Voucher Showdown, ELL Toolkit, Finance Bootcamp

April 5, 2013

Senator Royce West visits East Dallas Community School.

NAPCS Releases Toolkit for Serving English Language Learners
The growth of public charter schools has coincided with the rapid growth of English Language Learner (ELL) students. While the total public school population increased by three percent from the 2000-01 to 2009-10 school years, the number of ELL students increased by 27 percent! Demographic projections indicate ELL students will be an even larger percentage of the school-age population in the years to come. This toolkit breaks down key federal laws and policies and provides examples of state laws where appropriate. Read More.

A Voucher Showdown During House Budget Debate

By Morgan Smith; April 4, 2013

Senate Education Chairman Dan Patrick, with the support of Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, has made passing school choice reform a top priority for the session. Patrick's Senate Bill 23, dubbed "The Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program," would allow businesses to receive up to a 15 percent state tax credit to pay for economically disadvantaged and at-risk students to attend private schools, including religious institutions. There is similar legislation from state Reps. Bill Callegari, R-Houston, and Scott Turner, R-Frisco, pending in the House.
Read Article.

House rejects school vouchers as it approves budget bill

By Kate Alexander; April 4, 2013

The Texas House loudly voiced its opposition to state support for private school vouchers and scholarships during a daylong budget session, signaling deep disagreement with Gov. Rick Perry and other Republican leaders over diverting public money to private schools. "The House has traditionally been very hesitant to spend taxpayer money to send kids to private schools, and I think this reflected that long-standing opinion in the House of Representatives," House Public Education Committee Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock said. Read Article.

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.
Download the Flyer.
Download the Spanish Flyer.

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

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

New data available next week in the Quality Framework Data Pack-Student Growth Percentile (SGP) and Similar Students Measure (SSM)!

Wednesday, April 10th at 10am.

REGISTER now for this FREE, live TCSA webinar: Quality Framework Student Growth Percentile and Similar Students Measure Reports Overview to learn more about the exclusive TCSA Quality Framework Data Pack charts and graphs for SGP, SSM and percentile comparative reports for schools previously rated under AEA procedures. NOTE: Due to popular demand, this is a live webinar and is a repeat on this topic.

What are SGP and SSM? SGP helps charter leaders understand how their students are progressing, regardless of whether students are well below-or above-expected grade level or beyond minimum state test performance. SSM shows charter leaders whether or not their students are performing where they should be, by comparing performance with other campuses that serve a similar student population.

What will I learn?

In this webinar, you will learn: how to access SGP and SSM reports in the Quality Framework portal; how SGP and SSM are calculated; where to find and how to use the TCSA Data Pack; and, how to request a Quality Framework user account.

Questions? Email the Quality Initiatives Team.

Blazing the Trail to Quality and Innovation

The annual Charter School Conference is the only statewide gathering of the entire Texas charter school community. More than 1,300 charter school advocates including teachers, administrators, board members, policy makers, and vendors will gather for training, networking, and sharing best practices for charter effectiveness and compliance. A special TCSA members only low rate of $325 (for 1-4 school members) or $275 (for 5+ school members) is available until April 19. These are the only discounted rates that will be published. Registration at the regular (non-discounted) rates will open in September.

In lieu of one day of student instruction, send your staff to the Texas Charter Schools Conference for professional development. This is permitted by section 25.081 of the Texas Education Code so long as your calendar is approved by your charter school board and the charter school notifies TEA's Waiver Unit.

Other Conferences:

Leadership Charter: New Mexico Leadership Institute: Albuquerque, New Mexico; June 17-21,2013 REGISTER

NACS National Conference: Las Vegas, Nevada; June 22-24 REGISTER

YES Prep Inagural Conference: Houston, Texas; June 26-28 REGISTER

National Charter Schools Conference: Washington, DC; June 30-July 3,2013 REGISTER

National Institute for Direct Instruction: San Antonio, Texas; August 4-8 REGISTER

Texas Charter School Coaches Conference: Austin, Texas; August 19 -20 REGISTER

Attention Generation 17 & 18 Charter Schools: Next Generation Learning Grants

Breakthrough Schools Launch Grants

20 launch grants will be awarded to support new, whole-school learning models that will open in the fall of 2013 or in the fall of 2014. Our ultimate goal is to build a robust pipeline of new breakthrough schools that serve secondary school students (within grades 6-12). Such schools must employ the seven design principles for personalized learning described in our RFP, and must be committed to achieving breakthrough results for all students.

Breakthrough Schools Planning Grants

30 Breakthrough School Planning grants will be awarded to schools (districts, charter management organizations, aspiring charter entrepreneurs, non-profit and for-profit school developers, state education agencies and other institutions, agencies, or entities) that are planning on opening a new, whole-school learning model in the fall of 2014 or the fall of 2015. The goal of the planning grant program is to support school developers earlier in the development process and to encourage non-traditional institutions to consider opening new, breakthrough schools. Read More.

For assistance in applying for these grants, please consult Scott Fleming Fishtree.

Education Department Launches 2013 Investing in Innovation Competition

The U.S. Department of Education announced the start of the $150 million 2013 Investing in Innovation (i3) grant competition. The announcement incorporates several improvements the Department has made to the grant competition in its efforts to support school districts and nonprofit organizations in partnership with schools to pursue innovative ideas that increase student success. Read More.

National College Fair

Austin Convention Center

Exhibit Hall 3

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. REGISTER

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.