Principals Resource

Guide

Please use the template below to create content for your office with the name of
your office, the name of the executive director, a brief description of the
office, FAQs, and contact information.
In preparing your responses, I urge you to think about questions your
division/office has received in the past from principals and those you think may
be asked based on any policy, administrative, or structural changes we will
encounter in the upcoming year. The allotted space may be insufficient for your
respective offices so feel free to insert additional pages. Please try to be brief as
we want the guide to be as user-friendly as possible.
In order for this to be ready by the beginning of the school year, we will need
your responses by Friday, August 8. If you have any questions, feel free to Laurel
Wright-Hinckson at (212) 374-5196 or at LWrightHinckson@schools.nyc.gov.
Laurel will be editing the responses and overseeing the production of the guide
which, after completion, will be available online.
Thank you for your cooperation and assistance.

Office of School Design and Charter

Partnerships.
NAME OF OFFICE:

NAME OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:

Julian Cohen

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFICE:

The Office of School Design and Charter Partnerships (OSDCP) develops new schools
and programs, supports school flexibility and redesign through the Progressive
Redesign Opportunity for Schools of Excellence (PROSE) initiative and partners with
charter schools. OSDCP represents the NYCDOE as the authorizer of 69 charter
schools.

FAQs (Please limit questions to a maximum of 10 per office):

Top Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:

1.Question: Will the Department of Education
continue to open schools beyond 2014-2015?
Answer: In school year 2014-15, the DOE will be opening 25 new
district schools across all five boroughs, many of these are innovative new
models like the NYCPTECH, a new G&T school, a new D75 school as well as
several schools that specifically serve Black and Latino young men. In school
year 2015-16, the DOE will continue to open new schools that hold promise for
innovative approaches to teaching and learning, especially where there are
communities that need new options and new construction available.

2. Question: Can I submit a proposal for a new

school?
Answer: New schools are based on community need and the DOE seeks
to open school models that reflect deep research and best practices. . Going
forward, OSDCP will be developing schools with community input from parents,
community based organizations, and youth. Rather than individual school
leaders developing a proposal, we will be seeking experienced principals who
can co-construct a vision with the community.

3. Question: How will school leaders be selected

and supported?

Answer:

All eligible leaders must be in the principals pool and will be

vetted by the Office of Leadership. Superintendents and other community
stakeholders will partner with OSDCP to select principals from that pool. For
more information, about becoming a leader, please visit
schools.nyc.gov/leadershippathways.

4. Question: As a charter school principal, where

can I go to find general assistance on topics
such as DOE systems/Services, State testing
and facilities?
Answer: Please review resource guide for your area of concern and
contact the DOE contact provided. If you are unable to get assistance, please
email the Office of School Design and Charter Partnerships at
CharterSchools@schools.nyc.gov and we will further assist you. You may also
review our Operations Tool Kit, for application forms, user guides and
presentations on various DOE systems at
http://schools.nyc.gov/community/planning/charters/For+Charter+Schools.htm.

5. Question: I am a district school principal and

I am interested in learning more about
charter schools, where can I go for more
information?
You may visit the charter schools home page on the DOEs website at
http://schools.nyc.gov/community/planning/charters/default.htm.
Our 2014-15 online directory of charter schools can be found here at
http://schools.nyc.gov/community/planning/charters/Directory.htm.
The New York City Charter School center also has excellent resources. You may visit
www.nyccharterschools.org for more information.

6. What is PROSE?
Answer: The Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools for Excellent
(PROSE) program was established as part of the contract between the UFT and
the DOE to allow schools to implement innovative plans that fall outside of the
Chancellors Regulations or UFT contract.
The PROSE program is designed to:
1. Foster continuous innovation to challenge some of the basic rules and
regulation under which they have historically operated in service of improved
student outcomes.
2. Foster collaboration within and across school communities

Please continue to next page

7. Question: How were schools selected for

PROSE?
Answer:
Schools submitted a letter of intent indicating their interest in the PROSE
program, and then an application signed by the principal, UFT Chapter Chair, and
a parent SLT member
Applications were reviewed by the DOE and UFT. Schools had to meet three basic
requirements:
1. Have a proven record of collaboration within the school community
2. Commitment to pursuing innovative ideas with the full support of the SLT and
the school community
3. Have the potential to make a strong impact on student learning through the
implementation of a creative and bold plan of action
Schools with successful applications were notified to organize a staff vote. Schools had to
gain the support of 65 percent of their UFT staff through a vote in order to become a
PROSE school

8.Question: How does my school become a

PROSE school?
Answer: A planning and application process for schools interested in
becoming PROSE schools starting in the 2015-2016 school year will take place
during the winter and spring. Details about the application process, including
timelines, will be released in the fall. . For more information, please write to
PROSE@schools.nyc.gov.

Question:
9. Question:
Answer:
8.

10.
Question:
Answer:
11.

Question:
Answer:

Please list the names, telephone numbers, and emails of

employees who principals can contact if they have any
additional inquiries. If a principal should contact network liaison
for follow up, please list appropriate title of the network liaison.