meet community needs. The creation of new charter schools is one strategy that the DOE uses to meet this goal. To learn more about how charter schools are established in New York City, please read this basic guide.

Please review the Request for Proposals from the
New York State Education Department's  (NYSED) Charter Schools Office and the State University of New York Charter Schools Institute (SUNY CSI) to find out more about the guidelines for establishing a new charter school in New York.  In addition, if you are planning to submit a proposal for New York City, you can review the DOE’s New Charter School Applicant FAQ document .

Letters of Intent that meet all content and submission requirements will be invited to submit a full proposal to either NYSED or SUNY CSI. Letters of intent to establish new charter schools for Fall of 2013 can be found here:

Summary of the Letters of Intent Received by NYSED

Summary of the Letters of Intent Received by SUNY CSI

The New York City Department of Education’s Division of Portfolio Planning has identified areas of the City where the need for new schools, including charter schools, is the greatest. Applicant teams should work closely with the Charter Schools Office and the Division of Portfolio Planning to secure the Department’s and Chancellor’s support for the proposed school.

If an applicant team seeks to be colocated in a NYC DOE public school facility, the applicant team must work with the Division of Portfolio Planning and the Charter Schools Office to determine the most appropriate site arrangement for the proposed school. If you have any questions, please call 2123745419 or email charterschools@schools.nyc.gov .