PARENTS

Other Useful Policies

TRCS2 Discipline Policy

TRCS2 Elementary School Family Handbook

The Policies and Procedures Manual includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Access to Student Records Policy, pursuant to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), page 3
• Student Non-Discrimination Policy, page 10
• Technology Use and Internet Safety Policy, page 11
• Special Education Policies, page 15

Protection for Immigrant Families – New York City issued a Letter and one-page fact sheet to students’ families on the protections and supports the NYC Department of Education has in place for immigrant families, and The Renaissance Charter Schools follow that guidance. The letter reiterates our policy that non-local law enforcement officers, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), are not allowed to enter schools unless absolutely required by law (in most cases, this means they must have a warrant signed by a judge). The protocol for how schools should handle visits or requests from ICE remains in effect during the summer months, as students attend summer school or participate in summer meals. The letter, one-pager, and protocol are all available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu HERE.

Grievance (Complaint) Procedure –

Any individual or group may bring a complaint to the Board of Trustees* of TRCS2 alleging a violation of the New York State Charter Schools Act, the TRCS2’s charter, or any other provision of law relating to the management or operation of the charter school.

If the individual or group determines that the Board of Trustees has not adequately addressed the complaint, the complainant may present the complaint to the NYSED Charter Office as TRCS2’s charter authorizer, which shall investigate and respond. Thereafter, if the individual or group determines that TRCS2 has not adequately addressed the complaint, the complainant may present the complaint to the Board of Regents/State Education Department, which shall investigate and respond. Board of Regents Rule 8 NYCRR § 3.16 delegates to the Commissioner of Education the authority to receive, investigate, and respond to complaints, and issue appropriate remedial orders on behalf of the Board of Regents. The Commissioner’s decision will be final.

• People who have had their grievances denied by the Board of Trustees will be notified in writing of their right to appeal the decision to the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education using this form. Complainants may also contact the NYS Regents Board.
• For more information on filing a complaint with the New York State Board of Regents, please visit the NYSED webpage here.
• All complaints brought to the Board of Regents/Commissioner concerning charter schools must be submitted in writing to the State Education Department’s Charter School Office, either via mail at:  Charter School Office, NYS Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Room 5N Mezz, Albany, NY 12234, or via email to: charterschools@nysed.gov. 

* The Board of Trustees may be contacted by sending or personally delivering a written complaint to this address:

The Renaissance Charter School 2
Attn: Monte Joffee, EdD, Board Chairperson
45-20 83rd Street
Elmhurst, NY 11373
Email: montejoffee@rencharter.org

Note: Persons with formal complaints alleging a violation of the law or the school’s charter may initiate complaints directly with the school’s Board of Trustees without going to school staff or leadership as a first step. There is no deadline for filing complaints with the Board of Trustees.