EVCS Complaint Process
The goal of this page is to ensure that families are well informed about how to log a complaint at the school, network, board, authorizer, and state level. Each section has a form, email address or mailing address that families can use to log a complaint.
EVCS’s complaint policy is taken from the School’s bylaws, and is in alignment with EVCS’ authorizer, SUNY, and with New York State Charter Law. “New York State Education Law § 2855(4) which is part of the New York Charter Schools Act of 1998 (as amended, the “Act”), provides a parent, as well as any other individual or entity (such as a contractor or school district) who believes that a charter school has violated a term of its charter or any applicable law related to the management or operation of the charter school, with an opportunity to complain formally to the charter school education corporation’s board of trustees and seek relief. The charter school education corporation is the legal entity that operates the school and may operate more than one school.”
The two types of complaints are Informal and Formal.
Informal Complaints
Complaints regarding an assigned teacher or class, issues with grades, promotion, retention and suspensions are considered Informal complaints. Informal complaints are handled at the school level. It is recommended that your informal complaint be in writing and sent to the teacher, principal, and any other school leaders.
Email addresses for teachers, principals and other school leaders is the first initial and last name @elmwoodvillageschool.org (for example, Sara Corona’s email address is scorona@elmwoodvillageschool.org).
Faculty and Staff Directories for each campus:
https://evcsbuffalo.org/faculty-and-staff-directory-days-park/
https://evcsbuffalo.org/faculty-and-staff-directory-hertel/
Mailing addresses:
Elmwood Village Charter School | Days Park Campus
40 Days Park
Buffalo, NY 14201
Elmwood Village Charter School | Hertel Campus
665 Hertel Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14207
Formal Complaints
A formal complaint is an alleged violation of the law and/or charter. For example:
- Improper discipline of a special education student
- Allegation of child abuse in an educational setting
- Billing the wrong district for a student
If you believe you have a formal complaint you must address your formal complaint first to the school’s board of trustees. Once you have received a written response from the school’s board of trustees, you may start an appeal to the SUNY Charter Schools Institute.
The formal complaint process steps are below.
Step 1 – School Level
A formal complaint involves an alleged violation of law and/or charter. A formal complaint submitted to the Board of Trustees at least one (1) week prior to the next Regular Meeting of the Board will be addressed at that meeting. Any complaint submitted less than one (1) week prior to a Regular Meeting will be addressed at the next subsequent Regular Meeting of the Board. If the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson or any three (3) Trustees deem a complaint to be in the nature of an emergency, then a Special Meeting may be called to deal with such complaint provided that all provisions of [the] By-laws governing the calling of a Special Meeting are complied with.
The Board of Trustees can be contacted at evcsboard@elmwoodvillageschool.org.
Step 2 – Appeal to SUNY
If the school board of trustees does not satisfactorily address the issue, you may appeal the decision, in writing, to the SUNY Charter Schools Institute. You must send a written copy of the school board’s decision along with your complaint. Please complete the SUNY Formal Complaint Form and email it along with the school board’s decision to:
Or by U.S. Postal Service to the SUNY Charter Schools Institute at:
H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
353 Broadway, Albany, NY 12246
Step 3 – Appeal to Board of Regents
If the SUNY Charter School Institute as the authorizer of the school does not satisfactorily resolve a formal complaint, you can appeal the Institute’s written determination to the New York State Board of Regents through the New York State Education Department ((518) 474-3852).
Please or by submit written appeals by mail to the address listed below.
New York State Education Department
Charter Schools Office
Mezzanine
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234