The Charter Schools Institute of the State University of New York is The Learning Collective’s longest running client. Since 2003, the Charter Schools Institute has regularly hired The Learning Collective for various projects including lead for charter renewal inspection visits – charged with evaluating the school and writing the report that is submitted to the university trustees – and evaluating proposals for new charter schools.
In 2010 the Institute was recognized as having the “Best Application Process” for approving new charter schools by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers. The U.S. Department of Education featured the Institute’s policies and practices for new school approval, school oversight and charter renewal in the report, “Fostering Innovation and Excellence.”
In 2019, on behalf the Charter Schools Institute, The Learning Collective led the renewal site visits of seven charter schools and conducted an assessment of a charter management organization.
In 2020, The Learning Collective participated on a team that conducted the last three in-person school visits before the COVID-19 pandemic led to in-person school closures. In the Fall of 2020, The Charter Schools Institute hired The Learning Collective to develop and deliver a training for The Institute staff on a suggested protocol and rubric on how to conduct remote school reviews.
In 2021, The Learning Collective participated as a team member in three Charter Schools Institute virtual school quality reviews as well as two new application reviews.
In 2022, The Learning Collective participated in two renewal visits with, and evaluated four renewal applications for, The Institute.