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Last week in Washington DC, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) gathered together a group of charter school leaders, state education agency leaders, charter support organization staff, and authorizers to discuss issues around accountability for alternative charter schools. Attendees from Texas were Heather Mauze of the Texas Education Agency, Chuck Cook of Responsive Education Solutions, and Telca Karen Porras of TCSA.
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Sen. Leticia Van de Putte with constituents from Senate District 26. These students, graduates and staff from Por-Vida, a drop out recovery public charter school that would be positively impacted by Sen. Van de Putte's SB1538, testified before the Senate Education Committee yesterday. |
Tex lawmaker tearfully vows school choice fight
By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press The head of the Senate Education Committee broke into tears Thursday as he promised to fight for dramatically expanded "school choice" in Texas ... "Today has been a tough day because everybody up here (on the committee) wants to support choice and options in schools," Patrick said, his voice cracking. "Sometimes the adults get in the way with fighting and politicking in the adult world," he continued. Read the article. 
Texas Senate approves $195.5 billion state budget By Dave Montgomery; March 20, 2013 State senators voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to approve a $195.5 billion two-year state budget as Fort Worth Democrat Wendy Davis cast one of only two dissenting votes to protest what she called the budget's failure to sufficiently fund public schools. Read the article. 
House Committee Backs Budget With More School Funding
by Aman Batheja; March 21, 2013 The House Appropriations Committee unanimously approved a $193.8 billion budget on Thursday that puts $2.5 billion in additional money into public schools. The House budget goes further than the Senate by about $1 billion in reversing $4 billion in cuts made last session to the Foundation School Program, the mechanism through which most state education funding is allocated. Read the article. More Charter Advocacy News:
 SAVE THE DATE: May 8, 2013
Rally for Public Charter Schools Texas State Capitol, Austin
The policies that impact charter schools will be deliberated on during this legislative session. Hearing directly from charter school leaders, parents and teachers is one of the best ways for state legislators to understand how vital charter schools are to providing a great public education for Texas students. Join us as we stand together in support of Texas public charter schools! To confirm your participation, contact Jennifer Limas-Mota, TCSA Director of Grassroots Advocacy.
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 Business Week, Dallas (FREE) May 22-24, 2013
This intensive three day charter finance workshop is developed and delivered by seasoned charter finance leaders. This year's version of Business Week is designed to accelerate the learning of novice charter business officers and employees with a mix of foundational charter finance knowledge and interactive real world guided examples. REGISTER
 Charter Start Beginner, Dallas (FREE) May 3, 2013
Ideal for persons seeking general information about the Texas Charter School movement and for persons preparing a Generation 19 application to the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE). REGISTER
  TCSA 3rd Annual Spring Charter School Statewide Finance Bootcamp, Austin ($325 Member; $425 Non-Member) April 10-12, 2013 What will Charter School Finance look like after 2013?Commissioner Hours Credit: Totaling 14 possible hours
Join us in Austin, TX for three days of insights and breaking updates around the most critical developments in finance matters impacting charter schools.REGISTER
 TCSA Statewide Charter School Legal Summit, Dallas ($250 Member; $350 Non-Member) May 20-21, 2013
Commissioner Hours Credit: Totaling 9 possible hours
This 2 day training hits on the hot topics that have a huge impact on your charter schools operational compliance. REGISTER
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Need help completing and reviewing your charter renewal application before the April 5, 2013 deadline?
TCSA offers renewal application support - from answering basic questions, reviewing your completed application, to providing comprehensive development services. Because the reporting deadline is approaching, review and development assistance is provided in the order each request is received. Call 512.584.8272 or email to make your appointment today. Read more.FREE Application Review
Basic questions and application reviews are offered for FREE through the Texas Charter School Technical Assistance Network (the Network). The deadline for submission of your documents to TCSA for review is 5pm on Friday, March 29, 2013. Read more. Network Webinar: Preparing Your Charter Renewal Is your charter contract expiration date approaching?
Join us for these FREE webinars to receive reliable insights to developing and submitting your renewal application to TEA.Mar. 28, 2013 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM (Thursday) Part 2 REGISTERMar. 29, 2013 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM (Friday) Part 3 REGISTER  Charter Renewal Application Development Service
The charter renewal application development service is offered by TCSA for $6,000 - this comprehensive service would involve our team processing the development of your application response upon delivery of all needed data/documents from your school and removing the angst of that from your hands. The deadline for submission of your documents to TCSA for development is 5pm TODAY, Friday, March 22, 2013. Read more. |
Watch the March 2013 FREE TCSA Quality Framework Webinar: Quality Framework Self-Assessment and Reports Overview
Watch this free webinar recorded on March 6 and learn how to: view data from your charter's last Quality Framework submission--even if you last submitted a spreadsheet or paper copy; start a new Self-Assessment for the current year; find each type of report in the Quality Framework portal; and, see how easy it us to use the graphs, charts, and tables available to you now. Who should view this webinar? Superintendents, executive directors, principals, compliance officers, grant officers--anyone on the charter school staff who leads, implements, or participates in the charter or campus improvement process, or uses data for reporting or planning purposes. Questions? Email the Quality Initiatives Team.
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   WebSmart User Group Meeting March 28, 2013 TCSA Offices, Austin 10AM - 1PM Lunch Provided REGISTER Read the Agenda.June 26 - 28, 2013; Houston, Texas
YES Prep is excited to launch our inaugural conference on curriculum, assessment, and instruction this summer. Over the past few years, YES Prep has developed a curricular structure around teacher leadership and collaboration and we've created an extensive library of high-quality curricular resources that all of our teachers implement. YES Prep wants to share all this with you and your organization! We encourage you to bring a team of curricular leaders and teachers in Math and English from your organization to benefit the most from the resources and sessions offered in this conference. Read More.
NASC National Conference
The NASC National Conference returns in 2013 with a high-energy line-up of top-notch presenters and workshops designed to reenergize, refocus, and refresh. Join us in Las Vegas to meet and network with student council leaders and advisers from across the U.S. and around the world, learn from entertaining and informative speakers, and discuss new ideas and innovations in service learning. Read More.
Leadership Charter: New Mexico School Leadership Institute June 17-21, 2013; Albuquerque, New Mexico Leadership Charter is an intensive professional development institute for experienced charter school leaders to learn with and from each other by exploring topics critical for student success today. Join us to explore: Improving Student Outcomes, Quality Instruction, Mission-Driven Leadership, and Charter School Advocacy. Registration is limited! Maximum of 25 participants.
Registration closes May 10. Read More.
 
The Google Science Fair
is an online science competition open to students ages 13-18 from around the globe. We're looking for ideas that will change the world. Enter Here.
 Harmony Public Schools develops STEM resource for public
Harmony Public Schools has developed a website, www.stemtx.org, where any one in the STEM field can register and become involved. Please review this site and encourage your colleagues to register as well. When you register you are able to upload any volunteer requirements for any STEM program(s) that may be planned. This is not only for Harmony; it is for everyone in the state of Texas to register and take advantage of. This is a great opportunity to link STEM programs and schools over the long term.
 Nominate businesses that support employee volunteerism in public schools Applications are now being accepted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) for the 2013 Employers for Education Excellence (EEE) Award. Texas employers who encourage and support employee participation in school activities are eligible to be nominated for the 2013 award. Read the press release.
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 Local schools saving money using solar energy systems FOX 44 KWKT
by Alexis Spears; March 19, 2013 Rapoport Academy claims to be the first public school in the area to have them, after receiving a $368,000 grant from the State Energy Conservation Office to fund the solar system. Their 60 megawatt system was up and running in October 2011. They say not only are their 250 panels eco-friendly, but also a great learning tool for the students, in elementary through high school, by using real time tracking to measure the energy production. Read the article.
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SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS (2) Shekinah Learning Institute Schertz, Texas Application Deadline: Posted until filled
Starting Date: Immediately
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2012-2013 Annual Fingerprinting Certification and Statement of Compliance
Read the letter.
2013-2014 Optional Flexible School Day Program
Read the letter.
2013-2014 Optional Flexible Year Program
Read the letter.
Changes to the Office of School Finance
Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting and Requirements
Read the letter.
The 2013-2014 NCLB Data Request Form for Federal Funding (SC5010) has been made available in eGrants as of March 1, 2013. The submission deadline is April 30, 2013. For instructions.
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The 2012 Student Assessment Data Validation Manual
Now available.
The 2012 Student Assessment Data Validation district reports are scheduled to be posted to the secure TEASE Accountability application on Friday, February 22, 2013.
Technical Assistance:
Performance-Based Monitoring (PBM) contacts are available at each education service center (ESC) to provide technical assistance to school districts. Latest updates to the ESC PBM contacts can be found here, using the Search RESCs function.
For questions about interventions, including ISAM inquiries, please contact: Program Monitoring and Interventions by calling 512.463.5226 or via email.
For questions about the manual or the indicators described in the manual, please contact: Performance-Based Monitoring by calling 512.936.6426 or via email.
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Change to Automobile Mileage Reimbursement Rate
Applicable to State and Federal Grants from the Texas Education Agency
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has changed the automobile mileage reimbursement rate. On January 1, 2013, the rate increased from 55.5 to 56.5 cents per mile. Travel and lodging reimbursement rates have not changed. The standard rates, effective until August 31, 2013, are up to $77 per night for lodging and up to $46 per day for meals, unless a higher rate for the travel destination is specified. Read more.
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