Below are a few of the most common charter schools myths you’ll hear…AND the truth behind those myths.

Myth: Charter schools aren’t required to meet the same standards as traditional public schools.

Truth: Charter schools are held to the same academic accountability ratings and financial requirements as traditional public schools, as established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Myth: All charter schools are college preparatory models.

Truth: In reality, charter schools have diverse missions, 36 percent of all charter schools in Texas have a mission to prepare students for college. A close second to these mission types—approximately 29 percent—focus on a specialized mission, such as math and science, language or the arts. Dropout Recovery schools account for 27 percent of charters in the state, while 8 percent of schools are focused on learning in special environments like residential treatment or juvenile detention center.

Myth: Charter schools are succeeding because they “cream” the best students and the most involved parents.

Truth: Charters accept any student who applies, including those that have fallen behind their peers, previously dropped out of another school and those with special needs. With 56,000 students on waiting lists to enter charter schools across the state, the students who enter charters via a lottery are representative of a diversity of backgrounds. Charter schools serve higher percentages of African-American, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students than traditional schools and are producing more results.

Myth: Charter schools perform no better than traditional public schools.

Truth: According to the TEA, standard accountability charter schools outperform traditional schools with minority students in state assessment passage.

Myth: There is higher attrition among charter school teachers.

Truth: Across all schools, including charters, teacher attrition is a challenge. For charters, attrition is likely the result of the ease with which teachers can leave or be removed from their positions. The positive result is that charter schools are able to make personnel decisions that are in the best interest of their students.

Abajo se encuentran los mitos, y las verdades detrás de los mismos, más comunes acerca de las escuelas charter.

Mito: Las escuelas charter no están obligadas a tener los mismo estándares de las escuelas públicas tradicionales.

Dato: Las escuelas charter son responsables de los mismos requisitos académicos, de valoraciones y de financiamiento que las escuelas públicas tradicionales, tal como está establecido por la Agencia de Educacion de Texas (TEA)

Mito: Todas las escuelas charter tienen modelos de preparación para la Universidad.

Dato: En realidad las escuelas charter tienen diferentes misiones, el 36 por ciento de todas las escuelas charter en Texas tienen la misión de preparar a los estudiantes para la Universidad. En segundo lugar–aproximadamente el 29 porciento- tiene una misión especializada como las matemáticas, las ciencias, los idiomas o las artes. Las escuelas para contrarrestar la deserción escolar (Dropout Recovery) son el 27 por ciento de las escuelas charter en el estado, mientras que el 8 por ciento están enfocadas en el aprendizaje en entornos especiales como un centro de detención juvenil o escuelas tipo internado.

Mito: Las escuelas charter están triunfando por que seleccionan a los mejores estudiantes y a los padres más involucrados.  .

Dato: Las escuelas charter aceptan a cualquier alumno que aplica, incluyendo a aquellos que se han retrasado en sus estudios, que han desertado de la escuela y aquellos con necesidades especiales. Con 56,000 alumnos en la lista de espera para entrar a una escuela charter en el estado los alumnos que logran entrar representan diversos ambientes y tienen diferentes bagajes culturales. Las escuelas charter sirven a porcentajes más altos de  alumnos Afroamericanos, Hispanos y con desventajas económicas que las escuelas tradicionales y producen más resultados.

Mito: Las escuelas charter no se desempeñan mejor que las escuelas públicas tradicionales.

Dato: De acuerdo a la TEA, las escuelas charter estándar superan a las escuelas tradicionales con estudiantes de minorías en el pase de evaluaciones estatales.

Mito: Las escuelas charter tienen una mayor rotación de maestros.  

Dato: En todas las escuelas, incluidas las charter, el flujo de maestros es un reto. Para las charter, el flujo es el resultado de la facilidad con la que los maestros pueden dejar o ser removidos de sus posiciones. Lo positivo es que las escuelas charter tienen la posibilidad de tomar las decisiones del personal  que mas beneficien a los alumnos.

First, the Palasota court reaffirmed its earlier holding in LTTS Charter School Inc. C2 Construction II, that open-enrollment charter schools enjoy government immunity from suit from tort claims. Relying on the reasoning of the Texas Supreme Court’s 2011 decision in LTTS Charter School Inc. C2 Construction I, the court of appeals found that open enrollment charter schools are immune from suit as a matter of common law.  This is a significant finding because the court reached this decision without reliance on section 12.1056 of the Texas Education Code, the statutory provision that expressly affords charter schools immunity from liability.  Consequently, an open-enrollment charter school can use the Palasota holding and its sister case in C2 Construction II, to urge early dismissal from any litigation filed against the school. Since charter schools are immune from suit as a matter of common law – as the Palasota court found – then the school is not required to incur the expense of discovery in any case in which immunity from suit has not been waived.

Next, concerning the broker’s contract claims, the Palasota court also held that the charter school had immunity from suit. In an unprecedented ruling, the court found that open-enrollment charter schools are “local government entities” under Section 271.152 of the Texas Local Government Code. Any “local government entity that enters into a contract subject to Chapter 271 waives immunity from suit for the purpose of adjudicating a claim for breach of contract”. However, for immunity to be waived, the contract must meet the specific statutory definition of a contract:  “a written contract stating the essential terms of the agreement for providing goods or services to the local governmental entity that is properly executed on behalf of the local governmental entity.” The Palasota court found that the broker’s contract did not contain the essential term describing the amount and/or method of calculating the broker’s commission. Because the broker’s contract did not meet the statutory definition stated in Chapter 271, the court concluded that the waiver of immunity did not apply.

TCSA congratulates Universal Academy and Tommy Fuller, their attorney on this case, on this important victory for open-enrollment charter schools.  In light of the new developments in the Palasota case, charter schools should consult their local counsel for advice concerning litigation and contracting.

La semana de agradecimiento a los maestros no es solo para decir gracias, sino también es para reconocer todo el trabajo duro que un maestro pone en la educación de su hijo/a.  No importa lo bien que un maestro hace su trabajo, ellos siempre se sienten que pueden hacer mas lo que puede desmotivar.  La semana de agradecimiento a los maestros es sobre la validación del compromiso y la importancia de lo que hacen día tras día. Dígales los que significan para usted y para su hijo/a…y si, enséñenles su agradecimiento.

¿Cómo lo puede demostrar?

Lo que sea que usted y otros padres decidan hacer para darles gracias a los maestros, asegúrese involucrar a los estudiantes.  Nada toca el corazón de un maestro más que los agradecimientos sinceros de sus estudiantes.

Notas para los defensores:

Sigan defendiendo a las escuelas “charter” todo el año

En una reunión reciente en una escuela en Houston, fui recordada que el movimiento de las escuelas “charters” tienen aliados y socios que cuyo trabajo se base en un concepto similar, una opción educativa.

Los padres de Houston y los miembros de la comunidad, se reunieron para apoyar la decisión de poder elegir escuelas en cualquier ambiente educativo; sea pública o privada. Los miembros de los distritos escolares del área de Houston hablaron con el publico de los programas de “magnet”, las escuelas privadas hablaron muy bien de sus programas, y los lideres de las escuelas “charter” hablaron de sus misiones y como educan a sus estudiantes.

Aunque cada escuela, que está trabajando para apoyar la decisión de poder elegir escuelas, sea diferente una a la otra, compartimos el mismo objetivo—proveer una educación de calidad.

La reunión de apoyar la decisión de poder elegir escuelas en Houston, fue un gran ejemplo de familias celebrando la oportunidad de encontrar la mejor educación para sus hijos.

Es el esfuerzo de los padres lo que inspira a TCSA para continuar a luchar para el uso de poder escoger escuelas en el movimiento de escuelas “charters”.

Trabajando con nuestros miembros de apoyo de la comunidad los hace más fuerte. ¡Y este mes les hablamos para que actúen!

Como hemos dicho antes “nadie puede hacer todo, pero todos podemos hacer algo”.  Trabaje con un grupo de padres para planear un evento que habla muy bien de su escuela para los oficiales de la ciudad y el estado.  Mande correo electrónico a Jennifer Limas para asistencia en planeando un evento.

¡Juntos, podemos construir más apoyo para las escuelas “charter” y la calidad de la educación pública que ofrecen!

Jennifer Limas
Directora de Grassroots Advocacy
Texas Charter Schools Association

Teacher Appreciation Week is not only about saying thank you, it is about recognizing the hard-work and heart that a teacher puts into your child’s education. No matter how well a teacher does their job, they always feel like they could be doing more, and that burden can be defeating. Teacher Appreciation Week is about validating their commitment and the importance of what they do day-in and day-out. Tell them what they mean to you and your child…and yes, show them your appreciation.

HOW CAN YOU SHOW IT?

Whatever you and your fellow parents decide to do to thank your teachers, make sure the students are involved. Nothing touches the heart of a teacher more than the sincere thanks of their students.

Advocate Notes:

Keep advocating for charter schools all year long

At a recent school choice rally in Houston, I was reminded that the charter school movement has allies and partners whose work is grounded in similar thought, educational choice.

Houston parents and community members gathered to support school choice in all educational environments; both public and private. Members of Houston area traditional school districts spoke to the audience about magnet programs, private schools highlighted their programs and the charter school leaders spoke about their school’s missions and ways they educate children.

Although each school working in school choice may be different from one another, we share the same goal—providing quality education.

The Houston School Choice Rally was a great expression of families celebrating the freedom to find the best education for their children.

It is the spirit of empowered parents that inspires TCSA to continue fighting for the use of school choice in the charter school movement.

Working with our community of supporters makes us stronger. So this month we are calling you to act!

As we have said in the past: “no one can do everything, but everyone can do something”. Work with your parent group to plan an event that highlights your school to local city and/or state officials. Email Jennifer Limas for planning assistance.

Together, we will build greater support for charter schools and the quality public education they provide!

Jennifer Limas
Director of Grassroots Advocacy
Texas Charter Schools Association

Jennifer Limas, TCSA Director of Grassroots Advocacy

Neighborhoods are defined by their communities. Attending a community meeting in Metz Recreation center earlier this week affirmed—as a long time Austin resident, what I already knew—the residents of East Austin are passionate and committed to their neighborhoods.

The community has shown a strong presence at numerous town hall meetings held over the past few months to discuss the potential collaboration between Austin ISD and IDEA Public Schools, an active member of TCSA.

As a person who has worked in Austin’s non-profit community for ten years, I know the challenges and history our East Austin communities have faced. Inequities in education have long plagued these areas and change is long overdue.

Change is not always initially celebrated; especially by a public who may still be uncertain about charter schools’ role in education. Directing the grassroots advocacy effort for TCSA, I’ve seen firsthand that although we have made significant gains, the charter movement has more work to do to increase public awareness of our schools.

Charters and traditional public schools both have a central role to play in public education, and parents and students want and need them both.

In communities across this state—like Dallas and in Houston—school districts are also beginning to partner with charters to both emulate some of the successful practices of charter schools and to joint venture a number of campuses.
 
Its time to embrace charters, work with them, and ensure the lessons learned are put to use for the betterment of ALL public schools.

Jennifer Limas
Director of Grassroots Advocacy

1. Si  usted comienza a enseñar su cara en la escuela de su hijo, le demostrara a él, que usted está tomando interés.  Si usted pasa los lunes viendo futbol americano en la noche, su hijo sabe que usted disfruta el futbol americano. Si usted se emociona cuando invita a amigos para cenar a su casa, su hijo reconoce su entusiasmo.  Cuando usted se presenta en la escuela de su hijo por una razón que no es obligatoria, su hijo es lo suficiente inteligente para comprender que usted está ahí porque es importante.
2.  Cuando su hijo cree que la escuela es importante para usted, esto envía el mensaje fundamental que la escuela si vale la pena. 
3. Pasando tiempo en la escuela, en la comunidad, y alrededor de los compañeros de su hijo le ofrecerá un mejor entendimiento de las actividades diarias de su hijo.  Como padres, sabemos que no solo podemos basarnos en la palabra de nuestros hijos para poder comprender lo que les gusta o no les gusta y lo que están aprendiendo. Pasando tiempo en la escuela de su hijo le ayudara a entenderlo.
4. Pasando tiempo en la escuela de su hijo también le ayudará a entender su lenguaje y su perspectiva. Le actualizará los juegos, las modas, la jerga, y los intereses de los niños de esa edad. 
5. Uno de los papeles más comunes de los padres voluntarios es ayudar a recaudar fondos.  El tiempo que dan los padres permite que estos eventos se realicen, y estos eventos permiten que las escuelas puedan ofrecer más actividades atractivas que son educativas y extracurriculares.
6. Los empleados de las escuelas chárter están acostumbrados a hacerse cargo de varios diferentes trabajos para asegurar de que todo este hecho bien.  Los padres voluntarios pueden ayudar a aliviar esta carga.  
7. Ya sea que se ofrezca ayuda en una escuela, una iglesia o con una organización sin fines de lucro, es importante dar nuestro tiempo y talento a causas que son importantes para nosotros y en las que creemos. 

Hay muchos elementos que afectan una experiencia voluntaria, así que asegúrese de que su tiempo vale la pena tomando en cuenta estas sugerencias:

Sea Claro – Si usted está ocupado asegúrese de que la escuela entienda el compromiso de tiempo en que usted está dispuesto a hacer, que tan flexible puede ser con su tiempo y si quiere ser un voluntario regularmente o sólo una vez.  Necesita hacer claro su disponibilidad para poder ayudar a la escuela encontrar oportunidades que funcionen bien con su horario.

Comience Con Algo Pequeño – Si usted nunca ha ofrecido su tiempo con esta escuela o simplemente no está seguro cuánto tiempo usted puede ofrecer, no se abruma con cargándose con un compromiso que puede durar todo el año escolar.  Comience con algo pequeño y después cárguese con más ya que determine sus intereses y flexibilidad. 

Probar Diferentes Papeles – No tenga miedo de intentar algo nuevo cada año hasta encontrar una oportunidad voluntaria que le guste.  Ofrecer su tiempo libre debe añadir a la calidad de su semana—no ser una mala experiencia.

Obtenga Información y Comunique – No tenga miedo hablar con los empleados de la escuela.  Pregúnteles si está haciendo bien su trabajo y dígales lo que usted piensa.  La educación de su hijo es una colaboración entre usted y los maestros; ofreciendo su tiempo también lo es.

Nunca es demasiado tarde para empezar… ¡y no se detenga! No importa el tiempo que su hijo ha asistido a una escuela, que época del año es, o cuánto tiempo otros padres han sido voluntarios, nunca es demasiado tarde para involucrarse.  ¡Y no se detenga! La mayoría de los padres voluntarios están muy involucrados durante la primaria, pero no tanto durante la escuela intermedia, y no participan en absoluto durante la escuela secundaria. Los estuantes y los profesores en todos niveles pueden utilizar su tiempo y energía. 

1. Letting your child see your face at school shows your child you take an interest. If you spend Monday nights watching football, your child knows you enjoy football. If you get excited about having friends over for dinner, your child recognizes your enthusiasm. When you show up at school for a reason that is not mandatory, your child is smart enough to understand that you are there because is matters.
2. When your child believes that school matters to you it sends the crucial message that school is worthwhile.
3. Spending time at the school, in the community, and around your child’s peers will provide you understanding of your child’s daily activities. As parents, we know we can’t solely rely on our child’s words to truly understand what they like and don’t like and what they’re learning. Spending time at school helps you to understand your child’s world.
4. Spending time at school also helps you to understand your child’s language and perspective. It keeps you up to date on the games, fashions, lingo and interests of the kids his or her age.
5. One of the most common roles for parent volunteers is assisting with fundraisers. Parent time enables these events and these events enable schools to provide more engaging educational and extracurricular activities.
6. Charter school employees are used to doing multiple jobs in order to make sure everything gets done. Parent volunteers help ease the load.
7. Whether volunteering at school, church or a local non-profit, it is important for each of us to give back to the community by donating our time and talents to causes we believe in.

There are many factors that affect a volunteer experience, so ensure that your time is worthwhile by taking these suggestions into consideration:

Be Clear – If you are busy, make sure the school understands the time commitment you are willing to make, how flexible you can be and if you want to volunteer on a regularly schedule or only one time. Being clear about your availability will help the school find opportunities that match your schedule.

Start Small – If you’ve never volunteered with this school before or are not sure how much time you are able to give, don’t overwhelm yourself by taking on the big, year-round commitments as a rookie. Start small and work your way up as you determine your interests and flexibility.

Try on Different Hats – Don’t be afraid to try something new each year until you find a volunteer opportunity that you enjoy. Volunteering should add to the quality of your week–not be a burden.

Get Feedback and Communicate – Don’t be afraid to talk with the school staff. Ask them how you are doing and tell them what you think. Educating your child is a partnership between yourself and the teachers; volunteering is as well.

It is Never too Late to Start…and Don’t Stop! – It doesn’t matter how long your child has been at a school, what time of year it is, or how long other parents have been volunteering, it is never too late to get involved. And don’t stop! The majority of parent volunteers are heavily involved during elementary school, but back off in middle school, and do not participate at all in high school. Students and teachers at all levels can use your time and energy.

The Imagine International Academy of North Texas, a public tuition-free charter school scheduled to open in the fall of 2012 in McKinney, held a groundbreaking ceremony today to mark the commencement of construction for the school's permanent home.

The first week in November was my second anniversary of employment at the Texas Charter Schools Association. As the only full-time staff member in the Marketing “department”, I often joke that I am chained to my very messy desk. Don’t misunderstand, I am grateful to have meaningful work, and the view from my window is quite lovely. Unfortunately, this also means that I have limited time to spend “in the field” visiting with all of you and seeing the success of our charter students first hand inside your classrooms.

Over the past two years, I have had an opportunity to visit schools in Austin, Houston and San Antonio but had yet to make a trip to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. When not one, but two, charter events came up in Dallas on the same day, I jumped at the chance to accompany Denise Pierce, VP of Member Services, to double down in the Big D.

Our intentions were to fly in early to allow plenty of time to travel to a luncheon downtown hosted by Uplift Education. However, finding ourselves sitting in the Hertz lot at 9am with no immediate plans, we quickly began making presumptuous inquiries to nearby schools as to whether we could squeeze in a few campus tours before lunch. And, even though we know she was very busy finalizing Uplift’s lunch programs, Rosemary Perlmeter graciously arranged for a last minute visit at Williams Preparatory.

So, off we went, arriving unannounced a short time later at a totally different Uplift campus. A quick call to Rosemary confirmed that we had mistakenly entered the wrong address into our GPS and our current satellite location placed us at the North Hills Preparatory campus.

Undaunted, we upended the morning of another unsuspecting member of Uplift’s staff with our request for an impromptu tour. Maggie Stirton, Director’s Assistant,  gave us an amazing look around and introduced us to the International Baccalaureate program that was to become the theme for the day (more on that later). We were most impressed with the student greeters in each classroom who shook our hands, welcomed us to their class and told us what they were currently studying.

Realizing that we were running short on time but not wanting to miss the opportunity to visit Williams Prep, we rushed over to the school – and we were so glad we did! KC Cox, Director of Operations, introduced us to a cafeteria full of enthusiastic students followed by a tour of the campus by two of their best students, Sharon Flores and Cecilia Garza. College was clearly the goal here and the young ladies were looking forward to visiting potential universities in Atlanta at the end of the school year.

We arrived just in time for the Uplift lunch held at the new Omni hotel in downtown Dallas. The announcement of Uplift’s intentions to open four schools and enroll 13,000 additional students by 2015 was made jointly at separate luncheons – one in Dallas and one in Fort Worth – and simulcast via video from both cities. Again, we were struck by the audacious spirit of the Uplift students we met. The high school student that thanked us for coming made sure to tell us her plans to become the first in her family to attend college, specifically, Yale University.

Next, we headed over to St. Anthony School where Laquise Bennett showed us their campus, introduced us to her staff, and proudly told us of their recent increase in enrollment. Another charter participating in the International Baccalaureate program, we saw similar evidence of the IB’s “recognizable common educational framework” at St. Anthony. The media room – a requirement of IB – incorporated the IB’s value system within their rapidly growing collection of books and media.

Finally, Denise and I made our way north to an empty field in McKinney, Texas. A tent, stage and mound of dirt with a row of shiny shovels marked the spot where the new Imagine Academy International of North Texas would soon be built. The weather had turned cold with a bitter wind but the collective enthusiasm of those who had worked for many years to bring an IB program to North Texas warmed our spirits. Active supporters came from as far as Florida and Ohio and included builders, bankers, board members, and politicians. State Representative Ken Paxton (R), McKinney, read a resolution from the State of Texas congratulating Imagine Academy on their achievement of breaking ground for the new charter school.

I’m so pleased that our “two event trip” evolved into so much more. Although unintentional, the deep dive into the International Baccalaureate program clearly exemplified consistent positive themes across grade levels and charters. It was evident at all the schools we visited that the values and ideals of the IB program encouraged the students we met to “develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.” Now, with new charter schools in Fort Worth (Uplift Education) and McKinney (Imagine Academy International), even more students will have the opportunity to benefit from the IB program and be prepared to achieve at the college or university of their choice (even Yale!).

Back at my desk now (it’s still a total mess), I am reenergized and inspired by the good work happening in charters in Dallas and Fort Worth. I look forward to continuing to support your missions from my post in Austin and to breaking my metaphorical chain to spend time with each of you at your schools in the upcoming year.

With this in mind, I’m pleased to invite you to the inaugural Innovation in STEM Conference, hosted by Harmony Public Schools (HPS) on November 14 and 15, 2011. The conference will provide a forum for sharing best practices from STEM education initiatives around the nation by bringing together key individuals from public schools, higher education institutions, state and governmental agencies, non-profit & philanthropic organizations and businesses & corporations. We believe stronger relationships and connections will be forged among these groups, all for the benefit of the students we educate.

HPS is a network of 36 charter schools in Texas and is a pioneer in education practices emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) across the K-12 spectrum.  Educators and leaders at HPS strive to develop students who are prepared and empowered to matriculate in competitive college programs, and eventually make future strides to a wide variety of STEM-based fields.  Our STEM model is achieving results – our students have received recognition at state, national, and international levels – and STEM education is continually being highlighted by our nation’s education leaders. In fact, 17 of our campuses are designated T-STEM campuses.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently said, “Everyone has a stake in improving STEM education. Inspiring all our students to be capable in math and science will help them contribute in an increasingly technology-based economy, and will also help America prepare the next generation of STEM professionals-scientists, engineers, architects and technology professionals-to ensure our competitiveness.” We couldn’t agree more, and hope that this inaugural conference is an important step toward improving and expanding STEM education in Texas.

We hope you will join us for an exciting lineup of speakers, including former U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige, as well as panel discussions and breakout sessions designed to facilitate networking and the sharing of information in a collective effort to shape STEM education. For more information and to RSVP for this event, please email dhouston@harmonytx.org.

Dr. Soner Tarim
Superintendent, Harmony Public Schools