SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS OFFERED BY CHARTER SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS ONE OF PURE STATUTORY INTERPRETATION, DEFERENCE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION’S CONTRARY CONCLUSION IS NOT REQUIRED (CT APP).
The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Garcia, over an extensive two-judge dissenting opinion, determined that school districts do not have the authority to oversee pre-kindergarten programs offered by charter schools. The court noted that deference to the Commissioner of Education’s contrary finding was not required because the question is one of pure statutory interpretation:
Charter schools are listed among the various eligible providers under the Statewide Universal Full-Day Pre-Kindergarten Program. Unlike other providers, however, charter schools are separately governed by the New York Charter Schools Act, and all “monitoring, programmatic review and operational requirements” related to charter school pre-kindergarten programs are “the responsibility of the charter entity” and must be “consistent with the requirements” of the Charter Schools Act (Education Law § 3602-ee [12]). The issue before us is whether the statutory scheme governing charter school pre-kindergarten programs allows for shared oversight authority between charter entities and local school districts. We hold that it does not … . * * *
According to [the appellate division, affirmed here by the Court of Appeals], the Legislature’s use of the word “all” in subdivision 12 provide the charter entity “with full responsibility for the relevant monitoring, programmatic review and operational requirements’ for the relevant prekindergarten programs” and that the plain meaning of this provision “in no way indicates that another entity — such as a school district — holds concurrent responsibility or authority in this regard” (… quoting Education Law § 3602-ee [12]). This reading, in the Appellate Division’s view, “best harmonizes the provisions of the statute in a manner consistent with the Legislature’s announced purpose” of Universal Pre-K Law which was ” to encourage program creativity through competition'” (… quoting Education Law § 3602-ee [1]). The Court also determined that the plain meaning of the term “inspection” did not include a right to regulate the curriculum (id.; see Education Law § 3602-ee [10]). The Appellate Division remitted the matter to the Commissioner, given that “the Commissioner’s determination regarding Success Academy’s request for funding was affected by its erroneous interpretation of” Universal Pre-K Law” … . Matter of DeVera v Elia, 2018 NY Slip Op 07922, CtApp 11-20-18
EDUCATION-SCHOOL LAW (SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS OFFERED BY CHARTER SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS ONE OF PURE STATUTORY INTERPRETATION, DEFERENCE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION’S CONTRARY CONCLUSION IS NOT REQUIRED (CT APP))/ADMINISTRATIVE LAW (EDUCATION-SCHOOL LAW, SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS OFFERED BY CHARTER SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS ONE OF PURE STATUTORY INTERPRETATION, DEFERENCE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION’S CONTRARY CONCLUSION IS NOT REQUIRED (CT APP))/PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS (SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS OFFERED BY CHARTER SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS ONE OF PURE STATUTORY INTERPRETATION, DEFERENCE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION’S CONTRARY CONCLUSION IS NOT REQUIRED (CT APP))/CHARTER SCHOOLS, PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS, (SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS OFFERED BY CHARTER SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS ONE OF PURE STATUTORY INTERPRETATION, DEFERENCE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION’S CONTRARY CONCLUSION IS NOT REQUIRED (CT APP))