SUNY is proud to play a leading role in the implementation of the New York State Charter Schools Act.  As a charter authorizer, the State University Trustees have set high standards for the creation of New York charter schools. Those standards—balancing respect for school autonomy with the need to hold schools strictly accountable—have resulted in a model for charter authorizing that is yielding positive results and that complements the State University’s overall commitment to academic excellence and our existing outreach to K-12 schools.

That outreach includes preparing New York’s best and brightest K-12 teachers. Through education programs at 17 campuses, SUNY graduates account for more than 30 percent of all college and university-recommended teaching certificates granted by the State Education
Department (an impressive 96 percent of all State University students pass State certification examinations). And SUNY's New Vision for Teacher Education initiative has made those programs even stronger by implementing rigorous new curricular and student teaching requirements.

Further, our individual colleges and universities have expansive outreach efforts to their neighboring K-12 schools; programs for high achievers, programs designed to generate interest in math and science, teacher mentoring and much more.

Charter schools are a powerful complement to the State University’s ongoing commitment to accessible, high quality education—at all grade levels—for all New York state students.  

We invite you to learn more about SUNY and its Charter Schools Institute, and to join the University in embracing the kind of positive change that promises a brighter future for all New Yorkers.