f.

Complaint Policy
Any individual or group may bring complaints or concerns to the principal or the executive director of the school for any reason. The principal or executive director will work to fairly resolve conicts as quickly as possible. If the principal or executive director is unable to resolve the complaint to the individual or groups satisfaction, or if the complaint is about the principal or executive director, the individual or group may utilize the Formal Complaint process below. A Grievance Committee, composed of Board members, will exist to address complaints brought against the school by an individual or an organization. Subdivision 2855(4) of the New York Education Law (part of the Charter Schools Act) provides that parents (as well as any other individual) who believe that a charter school has violated a term of its charter or applicable law may complain formally to the schools Board of Trustees and seek relief. Before you use this formal complaint process, it is very important for you to determine positively that your complaint involves a violation of the charter or law. If it does not, this formal process is not the appropriate avenue for you to seek a solution to your problem. Parent or Guardian: The process for a parent or guardian to bring a concern to the Boards Grievance Committee will be as follows: The parent or guardian may bring his or her concern to a member of the school administration in the form of an informal complaint. If (s)he is not satised with the response, then (s)he will put the concern in writing and give it to the principal or to another member of the Board of Trustees, who will forward it to members of the Grievance Committee. The Grievance Committee will send a written acknowledgement of receipt of complaint within ve business days of receiving the complaint. The Grievance Committee will investigate the concern and respond to the parent or guardian in writing. The Grievance Committee will provide the Board of Trustees with a report at the next Board of Trustees meeting. The committee will be composed of at least three Board members. The principal will not serve on this committee. The Grievance Committee will respond in writing with a decision regarding any written complaint they receive within 30 business days from receipt of the complaint. Employee: The process for an employee to bring a concern to the Boards Grievance Committee is as follows: The employee may bring his or her concern to a member of the school administration in the form of an informal complaint. If (s)he is not satised with the response, then (s)he must put the concern in writing and give it to the principal or to another member of the Board of Trustees, who will forward it to members of the Grievance Committee.
Response 15(f)-1

The Grievance Committee will send a written acknowledgement of receipt of complaint within ve business days of receiving the complaint. The Grievance Committee will investigate the concern and respond to the employee in writing. The Grievance Committee will provide the Board of Trustees with a report at the next Board of Trustees meeting. The committee will be composed of at least two Board members. The principal will not serve on this committee. The Grievance Committee will respond in writing with a decision regarding any written complaint they receive within 30 business days from receipt of complaint.

Individual or Organization: The process for an individual or organization, who is neither a parent or guardian, nor an employee, will be as follows: The individual or organization may bring concerns to the principal in the form of an informal complaint. If not satised with the response, the individual or organization will put the concern in writing and give it to the principal or another member of the Board of Trustees, who will forward it to members of the Grievance Committee. The Grievance Committee will send a written acknowledgement of receipt of complaint within ve business days of receiving the complaint. The Grievance Committee will investigate the concern and respond to the individual or organization in writing. The Grievance Committee will provide the Board of Trustees with a report at the next Board of Trustees meeting. The committee will be composed of at least two Board members. The principal will not serve on this committee. The Grievance Committee will respond in writing with a decision regarding any written complaint they receive within 30 business days from receipt of complaint. Upon the resolution of any complaint, the school shall provide: A written notice to the complainant that he or she may appeal the determination of the school to the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York (SUNY Trustees); and A copy of the SUNY Trustees grievance policies (as they are posted on the website of the Charter Schools Institute (CSI) at http://www.newyorkcharters.org/ parentResources.htm#questions). Appeals of decisions made by the Board of Trustees may be made rst to the SUNY Trustees via CSI, and then to the Board of Regents through the New York State Education Department.

Response 15(f)-2