February 21, 2014

Students (wearing vests) help at the groundbreaking for Jubilee Academic Center Campus, Athlos Leadership Academy in San Antonio on Wednesday. Shown left to right: Marisa Perez (SBOE Member), David Dunn (TCSA), SA Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, Tom Koger (Jubilee), and Danny Amador (CEO, Jubilee).

Rep. Marsha Farney visits Premier High School of North Austin
Receives Charter Appreciation Award

Lathan Watts from Premier, presented Rep. Farney with the Texas Charter Schools Association Charter Appreciation Award, in recognition of her support and efforts on behalf of students in drop out recovery schools during the 83rd Legislature.

Read the press release.

Sen. Donna Campbell visits KIPP Aspire San Antonio

Receives Charter Appreciation Award
Mark Larson, KIPP San Antonio superintendent, and Amanda List, TCSA director of advocacy, presented Sen. Campbell with the Texas Charter Schools Association Charter Appreciation Award, in recognition of her support for Senate Bill 2 and efforts on the Senate Education committee on behalf of students during the 83rd Legislature. Read the press release.

Memorial Service for
Dr. Rosalind Perez

A Memorial Service will be held to celebrate Dr. Rosalind Perez' life on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 2:00PM.
It will be held at the University of Houston - Clear Lake (UHCL) in the Bayou Building Auditorium.
Have cards sent to:
Frank Perez
In Care Of: Bay Area Charter School,
P.O. Box 2126, League City, TX 77574

Newly empowered Texas school districts adjusting graduation requirements

By Jeffrey Weiss; February 16, 2014

This month, many Texas school boards are developing new graduation plans using options created by the Legislature and State Board of Education. Kids who live only a few blocks away, but in neighboring school districts, may find significantly different paths to graduation ahead of them. The new plan kicks in for next year's ninth-graders. And in many districts, course selection for this year's eighth-graders will start in a month or so. Read the article.

International Leadership of Texas to open high
school in Garland

By Hannah Declerk; February 13, 2014

Garland's International Leadership of Texas charter school has been breaking language barriers since it opened in August, with students learning English, Spanish and Mandarin simultaneously. Now the school has broken ground on a new high school building, too. Read the article.

Rapoport Academy's Meyer High School teacher David Corkill (center) received a statewide teaching award from Texas Humanities representative Lindsey Waldenberg and state Sen. Brian Birdwell.

Texas Humanities honors Rapoport teacher

February 21, 2014
Rapoport Academy High School teacher David Corkill was named one of three recipients of the 2013 Humanities Texas Award for outstanding early-career teaching. Read the article.

States sued over education funding

By Adrienne Lu; February 18, 2014
Across the country, litigation is pending against 11 states over inadequate or inequitable school funding. That is nothing new: Over the years, all but five states have been the subjects of such lawsuits. The change is that in many of the recent cases, higher state standards lie at the heart of the arguments. Read the article.

In Other Charter News

Permanent School Fund hits record high value -- TEA Press Release

UTPB partners to bring charter school grads -- OA Online
CSCOPE, Algebra II Emerge as Issues in SBOE Primaries -- Texas Tribune
On the 'Quest' for new school in Bastrop County -- Austin American Statesman
Winning the War on Charter Schools -- National Review Online

FREE Webinar: So You're a Priority School, Now What?

LISTEN TO THE RECORDING

Under the Texas Education Waiver granted by the US Department of Education, several schools within your district may be designated as Focus or Priority Schools. These schools will be able to apply for and receive funding to help implement the seven critical factors of transformation. This webinar will discuss the next steps as well as services that TCSA will make available via an exciting new partnership to implement required improvements and meet TEA expectations. For more information about the identified focus and priority schools and the available funding, refer to the following TEA news release.

View the complete list of 2013-14 Priority and Focus schools.

Brienza's Academic Advantage (BAA) is an academic solutions company with decades of experience in partnering with School Districts in several states. Because of BAA's experience with the seven critical factors of transformation and the seven turn around principles, we would like to offer our services to Charter Schools that currently have schools in the Priority or Focus category. This service will be offered without charge, with the belief that it will provide the foundation for a lasting partnership. For more information, contact: Julie DeLucca-Collins, Executive Director of Programs, ph. 800-581-0887

Generation 19 Charter Request for Application (RFA) Now Available

The Nineteenth Generation Open-Enrollment Charter Guidelines and Request for Application (RFA) is now available to the public. Applications for charter in response to the Nineteenth Generation RFA must be received on or before Thursday, March 27, 2014. Additional information pertaining to the completion and submission process will be available within the contents of the RFA. Additionally, the RFA states a requirement that one or more of the sponsoring entities board members attend one of the two Applicant Information Sessions -- second session is scheduled for Friday, March 7, 2014. For session details, including the required preregistration form, visit the TEA website.

US Congressman Bill Flores kicking off the STEM Festival
Harmony Science Academy, Pflugerville
March 1, 2014; 10am - 1pm

The STEM Festival is a super fun, interactive and educational fair for people of all ages. The students run the show, which includes science and math demonstrations, music and art performances and English and social studies presentations. It's an open house that showcases Harmony's curriculum and use of project-based learning as well as a chance for the students to tout their own impressive accomplishments.

GET DIRECTIONS

FREE Lunch and Learn Information Session:

Harnessing Student Perception Data To Accelerate School Improvement and Teacher Development

TCSA Offices, Austin; March 6, 2014

Student perceptions are linked to their academic outcomes, so it's smart to know what your students are experiencing in your schools and classrooms.

This Lunch and Learn session will explore:

Why student perceptions matter in driving school and teacher performance
Key elements to get the greatest value from student surveys
YouthTruth's resources for Texas Charter schools, including: validated survey instruments, rapid turnaround of results, online interactive reporting platform, follow-up advisory services

Explore UT - FREE

March 1, 2014; 11am-5pm

Explore UT offers more than 400 hands-on learning activities, lectures, films, music performances, crafts, science experiments and demonstrations, and exhibits. You can also tour residence halls, labs, and libraries and see world-famous libraries and museums on campus. See the full list and descriptions of activities.

Bus registration begins

Register your school's buses for Explore UT. We will continue accepting registrations through the end of February.Be among the first 100 buses to register, and the University will provide a $25 incentive to help defray your bus expenses.

Make Plans for Lunch

You can also buy lunch tickets, if you choose, for dining at Jester Center Second Floor or Kinsolving Residence Hall. Click on Group Lunch or directly and fill out the lunch form here. The Explore UT lunch price is $5.75 a person. Ticket selling will end when capacity is reached or by Feb. 18. Of course, you may bring sack lunches or buy food from campus vendors, if you like.

The SXSWedu Education Expo

Tuesday, March 4, 2014; 2:00pm - 8:00pm

SXSWedu is pleased to present the SXSWedu Education Expo - a FREE and open to the public event celebrating the Central Texas community's hunger and passion for lifelong learning, from cradle to career and beyond. More information.

SAVE the DATE!

The Network is sponsoring a state-wide Summit June 16-17, 2014, "Charting the Course." This 1-1/2 day event features keynote speaker Mark McLeod and more than 45 breakout sessions on the standards of Operations, Finance, Governance, and Education. Charter school experts from the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Charter School Association and Education Service Centers, as well as leaders of charters in Texas will provide timely and valuable professional development.

Registration is $50 and is now open and includes a luncheon. REGISTER

For more information, please contact

Melodie Wahlert.

House Student APP Challenge

Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, this competition is a nationwide event that allows high school students from across the country to compete by creating and exhibiting their software application, or "app," for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. Throughout the completion period, participating students will be provided opportunities to engage with various STEM educational partners located within the community to mentor and assist them with their app development. The "House App Challenge" is open to all high school students in participating districts. DEADLINE: April 30, 2014

Financial Aid Saturdays, Central Texas

The Financial Aid Saturdays Program provides FREE assistance to Central Texas high school seniors, prospective/current college students, and parents/guardians needing help to complete federal and state financial aid applications to fund college enrollment. The program is a key element of the Chamber's regional matriculation effort aiming to increase direct-to-college enrollment from 61 percent in 2010 to 70 percent by 2015 to ensure our region is able to meet future talent demands. REGISTER

Help Us Thank A Million Teachers and Give A Million Dollars to Teachers

Farmers Insurance is giving away $2,500 grants to America's teachers and you can help! Take this opportunity to say "Thank You" to an educator that's made a difference in your life and your community. Thank a teacher now.

TCSA CONTRACT TRAINER (PART-TIME) (#TS-KT100)
Texas Charter Schools Association
Austin, Texas

Job ID: 608182 Application Deadline: Posted until Filled

Posted: February 4, 2014 Starting Date: August 5, 2014

Job Description: The TCSA Contract Trainer is responsible for the delivery of customized training for charter school clients in Texas. The position involves presenting pro-active customized training solutions, which address charter school needs along with improving the leadership and staff within charter organizations. The result is improved school operations and student success.

NCLB Highly Qualified Teachers -- 6th Grade Teachers
Read the letter.

New SC5010 for All Charters, State Schools
Deadline: 4/7/14
Read the letter.

Special Charter School Report of Students Enrolled and Students with Disabilities

Read the letter.

2013-2014 Data Validation Monitoring
Deadline: 4/9/2014
Read the letter.