photostrip
July 12, 2013      


Charter leaders gained valuable insight at the Charter Grow and Own Facilities Workshop held last month in Dallas. Attendees reported: "I understood the facilities questions I need to be asking of my staff and team," and "The training content in this session was very useful to me." This training will be held again on August 9 in San Antonio. Limited to only 30 seats. REGISTER 
 
Charter Grow and Own Facilities Workshop
San Antonio: Aug. 6 REGISTER
$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 attend: Charter School Executives, Board Members, Central Administrative Officers, Administrators, and Business Managers  

Limited to 30 seats - register early to guarantee your space!
 

TCSA On-Demand TrainingOn-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 - Earn up to 13.75 hours online!
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: Setting Up Your Business Framework for a Texas Charter School Application 
July 16, 2013; 10-11:15am
The session provides an overview of the pertinent requirements that interested parties must ponder when considering applying for a charter in Texas. In this webinar, we will share practical insights to establishing your 501 (c)3 and obtaining your tax exempt status letter from the IRS in the process of applying for a Texas charter school. Join us to learn Texas specific requirements regarding: formation of your entity, tax issues for charter schools, and processing your application for tax exempt status (Form 1023). REGISTER

FREE: Charter Start Advanced, Austin
July 26, 2013
; 9am-5pm 
This one-day, advanced training session is designed for persons/teams committed to applying for a charter school through the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) / Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Commissioner of Education and who have met the pre-requisite requirements for attendance noted below. The session will address important sections of the charter application from a historical perspective of best practices. Participants will hear from sector experts on selected topics and will assess their particular proposals on various areas important to quality charter schools. Pre-requisite: Must have a draft of a Statement of Need and summary statement of the pedagogy that makes your proposed school  innovative (e.g., what is your position on how students best learn and hence how is your school better?). This session is NOT for those just starting to consider whether applying for a charter school is for them. REGISTER 

 

FREE Webinar: Applying for a Charter School in Texas August 16, 2013; 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) Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Commissioner of Education. If a Generation 19 application cycle is approved by the SBOE/TEA, then the deadline for applications likely will be late February 2014.  REGISTER 
tcsa 150 TCSA Member Council Meeting 
Wed. July 24, 2013; 8:30am-4pm
Brooks Academy of Science
and Engineering
NEW address: 3803 Lyster Rd 
San Antonio, TX 78235
 Teambuilding Toward Excellence
 Wednesday, July 17, 2013; 10am
Is there too little time left in the summer to accomplish all you had hoped?

Do you wish you could easily provide team training toward this year's goals, as well as  foster individual participation toward seeing those goals accomplished?

In this FREE Network webinar, learn how to use the Quality Framework Self-Assessment to ... 
  • Convey a comprehensive vision of excellence to your staff
  • Foster a continuous improvement mindset
  • Grow your school's capacity to be a learning organization
  • Orient new staff and remind existing staff of the importance of team engagement and school goals.
Attention Charter Parents!
Sales Tax Holiday: Aug. 9 - 11, 2013
Senate Bill 485 (83rd Regular Legislative Session, 2013) sets Aug. 9-11 as the dates of this year's annual Sales Tax Holiday. As in previous years, the law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. Subject to the criteria explained here, all sales of qualifying items made during the holiday period qualify for the exemption, including items sold online, or by telephone or mail. Lay-away plans can be used again this year to take advantage of the sales tax holiday. The dates for the sales tax holiday are set by the Legislature.
New Law Requires US and Texas Flag in Every Classroom
HB 773 / Representative Marsha Farney (R) Georgetown
Amending Education Code: 
�25.082
Effective Date: Immediately

Bill Summary:  
HB 773 requires the governing board of each open-enrollment charter school to require students, once during each school day at each campus, to recite the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags. Both flags must be prominently displayed in each campus classroom at the time the pledges are recited. The bill also requires the governing board to provide for the observance of one minute of silence following the recitation of the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.

Impact on Charter Schools:  
Many charters already comply, but all open-enrollment charter school boards must adopt a policy whereby all students recite the pledge of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags once a day during each school day. All classrooms in which students are present during this period must have the United States and Texas flags prominently displayed. Schools may accept gifts, donations, or grants for the money to acquire the flags. After the pledges, schools must have a one-minute-period of silence. Teachers and employees are responsible for making sure students are not distracted during this time.

Where to Purchase Flags for your School(s):

TCSA Preferred Vendor, S&S Worldwide, provides Classroom Supplies, Furniture, Sports, & PE Equipment, and Arts & Crafts Supplies to educators and learning institutions nationwide. Vist S&S Worldwide online.

RS354 Texas State Flag 2' x 3' Nylon (flag only):
TCSA Member Price: $19.94
 
RS355 Texas State Flag 2' x 3' Nylon Kit with Equipment for Hanging:
TCSA Member Price: $27.49  

SL5570 United States Flag 3' x 5' Polyester (just the flag with grommets)
TCSA Member Price: $8.24  

RS353 United States Flag 2' x 3' Polycotton with Equipment for Hanging:
TCSA Member Price: $9.69 

SL5575 United States Flag Kit 3' x 5' Polyester with 6' metal pole, bracket, and gold eagle
TCSA Member Price: $11.24  
SL5567 United States Flags 12" x 18", Colorfast Ink Printing, Pack of 12
TCSA Member Price: $14.24  

For help with your order, contact:
Andrew Kimball, S&S Worldwide Program Manager
Phone: 800-642-7354 x2452 

2013 Texas Charter Schools Conference:

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. View the Conference at a Glance schedule.

Plan for your team to attend:
 
The Texas Charter School Conference will be held in Fort Worth on December 11-13, 2013. 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 as long as your calendar is approved by your charter school board and the charter school notifies TEA's Waiver Unit. Texas school districts are required to provide at least 180 days of instruction (Section 25.081, Texas Education Code). However, some districts and charter schools have a waiver from the Commissioner of Education allowing them to substitute a few of those days for teacher professional development days.   

TEA logoNews from the Division of Grants Administration - Clarifying Guidance on Use of Federal Funds
On May 15, 2013, the US Department of Education (USDE) issued clarifying guidance on how federal grant funds may be used to pay for conferences and meetings. The guidance, in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQ), also includes information on food and travel costs. TEA published a "To the Administrator Addressed" letter concerning the clarifying guidance on June 13, 2013. With any questions related to the clarifying guidance, email the Division of Grants Administration.
charter news
statesman logo
More Texas schools to fail U.S. education standards Schools will bear stigma of failure, while state-federal dispute continues.
By Kate Alexander; July 10, 2013
Nearly half of the 8,500 public schools in Texas last year failed to meet the federal "Adequate Yearly Progress" requirements, or AYP, which called for 87 percent of students to pass reading and 83 percent to pass math. Each major student group, such as low-income students and those in special education, also needed to hit those thresholds. Read the article.

YNN LogoEducational camp teaching kids science, math skills
By Jess Mitchell; July 3, 2013
Summer usually means a break from the classroom, but not for those attending an educational camp in East Austin. East Austin College Prep STEM Camp teaches students environmental science, nutrition and robotics. Read the article.

educationweek
Focus on Kids Identified as Key to District-Charter Partnerships
By Katie Ash on July 3, 2013
Putting kids first, having robust communication, eliciting buy-in from stakeholders at every level, and establishing a strategic planning process are key to creating meaningful district-charter collaborations, said a panel of charter and district leaders who are involved in such a partnership. Spring Branch ISD in Houston entered into a partnership-called SKY-with both YES Prep and KIPP charter schools this year in order to help boost college readiness and help more of their students graduate from 4-year colleges, said Mandele Davis, the project manager of the SKY partnership. The partnership affects two of the district's middle school campuses directly. The Northbrook Middle School now shares a building with YES Prep, and Landrum Middle School shares a building with KIPP Courage. Read the blog.

Summer Conferences:
Texas Charter School Coaches Conference
Austin, Texas; August 19-20  REGISTER
Collins Writing Program Introductory Institute
San Antonio, Texas; August 20  REGISTER 
Fall Conference:
Texas A&M Bilingual Education Conference 
Kingsville, Texas; October 25  REGISTER
CharterEducatorOpps

NEF CyberLearning Offers Texas Public and Charter Schools $2 Million Matching Grant Towards Energy Efficiency Projects Using QZAB Funds
The Texas Education Agency has $98 million allocated for the statewide QZAB program; the National Education Foundation (NEF),announced today a nationwide initiative to award matching grants of up to $2,000,000 each to any Texas school with at least 35% of students on free or reduced cost lunch applying for QZAB. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) QZAB funds are available to school districts and charter schools who are looking for funds for rehabilitating or repairing their facilities. These funds can also assist in the purchase of equipment, instructional materials and providing teacher/administrative personnel professional development. TEA has $98 million allocated for the statewide QZAB program.

Learn more.  

job post of the week
TEACHERS (12 positions)
Fallbrook College Preparatory Academy
Houston, Texas
Job ID: 389292     Application Deadline: July 19, 2013
Posted: July 11, 2013     Starting Date: August 15, 2013

WEBSITE NOW LIVE! TEA, ESC Region XI, and TCSA's collaborative efforts to support charters in all stages of development can now conveniently
be accessed online. To see how we can help you and your school:

TEA logo

calendar

TEA releases the 2013 Preliminary Charter FIRST ratings 

Your school district's preliminary 2013 School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating is now available in the online School FIRST system, which can be accessed through TEASE.     

 

If your district believes that its rating was based on a data error solely attributable to TEA's review of the data for any of the 20 indicators, your district may  submit a written appeal with supporting evidence to the Financial Accountability Division. For the appeal to be considered, TEA must receive it by July 25, 2013.   

  

2013-2014 Charter School State Funding Worksheet  

  

TEA announces initial assessment requirements under HB5

Read the letter. 

 

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. 

   

2013-14 Indirect Cost Rates 

Read the letter.