|
|
Senator Dan Patrick, author of SB 2, addresses the Public Charter School Rally at the Capitol on May 8, 2013.
|
 Senate Bill 2 heads to the Governor's desk
Major public charter school legislation receives 105 ayes in House, 28 ayes in Senate
... Statement by David Dunn, executive director of the Texas Charter Schools Association: "SB 2 is a critical and needed update to the Texas charter law and will allow effective charters to grow and serve more students. TCSA and public charter parents, students and supporters thank Chairman Patrick, Chairman Aycock and the members of the Texas Senate and House for their many hours of hard work and hearing testimony on the many important concerns of charter supporters." Read the Press ReleaseRelated News:
Major Education Bills Headed to Governor's Desk - The Texas Tribune Major education bills await Perry's signature - San Antonio Express News  Legislature OKs bills expanding Texas charter schools, cutting high-stakes tests ... The charter measure, authored by Senate Education Committee Chairman Dan Patrick, would allow the number of charters to grow from the current 215 to 305 by fall 2019. There would be no new charters in the coming school year, with 10 the year after that. Then, 15 new charters a year would be allowed for several years ... The bill, approved 28-3 in the Senate and 105-41 in the House, also would give the TEA new authority to regulate low-performing charter schools and close them if they are academically unacceptable for three straight years. Read the article.  How The Charter School Bill Aims To Tighten Rules For Poor Performing Charters In TexasThe first generation of charter schools in Texas includes the Raul Yzaguirre School for Success in Southeast Houston. Adriana Tamez is the deputy superintendent of the Houston campuses. She supports the charter school bill in the Texas Legislature - and not just because it would grow the ranks. "The accountability is really big. For me, the most important part of this bill." Besides increasing the cap on charter school contracts, the bill aims to tighten the rules for charters with poor academics. "Our students, our children, do not have time to waste. And if we are not performing, if we're not doing good by them, then by golly, step aside and let those who know what they're doing or on the right path to making sure that our kids are successful, do their work." Read the article. In Other Advocacy News: Legislature avoided extremes in reforming public education -
Austin American Statesman Opinion
Dutton: Friendly fire kills my bill - Austin American Statesman Opinion
Texas-sized Improvements - Chartering Quality, NACSA BlogWebinar Series: Updates to the Law Join us in these webinars to receive a comprehensive update on the changes in charter school law following the conclusion of the 83rd Legislative Session. TCSA Member Webinar (FREE):
83rd Legislature Public Education Budget Overview
Wednesday, June 5, 2013; 10am - 11:30am
The 83rd Legislature recently adopted the state budget that includes additional dollars for public education. It will soon be sent to the Governor for his consideration. This webinar will give an overview of the appropriations made for public education and will discuss the details of the Foundation School Program distribution of funds to schools.
***New State Aid Estimation Template Release***
According to Nora Rainey at TEA, the Charter School State Aid Estimation Template for the 2013-2014 school year will be made available to charters by the middle of next week. This template will be made available to schools through their FSP TEASE accounts and will include the changes to the budget discussed in TCSA's Webinar on Wednesday, June 5th.
To support the timely efforts of TEA, TCSA will not be releasing an additional template next week following the webinar. We will be glad to assist charters in estimating their state aid using TEA's template. Please ensure the correct email addresses are listed in your FSP TEASE accounts for the template distribution.
TCSA Webinar: Senate Bill 2 and Other Charter Related Legislation Thursday, June 6, 2013; 12pm - 2pm REGISTER- Senate Bill 2 - break down of the language that passed and implications
- Other charter related legislation that was passed
- Key points for going forward and when expected changes will apply
TCSA Member Webinar: Calculating Your 2013 State Accountability Scores Wednesday, June 12, 2013; 10am-11:30am Join us in this webinar to learn how to calculate your school's index scores and get a head start in understanding where you will fall under the new system. Commissioner Williams released key chapters of the 2013 Accountability Manual on 5/24/13. This webinar will introduce participants to these chapters and prepare them to calculate their 2013 Index Scores. All information used in the webinar will be available to TCSA members through the Quality Framework Portal. If you're a member that hasn't submitted a Quality Framework submission for each of your campuses in the 2012-2013 school year, contact us via email. If you're in need of your Quality Framework Portal login or password, email the Quality Team.
TCSA Webinar: HB5: Changes to the Texas Public School Accountability and Graduation Programs Friday, June 14, 2013; 12pm-1:30pm Join us in this webinar to receive a break down on the changes in to the Texas school accountability and graduation programs following the passage of HB5. |
  San Angelo-based charter school to open Midland campus by Meredith Moriak; May 26, 2013 Parents with children entering kindergarten through third grade next fall have a new educational opportunity with the planned establishment of Texas Leadership Charter Academy in Midland ... San Angelo-based TLCA, a free, public, state-funded charter school, was granted expansion into Midland by the Texas Education Agency earlier this month and plans to educate about 300 to 350 kindergarten through third-grade students this fall. Read the article.  Still Teaching for America
By June Kronholz; SUMMER 2013 / VOL. 13, NO. 3 Within days of taking on their new roles as co-chief executives of Teach For America (TFA), Elisa Villanueva Beard and Matt Kramer planned to take off on a 100-day tour of the 46 cities and rural areas where TFA works, "leaving our agenda behind," Kramer said. "I expect it will lead to changes in things," he told me. Read the article.
|
 On-demand TCSA e-Learning Video Series
Charter School Board Members and Administrators now have the flexibility to log in and complete annual training requirement at anytime from the comfort of their home or office. The E-Learning Series is designed to provide TEA required training to charter school administrators and board members in a simple, effective on-line platform. Individuals can access training 24/7 at their convenience. Certificates will be available for download at the completion of the training.
AVAILABLE NOW!
All courses cost $75 and are 60 minutes unless otherwise noted.
2012 PBMAS Update
Understanding the Creation of the New State Accountability System (75 minutes)
2012 Federal Accountability Update
Introduction to Charter School Open Meetings
The Business of Human Resources
Charter FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas)
The ABC's of the Charter: Understanding Charter School Audits and Reviews
Avoiding the Pitfalls of At Will Employment (75 minutes)
Don't Fight the Law - Essential Board Policies (75 minutes)
Introduction to Charter School Law
FREE Webinar: Applying for a Charter School in Texas
June 14, 2013 and
August 16, 2013 (repeat)
10am-11:15am
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). If a Generation 19 application cycle is approved by the SBOE, then the deadline for applications likely will be late February 2014. REGISTER
FREE Webinar: Setting Up Your Business Framework - Starting a Charter SchoolJuly 16, 2013; 10am-11:15am - How to complete the Form 1023 for tax exempt status correctly to prevent delays
- Drafting By Laws
- Tax issues that sponsoring entities must be aware of ahead of time
 Charter Grow and Own Facilities Workshops - 3 City Tour
$80 TCSA Member; $95 Non-Member; Group discounts available.
Earn up to 6 Commissioner Hours for Board Members and/or Officers!
Join us for this one day crash-course to move your facility development and maintenance plans closer to your mission and save a considerable amount of money while doing so. We will solve these growth issues for your organization: - Tired of trying to get your MAKE-SHIFT facility to work/grow with you?
- Busting at the SEAMS? Need more effective space?
- Are you reacting to your growth or managing your growth?
- Do you have a 5 Year and 10 Year Growth Plan?
- Wondering where to START?
- Who should I hire? How much can we afford? What do I do first?
Who should come: Charter School Executives, Board Members, Central Administrative Officers, Administrators, and Business Managers Limited to 30 seats in each city - register early to guarantee your space! 
|
The Conference at a Glance Schedule has been posted to the website. Start planning your travel and register today! Call for Presentations The Texas Charter Schools Association is now ACCEPTING PRESENTATION PROPOSALS through June 30, 2013. The theme of the 2013 Conference is Blazing the Trail to Quality and Innovation. TCSA is looking for engaging presenters and sessions that focus on quality practices in education and to engage attendees in dialogue about cutting edge trends, issues and solutions. Participation as a presenter will help attendees increase their leadership skills and professional competence, provide for an exchange of ideas and solutions and help attendees address the issues and challenges facing the Texas charter schools community.
National Charter Schools Conference REGISTER The Texas Charter Schools Association invites you to our cocktail reception for National Charter Schools Conference attendees from Texas hosted by Compass Learning on Monday, July 1, 2013 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at Brasserie BeckREGISTER for the cocktail reception.
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 Inaugural Conference - SOLD OUT Houston, Texas; June 26-28
National Institute for Direct InstructionSan Antonio, Texas; August 4-8 REGISTER Texas Charter School Coaches ConferenceAustin, Texas; August 19-20 REGISTER Collins Writing Program Introductory InstituteSan Antonio, Texas; August 20 REGISTER
|
 
Heroes for Children Award Nomination
The State Board of Education established the Heroes for Children award program in 1994. The award is designed to recognize excellence in advocacy for education and to spotlight the many outstanding volunteers whose efforts represent significant contributions to public school education in Texas ... Each year, the 15-member Board recognizes one Hero from each of their districts. The Heroes are honored each fall at a ceremony during a board meeting. Learn more and nominate an advocate.
 Texans Can Academies Offers Free Summer Tutoring Program in Five Texas Cities "Operation Success" is open to any Texas high school senior who failed TAKS tests For the third year and through the generous support of their donors, seven Texans Can campuses across the state will offer cost-free tutoring to any Texas 12th grader who failed to graduate because he or she did not pass one or two areas of the TAKS tests. Operation Success will be offered at no charge June 10 through July 3. Times will vary between campuses but students must be committed to attending tutoring at least four hours each day during the four-week period. For more information regarding the individualized instruction, where to register and what the requirements are, please call 866-835-5437 or visit www.texanscan.org. Students must bring their student ID and current high school transcript to any participating school to register.
Certified teachers are also being recruited who are specialists in the four TAKS subject areas: math, science, English and social studies. Teachers who are interested in applying to teach during this four-week period please call 866-835-5437 or visit www.texanscan.org.
 CALL FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS PROGRAM PEER REVIEWERS
T he 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.
|
TCSA Webinar: The Quality Framework - Your School's FREE Reflection, Planning, and Data Tool
Now is the perfect time for charter leaders like you to start planning for how to:
1. Assess and analyze the current school year, and
2. Finalize plans for next year.
The Self-Assessment, Reports, Data Pack and Resources in the Quality Framework portal can help you and your leadership team accomplish both.
Learn how in this month's FREE TCSA Quality Framework Webinar: How to Use the Quality Framework for Reflection and Planning View for this month's FREE webinar to learn:
- About each of the components of the Quality Framework.
- Where to find and how to use the reports, data, and resources in the portal.
- How you and your leadership team can be ready to complete a new Self-Assessment at the end of the school year or this summer.
Click FREE TCSA Quality Framework Webinar: How to Use the Quality Framework for Reflection and Planning to view 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 charter or campus comprehensive needs assessments and uses data for reporting or planning purposes. Questions? Email the Quality Initiatives team
|
TEA Releases RFQ for Charter Application Reviewers
Texas Education Agency (TEA) is seeking qualified applicants to serve as independent reviewers of the Subchapter D open-enrolment charter applications. The intent of this RFQ is to establish a pool of pre-qualified reviewers. Pursuant to the Texas Administrative Code (TAC)�100.1(d-e), Subchapter D open-enrollment charter applications shall be reviewed and scored by an external application review panel selected by the commissioner of education from a pool of qualified candidates identified through a request for qualification (RFQ) process. The panel shall review and score applications in accordance with the procedures and criteria established in the application form. Read the RFQ.
|
READING SPECIALIST MeadowLand Charter School District Boerne, Texas Job ID: 314592 Application Deadline: Posted until Filled Posted: May 28, 2013 Starting Date: July 23, 2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TCSA Charter Bills Passed During the 83rd Legislative SessionSB 2 - Senator Dan Patrick, Representative Jimmie Don Aycock EXPAND & STRENGTHEN QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR TEXAS STUDENTS SB 1538 - Senators Leticia Van de Putte and Eddie Lucio, Representative Marsha Farney
DROP OUT RECOVERY SCHOOL DESIGNATION FOR
|
|
Overview of process related to A-133 single audits Read the letter. 2013 - 2014 Title I, Part C, Carl D. Perkins Formula Grant Application Read the letter. Dyslexia Technology Plan Read the letter. Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting and Requirements Read the letter. Student Success Initiative Certification Read the Letter. | |
|
