photostrip
November 16, 2012

This fall, the Texas Education Agency established a partnership between the Texas Charter Schools Association and Region XI Education Service Center in Fort Worth to create an extensive support system for the state's charter schools. A component of the Texas Charter School Technical Assistance Network (the Network) includes free trainings like Thinking of Starting a Charter School? which was recently held at Southwest Schools in Houston.

Sunset Hearing and SBOE Meeting
  The Sunset Commission held a hearing on Tuesday which included discussion of the Sunset staff report on the Texas Education Agency. TCSA Executive  Director David Dunn provided public testimony and was able to highlight some of the key points TCSA made in detailed comments to the staff report as well as answer questions from several of the members of the Sunset Commission including Chairman Dutton, who is also a member of the House Public Education committee. In addition, TCSA member and Advocacy committee participant, American Youthworks charter school provided testimony from Terence Gahan, Principal (pictured) and a Board member.

In addition to the Sunset Commission hearing, this week also included the final State Board of Education meeting for 2012, running from Wednesday through today. The SBOE Committee on School Initiatives voted on Generation 17 charter school applications, and today, the full Board will have final votes to award new Gen 17 charters. Check back with TCSA for the latest news on new Texas charters!

Straus Appoints Committee to Prepare for Sequestration Process
By Joe Straus; November 12, 2012
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus on Monday created the Interim Committee on Texas Response to Federal Sequestration, which will recommend ways that the state can prepare for looming tax increases and spending reductions caused by gridlock in Washington. Read Press Release.


Generous Donation from Dunn Fund
Earlier this week the Renee Perthuis Dunn Memorial Fund was able to gift Child Inc. teachers with over 1800 family bags to share with parents. The gift bags were provided by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (thanks go to Susan Landry and Karyn Ullman). Special thanks to Margaret Spellings, Beth Ann Bryan, and Holly Kuzmich for making this project a reality. David Dunn would also like to acknowledge the members of the Texas charter school community who thoughtfully contributed to the fund in Renee's memory.

TEA Header TEA Special Education Policy Deadline Extended
TEA has extended the deadline for updating special education policies in the IDEA 2004 Legal Framework system maintained by Region 18 ESC.    Previously, TEA required that each LEA update its special education policies on that site by November 30, 2012. The new deadline is February 1, 2013.    
TCSA has prepared a set of compliant special education policies that will be made available to all charter schools free of charge. These policies and instructions for uploading them in the Legal Framework system will be available soon.  We will notify you as soon as they are available. As a reminder, charter governing boards must approve these policies before they are uploaded into the system.     

Note that Region 18 will be deleting all current policies from the system on Monday, November 19th. Every school should ensure that it has a copy of its current policies for its records before they are deleted on the 19th.
For more information contact TCSA Director of Legal & Policy Services, Lindsey Jones ph. 512.584.8272.  
TCSA Welcomes New Director of Legal and Policy Services, Lindsey Jones!
"I am thrilled to continue my career working on behalf of charter schools and the charter school movement as part of the TCSA family. I look forward to getting to know each of our member schools and I am committed to providing the legal advice, training and resources they need to provide quality education to the students of the state of Texas. A key component of this support will be the TCSA Model Board Policies for Charter Schools, as these policies are an essential tool for operating and managing an effective charter school. I look forward to supporting our member schools as they implement and customize these policies to suit their particular needs." -Lindsey
JOIN2013 TCSA Membership Drive in Full Swing 
Charter Leaders and CFOs for renewing Association members have begun receiving emails regarding 2013 TCSA Membership. If you were not previously a member of the Association, you should have received a new member packet in the mail during the second week in October.

Membership in TCSA is based on the charter holder. Dues are calculated on the total student enrollment for every charter/charter campus held by the charter holder as of Snapshot 2011. The base amount for 2013 is $5 per student. These dues cover the membership period from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013. Charters are considered members upon receipt of payment, not application submission or purchase order. Further, in order to qualify for TCSA membership renewal in 2013, charters must complete and submit a Quality Framework Self-Assessment before December 31, 2012. Email the Quality Initiatives team to request a Quality Framework portal username and password. Please submit requests for a username and password no later than December 17, 2012 in order to accommodate holiday schedules.

Late Payments   
A grace period will be recognized up until January 31st. At that time access to all member benefits will be restricted for members only, and late fees will be assessed for payments received after January 31st:
5% late fee for payments received between February 1st and March 31st
10% late fee for payments received after March 31st

JOIN Early and Be Entered to WIN!
Pay your dues before the conclusion of the Texas Charter Conference on December 5, 2012 and be entered to win (1) FREE 2013 Conference Package!
This package includes two (2) charter attendee registrations and two (2) 2-night hotel stays during the conference!  
Questions about TCSA Membership? Contact: Nadia Luna

 
Annual Regular Election
Member Council Breakfast Meeting at the Conference 
Wednesday, December 5, 2012; 7:00am - 8:30am
It's time to vote! Members, send your charter leader to cast your vote in the TCSA Annual Regular Election taking place at the next Member Council Meeting in December. For purposes of the election, TCSA charter members are allowed only one attendee for this meeting. If your charter leader is unable to attend the meeting, we encourage you to send a formally designated charter representative as the school proxy to vote in your stead. This meeting is only open to current charter members in good standing. The meeting agenda will be emailed separately at a later date. REGISTER 
The leadership positions open for election on the December 2012 ballot are: 
(2) Board of Directors, Small School Representatives  
(1) Elected Advocacy Committee, Pre-K/Elementary Representative
View the Nomination Slate.

Hotel Block Special Rates Expire Tuesday, November 20! 
Only 4 blocks from the Convention Center and overlooking scenic Lady Bird Lake, the Holiday Inn is the perfect place to stay for leisure travelers looking for outdoor activities. You can go fishing, hike or bike along the lake, visit Zilker Park or tour the State Capitol or Lyndon Johnson Presidential Library.

Shuttle service will be provided to and from the Holiday Inn and the Austin Convention Center.
TWO WAYS TO MAKE A NEW RESERVATION
 REGISTER ONLINE
or Call 1-888-615-0509 Reference Group Code TCS
GROUP RESERVATIONS 
For schools reserving 10 or more rooms:Please contact Catherine Weir , Senior Sales Manager at ph. 512.634.1272  

Earn up to 10 Hours of Required Commissioner's Training Hours by Attending Conference Breakout Sessions! 
 The Texas Education Agency has authorized the Texas Charter Schools Association to award required Commissioner's Training Hours for every one of our breakout sessions! Attendees may earn hours for School Law, Accountability to the Public, Accountability for Public Funds, School Finance, and Open Meetings. View the session descriptions and designation of training topics to begin planning your personal schedule!       

register now   



Join us for a FREE Golf Outing at Grey Rock Golf Club! Generously Sponsored by:
        
Monday, December 3; 10:00am - 5:00pm 
Limited to the first 50 golfers. You must be registered for the conference to participate. Contact Brian Levy, TCSA Director of School Support Services, to reserve your spot. ph. 512.584.8272 
Telca 4
2012 Conference Sessions Featuring Proven Best Practices and Free Resources for College and Career Awareness
In last week's entry, "Time and Space for Reflection, Assessment, and Planning at the Texas Charter Schools Annual Conference" we talked about why completing and submitting the Quality Framework Self-Assessment-either for the first time or to update your school's progress-at the upcoming Texas Charter Schools Conference is a great idea. To learn why and how to register for a Work Session at the conference, read last week's blog.

TWO QUALITY FRAMEWORK CONFERENCE STRANDS

There are two Quality Framework conference strands, both of which are discussed and summarized in this week's blog. Start entering session dates and times in your calendar now. The conference is just about 2 weeks away!

 
Quality Framework Work Sessions at the Texas Charter Schools Conference

If you haven't yet registered for one of the free Quality Framework work sessions, choose a date and time below that works best for you and your team-you can register for more than one-then click on a link below to register.

 

Pre-Conference Work Session - Mon 12/3 - 4pm REGISTER

Conference Work Session Part 1 - Tue 12/4 - 3pm REGISTER

Conference Work Session Part 2 - Tue 12/4 - 4:30pm REGISTER 

 

JOIN TCSA Quality Framework - Get Started Online! In order to qualify for TCSA membership in 2013, renewing members must complete and submit a Quality Framework Self-Assessment before December 31, 2012. Email the Quality Initiatives team or visit the Quality Framework portal to request your Quality Framework portal username and password. Please submit your request for a username and password no later than December 17, 2012 in order to accommodate holiday schedules. How much does the Quality Framework cost?

The Quality Framework tool and introduction are included as a member benefit at no additional cost to current members of TCSA.
Training Banner 
on demand trainingOn-demand TCSA e-Learning Video Series   
NEW! Introduction to Charter School Open Meetings
($75.00)
This lesson provides board members and school officers an introduction and overview of charter school Open Meetings requirements and best practices. (60 Minutes, 1.0 hour of credit) Get started now!  
Introduction to Charter School Law
($75.00)
This lesson provides board members and school officers an introduction and overview of the many laws and regulations impacting the operation and governance of charter schools. (60 Minutes, 1.0 hour of credit)
Get started now! 


Need help completing and submitting all required PBMAS reporting before the December 7, 2012 deadline?
TCSA offers PBMAS reporting support - from answering basic questions to providing comprehensive consulting services. NOTE: Because the reporting deadline is approaching, reporting assistance is provided in the order each request is received. Call 512.584.8272 or email to make your appointment today. Hourly rate of $85/hour applies. The deadline for reporting is December 7.

CharterEducatorOpps
4th Annual Educate Texas Leadership Forum 2013
January 14, 2013 Educate Texas will convene more than 200 key leaders in education, business, philanthropy, community-outreach organizations, and policymakers from around the state discussing the pressing issues and innovations in K-16 reform. More Info.


Nominate Now for an H-E-B Excellence in Education Award
Know of an educator who deserves recognition for making a difference in the lives of their students and in their community? Submit the name of a teacher, principal, school district or early childhood facility today for a 2013 H-E-B Excellence in Education Award. Nominations for the awards are being accepted online through Dec. 7. Nominate here.

Teaching Award Categories
  • Rising Star Award: Less than 10 years of classroom experience. One elementary and one secondary teacher will each receive a $5,000 cash prize plus a $5,000 grant for his/her school.
  • Leadership Award: 10 to 20 years of classroom experience. One elementary and one secondary teacher will each receive a $10,000 cash prize plus a $10,000 grant for his/her school.
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: More than 20 years of classroom experience. One elementary and one secondary teacher will each receive a $25,000 cash prize plus a $25,000 grant for his/her school.
  • 30 regional finalists will be awarded $1,000 each plus $1,000 for their schools.

Department of Education U.S. Presidential Scholars Program - Confirm Student Eligibility for 2013 Awards
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. Eligibility: Application is by invitation only. Students are invited to apply based on their scores on the SAT or ACT exam, the year of their graduation from high school, and whether they are U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents. Vendor Webinar: School Lockdown Communications (School Reach)Make sure the student has allowed SAT or ACT to release their scores and graduation information to the U.S. Department of Education. Students who qualify will automatically receive applications on January 17, 2013, and applications must be completed and received by February 21, 2013. Students can contact the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program at 319-341-2777 to ensure their scores are considered in the determination of the candidate pool.



FREE
Vendor Webinar: School Lockdown Communications
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 REGISTER
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM CST
  • How social media affects lockdown procedures
  • What to say in a lockdown message to parents
  • When to send your message during a lockdown
  • Where to direct parents to convene during a lockdown
  • How to handle the media, and more
charter news
Charter School Numbers Growing
By Bill Zeeble; November 14, 2012
For the first time, at least 10 percent of kids in more than 100 school districts nationwide are in charter schools. The number of charter schools and students who want to attend keep growing here, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. "Parents are looking for options," says Dave Dunn, President of TCSA. He welcomed the report from the National Alliance. "Charter schools have some flexibility to innovate and create programs that can sometimes better meet tailored needs of individual students and parents really like those options," Dunn says.
Listen to the Radio Interview.
job post of the week
SECOND GRADE TEACHER
Vista of The Woodlands Responsive Education Solutions
The Woodlands, Texas

Job ID: 128792 Application Deadline: Posted until Filled
Posted: November 14, 2012    Starting Date: Immediately
vschoolz

TEA logo

calendar 

NCLB Highly Qualified Reporting Deadline The deadline for initial submission of the 2012-2013 Annual Survey of Highly Qualified Teachers is November 15th.Read the letter. 

 

Annual Financial and Compliance Report Submission Deadlines - Reminder  Charter schools with a fiscal year ending June 30, 2012 must submit their 2012 annual financial and compliance report to TEA by November 27, 2012.   

Corrective Action Plan Requirement related to FIRST Ratings Read the letter. 

 

Special Charter School Report of Students Enrolled and Students with Disabilities Receiving Special Education Services through Public Law 108-446

Read the letter.  

   

Significant Expansion of Enrollment-2012-2013: Applies to Open-Enrollment Charter Schools

Read the letter. 

 

Notice of Commissioner of Education Rule Filings Proposed Repeal of 19 TAC Chapter 129, Student Attendance, Subchapter AA, Commissioner's Rules, �129.1023, Student Attendance Accounting Standards
Summary: The proposed repeal would remove from the Texas Administrative Code redundant provisions that duplicate those already included in the handbook adopted by reference in 19 TAC �129.1025, Adoption by Reference: Student Attendance Accounting Handbook.
Public Comment Period: October 5, 2012 - November 5, 2012.
Earliest Possible Date of Adoption:
November 5, 2012.

Proposed Effective Date: December 30, 2012. 

 

Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 129, Student Attendance, Subchapter AA, Commissioner's Rules, �129.1025, Adoption by Reference: Student Attendance Accounting Handbook
Summary: The proposed amendment would adopt by reference the 2012-2013 Student Attendance Accounting Handbook. The handbook provides student attendance accounting rules for school districts and charter schools.
Public Comment Period: October 5, 2012 - November 5, 2012.
Earliest Possible Date of Adoption: November 5, 2012.
Proposed Effective Date: December 30, 2012.  

2012-2013  

 

Performance-Based Monitoring Intervention Staging 

Read the Letter  

 

Delay in opening of Pupil Projections subsystem of 2013-2014/2014-2015 projections. 

The opening of the FSP System Pupil Projections subsystem for review and revision of 2013-2014 /2014-2015 pupil projections, which was scheduled for October 1, has been delayed. We anticipate that the subsystem will open on Monday, October 8, for districts to review and revise projections.

  

Annual Financial and Compliance Report  

ESCs with a fiscal year ending June 30, 2012 must submit their 2012 annual financial and compliance report to TEA by November 27, 2012. ESCs with a fiscal year ending August 31, 2012 must submit their 2012 annual financial and compliance report to TEA by January 28, 2013.

 

Adopted Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 129, Student Attendance, Subchapter AA, Commissioner's Rules, �129.1021, Optional Method of Calculating Average Daily Attendance in Districts with Significant Migrant Population
Summary: The adopted amendment adds provisions to reflect the agency's current practice for determining full-time-equivalent counts for special education, bilingual education, and career and technical education allotments for affected school districts and charter schools. The adopted amendment also updates the reference to the database for tracking migrant students. The amendment was adopted without changes from what was published as proposed.
Effective Date:  

October 10, 2012.

The 2011-2012 FSP Student Transportation Operations Report is available for input beginning October 1, 2012

More Information 

 

Newly Opened Charter School Data Request for 2012-2013

Read the letter. 


2013 Required Physical Fitness Assessment

Read the letter.   

 

Compliance with Kindergarten Reading Assessment Data Submission  

Read the letter. 

 

Expiring Courses and Applications for 2013-2014 Innovative Courses

Read the letter. 

 

News from the Division
of Grants Administration 
 

Funding amounts are available for eligible independent school districts and public charter schools for the 2012-2013 Student Success Initiative (SSI) Grants to Schools on the Division of Grants Administration State Entitlements page.
Eligible applicants must apply through the eGrants system to receive funds.  

The application due date is 5:00 p.m. Central Time, October 12, 2012.