Since its founding, the Texas Charter Schools Association (TCSA) has sought out independent directors with a passion for education and a desire to improve the lives of Texas students to serve on the TCSA Board of Directors. For four years, Secretary Rod Paige has served as our Chairman, and we are forever grateful for his […]
By now you have probably heard the buzz and excitement about the addition of five new charter schools that were officially announced by the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) on Friday, June 23rd. Here’s a snapshot of the five new charters opening in August, 2018: Bridgeway Preparatory Academy, which will be located in the […]
This summer, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) launched a new STAAR report card that gives parents a more in-depth look at their child’s academic strengths and where their child needs extra help so they can be an even stronger partner in their child’s learning. As you know, students in grades 3-8 are required to take the […]
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently approved changes to the expansion amendment rules. The changes, which went into effect on June 8, amends 19 TAC Chapter 100.1033(b) and includes changes to how a charter school may request an amendment for relocation, expansion, and High-Quality Campus Designation. RELOCATIONA charter school may now submit an amendment for […]
Have you considered how instructional coaching might impact student achievement and ultimately scores within your charter system? Teacher coaching has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional professional development normally offered by charter schools. Informal, classroom-based instructional coaching has proven effective in solidifying teacher content knowledge and pedagogy and aided in teacher retention. Coaching can […]
If you have missed the first two sections on Driving Achievement Through Campus Operations, please see Part I and Part II before moving on. Starting with the End in Mind Hopefully school leaders are bought-in to the idea of hiring a Director of School Operations and have a strategy for identifying their needle in a haystack. […]
After almost a decade of outstanding and unfailing service, our founding executive director, David Dunn, will conclude his leadership at the Texas Charter Schools Association (TCSA) in October. David had a huge task when we asked him to help create our Association in 2008 and no one could have done a better job. Under his […]
Did you know that Texas Charter Schools Association (TCSA) created an energy cooperative that has saved charter schools more than $1 million since 2011? Savings for all current contract holders in 2017 amount to nearly $300,000! In 2016, Arlington Classics Academy used the program to reduce their energy costs by $19,000 annually and $57,000 over […]
Yesterday, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the 2016 Charter Schools Performance Framework (CSPF) Reports for charter schools across Texas. Provision for the frameworks is found in TEC §12.1181(a) which states, “The Commissioner shall develop and by rule adopt performance frameworks that establish standards by which to measure the performance of an open enrollment charter […]
A Needle In a Haystack? Hiring people to work at charter schools can be challenging. Our teams work longer hours, go above and beyond the job description, and are frequently paid less than their traditional school counterparts. Directors of School Operations often face intense durations of stress, are required to manage multiple streams of work, […]
