Charter school application withdrawn

Based on information posted on the New York State Education Department website, the New American Leadership Academy Charter School application that had been submitted for review in August was withdrawn on Nov. 7.
“The Charter School Office informed them that the SED would not be recommending their application to the Regents,” said Jeanne Beattie, an Education Department spokeswoman. “The applicant group will be receiving a feedback letter.”
The proposed charter school planned to open next year in the Lawrence School District with 120 students, split evenly between one kindergarten and one first-grade class. The plan called for adding a grade per year, up to fifth grade, by 2019-20.
District and community opposition grew against the charter school when it was learned that Lawrence stood to lose about $8 million in state funds if the school opened, according to Superintendent Gary Schall. Based on a state formula, the school would be eligible for $21,389 per pupil in state aid, 73 percent of what the school district receives, Schall said.
“The support for our schools and the opposition to the charter school was voiced loud and clear by our Lawrence family,” he said. “Our voices resonated up in Albany, and the right decision was ultimately made.”
A website, lpsforum.com, created by district residents, posted videos detailing the claimed disadvantages of charter schools, provided answers to frequently asked questions about the charter application, and offered visitors the chance to send a form letter to the Education Department expressing their opposition to the school.
The website drew visitors not only from the Five Towns, but from Brooklyn and upstate New York, according to Atlantic Beach resident Richard Libbey, one of its creators, who has two sons in the district. “The website was a great thing to facilitate people’s opposition. It was a big community effort,” Libbey said. “I’m happy the charter school is not moving forward. The school itself wasn’t stellar.”