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November 1, 2013

Thanks to Dr. Marsha Farney, Texas State Representative, District 20, for attending the Gateway College Prep groundbreaking in Georgetown.  For more information on public charter facilities funding challenges, visit:  the Shortchanged report, the LJAF Houston report and School Finance overview

 
2013 Texas Charter Schools Conference:
Blazing the Trail to Quality and Innovation 
The annual Texas Charter Schools 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.
Michelle Rhee: 20th Annual Conference General Session Keynote Address  
Michelle Rhee, speaking at the CCSA Conference, will keynote our own conference on Dec. 12.  
   
Special Thanks to our Diamond Sponsor:
 




Start Planning your Conference Experience Now
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It's never too early to start planning your conference!
Download the schedule.  
Earn Required Credit Hours* 
Earn 16.25 Commissioner Credit Hours 
by attending the Business Officer Workshop (Wed), Board Workshop (Fri), and 5 breakout sessions (Wed, Thurs) 
Earn 15.5 Continuing Professional Educator Credit Hours (CPE) 
by attending the Superintendent OR Principal Workshop (Wed), Teacher Workshop (Fri), and 5 breakout sessions (Wed, Thurs, Fri)
*Hours shown here are the maximum available credit hours for each category.
View annual training requirements
View the conference at a glance schedule

 

Don't Forget!  Elections Questionnaires due Mon. Nov 4th. Submit today!

The 2013 TCSA election is just around the corner! If you are interested in submitting your candidacy for any of the open leadership positions, complete and submit the appropriate Candidate Questionnaire by November 4, 2013.

Contact Maria-Theresa Sigua with any questions. Submit today. 

   

Starting a Charter School Beginner Workshop, Houston

November 6, 2013

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Ideal for persons seeking general information about the Texas Charter School movement and for persons preparing a Generation 19 or 20 application to TEA. The deadline for the Generation 19 application will likely be in late February 2014.
register now   

Houston: Charter Grow and Own Facilities Workshop
November 7, 2013
Houston, TX 
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. What Dallas Charter Leaders had to say about the DFW training:
"This training was a good quick glance at the facilities puzzle."
"I understood the facilities questions I need to be asking of my staff and team."
"The trainers were very skilled at helping me learn."
"The training content in this session was very useful to me." register now

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 requirements 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!   
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You asked for changes, we listened.
Instead of offering the TCSA Model Board Policies for $3,500 every two years, we've moved to a subscription model with a yearly renewal fee of only $1,000. For your convenience, the yearly subscription entitles your charter school to continuous policy updates each year. Subscriptions will be processed online along with your annual TCSA Membership renewal and should be paid with your membership dues. For more information, view the new pricing schedule and commonly asked questions, or contact Lindsey Jones, Director of Legal & Policy Services ph. 512.584.8272.
charter news

Canyon- Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund celebrates first Dallas investment in KIPP Destiny Elementary
By NDG; October 27, 2013
DALLAS - Andre Agassi, Bobby Turner and representatives from the Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund (CACSFF) joined KIPP leaders on Wednesday to celebrate the opening of KIPP Destiny Elementary, a new public charter school in South Dallas. This is CACSFF's first investment in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and its first investment with KIPP DFW, a charter school network that provides college-preparatory education for students from underserved backgrounds. Read the article.
educationweek
La. Officials Wrestle With How To Hold 'Alternative' Charters Accountable

She told The Advocate that without Net charter school, she would have simply dropped out. But because the student is graduating in more than four years, under the current system of evaluating the performance of schools, her success is not counted as such, say officials at Net charter school. Under the current system, the graduation rates of these schools are negatively impacted by students who take more than four years total to graduate. Read the article.

TEA logo

Resources available to help schools combat bullying

The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) at Texas State University and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) have joined forces to remind districts and charters of resources available to help address and combat bullying and cyberbullying on
campuses. More info on this week's
Bully Prevention Summit

In Other Charter News
Sorry, charter schools aren't rich- New York Post
Charter Schools and UIL Seminar
Region 10 will be hosting a special seminar on November 18, 2013 Charter Schools and the UIL. Mark Cousins, Director of Athletics for the UIL, has agreed to coordinate the presentation by the UIL on issues specific to Charter Schools along with some general UIL topics. REGISTER.

National School Choice Week, Mark your school calendar January 25 - February 1, 2014.

Mark your school calendars today for National School Choice Week!  Start your grassroots action and activate parents, students and supporters to participate in National School Choice Week, January 25 - February 1, 2014.  We are excited that Houston will host the National Kick-Off event on January 25.  Other Texas cities will be featured during the week with a Capitol Rally in Austin (Jan 27) and a special event in San Antonio (Jan 27).  Attend one of the big events or host your own event.  This is a perfect opportunity to invite legislators and community leaders to your school!
Showcase school choice that works within the public school system and activate your parents!  To find out more information on how you can participate, please contact
Amanda List
 
 CharterEducatorOpps
Charter Schools: A Choice for Excellence
Tell Your Story! StarGroup International is publishing a book next year called Charter Schools: A Choice for Excellence. They are looking for great schools to highlight; parents, students, and teachers to interview; and stories that will help illustrate how charter schools are changing lives. I hope you'll take a minute to send in your story or ideas from your Texas public charter school. More information. 

U.S. Department of State Announces Scholarships for American High School Students to Study Abroad 
SPREAD THE WORD TO CHARTERS:  Scholarships for High School Study Abroad. More Information.  


Now Accepting Young Masters Applications

Texas Commission on the Arts is now accepting Young Masters Applications! Texas 8th -11th grade advanced students can get $2,500 per year for two years to study in their chosen art discipline. Online Applications  
Deadline: November 15, 2013 (postmark) 
Open to: Texas 8th to 11th grade students (or homeschooled students) who are legal US and Texas residents. More Information 
Texas Young Masters is a joint program of the Texas Cultural Trust and the Texas Commission on the Arts.   
job post of the week
KIPP SAN ANTONIO LEAD TEACHER 2014-2015
KIPP San Antonio   
San Antonio, Texas 
Job ID: 527522    Application Deadline: Posted until Filled  
Posted: October 31, 2013    Starting Date: July 16, 2014 
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR TEXAS CHARTER SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION'S MEMBER CHARTER SCHOOLS
All proposals must be submitted on or before:
3:00 P.M., December 6, 2013

TEA logo

calendar

2014-2015 Public Charter School Program Start-UpGrant Read the article.   

 

Expenditure Reporting Deadline Extended to November 5, 2013. More information

 

Update to Plan for IDEA-B Maintenance of Effort Determinations. Read the letter. 

 

Foster Care & Student Success Resource Guide available.  Read the press release.

  

Compliance with Kindergarten Reading Assessment Data Submission (TEC �28.006). Read the letter.  

 

Districts and charters reminded of state's fingerprinting requirements.  

Read the press release.  

 

2013-2014 IDEA-B Significantly Expanded Charter Schools.  

Read the letter. 

 

Depository Contract for Funds of Open-Enrollment Charter Schools.  

Read the letter.  

 

Required for all LEAs and ESCs: Access to New Secure Application.  

Read the letter.   

 

Update: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B, Maintenance of Effort Requirement  

Read the letter.

 

2013-2014 Annual Governance Reporting Form for Open-Enrollment Charter Schools Must be submitted to the Division of Charter School Administration no later than Friday, November 1, 2013.  

Read the letter.   

   

Actions Required by Recent Legislation Passed by the Texas 83rd Legislature

Read the letter.  

 

Significant Expansion of Enrollment-2013-2014: Applies to Open- Enrollment Charter Schools    

Read the letter.