February 4th Meeting: Offsite at THE CHARTER SCHOOL FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES

This meeting will be held at Noon in THE CHARTER SCHOOL FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES, 2245 KENMORE AVENUE,CORNER OF ROESCH AVE, KENMORE, NY 14207. PLENTY OF PARKING IN THE LOT NEXT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL
A map is attached.Click to enlarge.

There will be a seated lunch prepared and served by students in the school's Culinary program. Lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m.

After announcements and a presentation by Superintendent Efrain Martinez, we will be given tours of the high school by the students

In September 2001, the Charter School for Applied Technologies (CSAT) opened its doors to 708 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Today, CSAT is a bustling campus of three distinct buildings (Elementary, Middle, and High Schools), serving 1,600 pupils representing 16 different school districts throughout Western New York. It has evolved to become the largest charter school in New York State and one of only two state charter schools to offer a comprehensive K-12 experience.
Admission to CSAT is free and open to all students eligible to attend public school in Erie and Niagara Counties.  As a "school of choice," CSAT's student population is diverse.  Forty-one (41) percent of its students are African American, 41 percent are Caucasian, 16 percent Hispanic, two percent American Indian/Alaskan Native, one percent Asian/Pacific Islander, and another one percent indicate that they are "Multi-racial." CSAT's student body reflects a significantly high rate of poverty, as evidenced by the large number of youths who consistently qualify for Title I programming.  Currently, 81 percent of the school's students have applied and qualified for either free or reduced-price meals.  Further, the actual percentage of students who qualify for such programs is most likely higher, as some, especially those in the upper grades, often do not apply for the program due to its perceived negative stigma.  As evidence, the percentage of qualifying students is at 83 percent in the Elementary School (K-6), dipping to 68 percent in the High School (9-12).
Not only is CSAT the largest charter school in New York, it is consistently seen as one of the best, demonstrated by numerous factors:
(1) 80% of CSAT students out-scored their home districts on the New York State English Language Arts and Math assessments;
(2) High School students scored above the State average on eight of nine Regents Exams; and,
(3)its second graduating class, the class of 2009, posted a 100% graduation rate, (all 85 students). This compares favorably to city (52%)and state (63%) averages;
(4) anecdotal support has come from former Regents Chancellor Bob Bennett, who referred to CSAT as "the best charter school in the state" in 2008 and former U.S. Education Department staffer Doug Mesecar, who called CSAT a "model charter school" after a 2008 visit;
(5) The average per-pupil expenditure of the school districts with pupils at CSAT in 2009 was $17,260. Due to state law limiting charter schools to 2/3 of the funding received by traditional districts, CSAT was able to provide a better educational experience for thousands less – approximately $12,000/student.

What Makes CSAT so Different?
It's the school's commitment to its motto - "Every Day is Career Day" - though, that sets it apart from others. CSAT's school-to-career component prepares all students, including those who may not be college bound, for the world of work. Career preparation starts for our students in kindergarten with field trips and visits by community business leaders and extends throughout their entire educational career, culminating in student enterprise programs, job shadowing, and individualized work study and internships for those in higher grades.
For more information on the school, please see the CSAT website at
http://csat-k12.org/csat/site/default.asp

Click here for a complete list of upcoming speakers at our weekly meeting. 

If you'd like to attend a meeting, contact John McClive.
For more information about Rotary Club of Buffalo, visit our website, www.buffalorotary.org.