photostrip
April 12, 2013


This week, Senate Bill 2 (Patrick) and Senate Bill 1538 (Van de Putte) passed the Senate and are headed to the Texas House. SB 2 and SB 1538 include major components of TCSA legislative priorities, and we thank many TCSA members for working with Senator Patrick (left) and Senator Van de Putte (right) to pass this good legislation.  Watch the Video of April 11, 2013 (Senate Session Part I & 2)


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 each (for 1-4 school members) or $275 each (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. All early bird registrants will have the opportunity to substitute another colleague to attend in their place prior to the conference. 

Use Professional Development Days 
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. 

Lt. Governor David Dewhurst Statement On Senate Passage Of SB 2
AUSTIN-Today, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst issued the following statement on the Senate's approval of SB 2:
"In passing Senator Dan Patrick's landmark charter school bill, the Texas Senate today sent a clear message that Texas is willing to look at innovative solutions to improve education. SB 2 lifts the caps on charter schools, improves accountability and transparency, and gives education officials the tools necessary to shut down under-performing charter schools. As a product of public schools, I know how important they are to giving opportunity to our children, and I believe that charter schools can help enhance our shared mission to provide a world class education for our children." --Lt. Governor David Dewhurst
Read Press Release.

my SA
Charter schools bill advances 
By Patricia Kilday Hart and Jayme Fraser, Austin Bureau
April 11, 2013
Former Sen. Florence Shapiro, who now leads the new Texans for Education Reform, said the legislation addressed a current problem in Texas charter operations in which bad ones are allowed to operate for too long.
"We are not closing the bad ones fast enough," Shapiro said. "The current law does not afford us that opportunity. Really good charters should flourish." Read the article. 
 
statesman logo
Senate backs charter school overhaul
by Kate Alexander; April 11, 2013

Senate Bill 2, which passed on a vote of 30-1, provides the most sweeping changes to the state's charter school system since the privately managed public schools were first authorized almost two decades ago. "The charter bill is probably the most important bill we're going to pass this session, if we pass it, in terms of education," said Senate Education Committee Chairman Dan Patrick, R-Houston. "We know that good charters work." Read the article.   

 

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton Delivers Speech to Life School Students
April 8, 2013
"Life School deeply appreciates Congressman Barton's visit and passion for educating our students about our nation's military academies," said Superintendent Brent Wilson. "This is just another example of Life School's commitment to prepare our high school students for a career after graduation." Read Press Release.


30 Day Countdown: Public Charter School Rally,
Texas State Capitol, Wednesday, May 8, 2013

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. See the agenda.
Download the Flyer.
Download the Spanish Flyer.
Scholastic Gold Medal Winner 
Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School for Art + Design junior Gerry Varra has been named a Scholastic National Gold Medal winner --  the only Gold Medal winner from San Antonio. Gerry's winning work of art, titled "Don't You Look at Me!" is a pastel self-portrait that gives insight to Gerry's personality, highlighting his love of llamas and his trademark eyeglasses. He will attend the special awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City on May 31, which will also celebrate the 90th anniversary of the
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
Read Press Release. 
charter news
Washington Post
T
exas's graduation requirements miss the mark
By Editorial Board; April 07, 2013
Working their way through the Texas Legislature are bills that would rewrite high school graduation requirements to reduce the number of end-of-course exams required for a diploma and loosen the required courses for graduation. Under the state's current recommended course load, high school students (barring those who opt out with written consent from a parent and school counselor) must complete four years of coursework in English, mathematics, science and social studies. Under the revised requirements, a new "foundation" diploma would allow students to take more electives with lightened course requirements. No longer would Algebra II or advanced science courses be required. Read More.


Texas Considers Backtracking on Testing 
By Motoko Rich; April 10, 2013
The actions in Texas are being closely watched across the country as many states move to raise curriculum standards to meet the increasing demands of employers while grappling with critics who say testing has spun out of control. The Texas House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill this month that would reduce the number of exams students must pass to earn a high school diploma to 5, from 15.
Read More. 


Education pioneer Rosemary Perlmeter talks charter schools and building trust
By Claire St. Amant; April 9, 2013  
After many years in the corporate world, Rosemary Perlmeter threw caution to the wind and co-founded Uplift Education and the Teaching Trust in Dallas. She's currently the CEO of the latter and also teaches education policy and leadership classes in a master's program at SMU. On April 10, Perlmeter speaks on a panel at the Communities Foundation of Texas on "Disruptive innovation in K-12 education." which is part of the Cause-Minded Conversation series. Read More.  

statesman logo
IDEA finds new home after AISD breakup
 
By Melissa B. Taboada; April 10, 2013
The South Texas-based charter operator runs an in-district charter school at Allan Elementary in East Austin. But after a newly constituted school board in December voted to dissolve the district's partnership with IDEA, the charter operator has been scrambling to find a new location. Larkin Tackett, executive director of the local IDEA school, said the charter operator is still looking for a permanent home. The charter school, which teaches 500 Austin school district students in grades kindergarten, first, second and sixth, expects to expand to about 700 students. Instead of being an in-district charter, the school will become a state charter school. Read More.

 Other Charter News:

Competition strong as IDEA set to host annual lottery, The Monitor

IDEA college Prep Mission students aim to motivate themselves and others with music video, 'Mande', The Monitor  

CharterEducatorOpps
CALL FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS PROGRAM PEER REVIEWERS
The Charter Schools Program (CSP) at the U.S. Department of Education is seeking peer reviewers (field readers) to read and evaluate discretionary grant applications submitted under the program's discretionary grant competitions.Serving as a peer reviewer is an excellent opportunity to contribute to our nation's education reform efforts by ensuring the effective allocation of federal grant funds to the most promising grant project. Read More.


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.

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
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. 

TEA logo
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.


COLLINS WRITING PROGRAM INTRODUCTORY INSTITUTE; Improving Student Performance Through Writing and Thinking Across the Curriculum (Grades 4-8)
The institute provides participants with practical strategies and techniques to help their students gain writing fluency, become comfortable thinking on paper, and develop the essential writing skills they need for future academic success in any subject area. Most importantly, this workshop gives teachers the help they need to efficiently and fairly evaluate writing so that students become more skillful as a result of the process.  REGISTER. 

Other Summer Conferences: 
Leadership Charter: New Mexico Leadership Institute
Albuquerque, New Mexico; June 17-21 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 REGISTER
National Institute for Direct Instruction
San Antonio, Texas; August 4-8 REGISTER  
Texas Charter School Coaches Conference
Austin, Texas; August 19-20  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 WeekBusiness 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 
Telca 4

Watch now! FREE TCSA Quality Framework Webinar: Student Growth Percentile (SGP) and Similar Students Measure (SSM) Overview
Watch this month's FREE Quality Framework recorded webinar 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. 
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. 
Who should watch? Superintendents, executive directors, principals, compliance officers, grant officers--anyone on the charter school staff who leads, implements, or participates in charter or campus comprehensive needs assessments and uses data for reporting or planning purposes. 
job post of the week
SUPERINTENDENT/CEO
Premier Learning Academy
La Marque, Texas
Job ID: 239712     Application Deadline: Posted until Filled
Posted: April 10, 2013     Starting Date: July 1, 2013

TEA logo

calendar  

Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) Financial Data Now Available

School Finance Reports and Data Page. 

 

SPP Indicators 6and 12

Read the letter.

 

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.  

 

Student Success Initiative Certification 

Read the Letter.