PARENTS

In 2025, New York State passed a law banning the use of cell phones in school for all students. For details, see The Renaissance Charter School 2 Personal Electronic Device Policy.

For a complete list of policies and procedures, please visit our Accountability page.

TRCS2 Discipline Policy

TRCS2 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

When a complaint arises at the school, TRCS 2 endeavors to resolve it at the school level by first directing the complainant to the staff member who is directly involved in the situation or such staff member’s supervisor to discuss the matter informally, as appropriate. If the matter is not resolved after informal discussions with the staff member, the complaint is referred to thePrincipal.

Any individual or group may bring a formal complaint to the Board of Trustees of TRCS 2 alleging a violation of the New York State Charter Schools Act, the TRCS 2’s charter, or any other provision of law relating to the management or operation of the charter school. 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 the Principal as a first step.  The Board will undertake additional investigation, if needed, and respond in due course. It will take whatever time is necessary and appropriate to ensure a full understanding of the matter, on a case-by-case basis. In any event, the Board will seek to provide a written decision no later than 30 calendar days after receipt of such complaint.

The TRCS 2 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

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 Board of Regents as TRCS 2’s charter authorizer, 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.

All complaints brought to the Board of Regents 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.

For more information on filing a complaint with the Board of Regents, please visit https://www.nysed.gov/charter-schools/complaint-process.