Region 11 Charter School News
Keeping you informed while keeping you safe!
COVID-19 Up-to-Date Information
ESC Region 11 continues to work with TEA in our state's response to COVID-19. News and updates are changing daily. The TEA COVID-19 website, ESC Region 11 website, and -- more specifically -- the ESC Region 11 Charter Schools website contain the most up-to-date guidance and academic supports. For your convenience, the most recent updates (as of 4/21) are highlighted at the end of this newsletter under the TEA Updates and Guidance in a section.
Did you miss the Charter Roundtable Meeting on 04/01/20?
Congratulations to the new members of the ESC Region 11 Charter School Advisory Board!
The following charter school leaders have been named to the newly created ESC Region 11 Charter Schools Advisory Board!
- Betsy Compton, Curriculum/Instruction Director at Fort Worth Fine Arts Academy
- Sukai Durosimi, Superintendent at East Fort Worth Montessori Schools
- Jon McCrackan, Assistant Principal at High Point Academy
- Mike Scott, Superintendent at Earth Excels Academy
This board will collectively serve to represent our diverse charter school community and provide ESC Region 11 with valuable input on how to better support charter schools. Please reach out to these leaders to say congratulations and share any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions. Our first meeting will be April 29th via Zoom.
We are still in need of a passionate charter teacher and principal representative to serve on this board with us. Please send nominations to jfagan@esc11.net.
Local Charter Superintendent/CEO/Founder to Host Weekly Radio Show on Public Education!
Congratulations are in order for one of our neighboring colleagues: Dr. Rebecca Good, Superintendent/CEO/Founder, of Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy District!
The show will be titled "Ask Dr. B. Good Show" and will be aired on 1160 AM KBTD and on Facebook at 8:00 a.m. each Sunday starting on April 19th. When asked about her goals for this show, Dr. Good said that she "(wants) to become the Ann Landers/Dear Abby of the education world and create more advocates for public education." Please join us in offering support to Dr. Rebecca Good and utilizing her unique show as a viable resource for public charter school education topics.
Charter School Conferences
- 06/29/20-07/01/20 Charter School Summer Summit, 20/20 and Beyond, hosted by the Network, Texas Charter Assistance & Support. Use this LINK to learn more!
- 08/6/20 Charter School Conference, The Power of Partnerships, hosted by ESC Region 11. See the flyer below!
- 9/30/20-10/02/20 Texas Charter Schools Conference, hosted by Texas Public Charter Schools Association. Use this LINK to learn more!
Some "Mental" Stimulus - Articles of Interest
In this article, Dr. Alan Seay, founder of the North Texas Charter Executive Networking Group and devout charter school advocate, invites school leaders to begin thinking about the upcoming financial challenges. Dr. Seay warns, "There is no doubt state funding for education will be impacted by the Coronavirus crisis and will result in another crisis - one charter school leaders must prepare for now." His article (attached below) offers guidance on how to stay ahead of this financial crisis.
“4 Strategies for Leading from a Distance - How to Connect with and Motivate Your Team - and Students - Effectively During School Closures" by Jackie Maslyk, Assistant Superintendent, Hopewell Area School District in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. "Distance learning" is our new normal. As we pivot how we teach - we must also augment how we lead. As a result, distance leading is our new normal as well. Regardless of whether we are face-to-face or virtual, we are still in the people business. My mentor (Mr. Roy Garcia, Chief Officer for School Leadership at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD) shared this article with me and I wanted to pass it on to you. It provides several ideas to consider and affirmations on the important work you are doing. ARTICLE LINK
Thanks Dr. Demarius Howard with Support Staff on Demand!
*****TEA Updates & Guidance - as of 4/21/20*****
Guidance on Entering Schools During Closure:
Per Governor Abbott’s executive order on April 17, 2020, the following parameters apply when allowing staff into school facilities. These parameters will remain in effect for the duration of the governor’s order:
School classrooms are closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
Teachers may go into the classroom for video instruction, to perform administrative duties, and/or to clean out their classrooms.
Where possible, teachers and staff should continue to work remotely; if they can’t do so, they should follow the parameters outlined in this guidance.
Teacher and staff time at schools should be staggered at each individual campus to enable social distancing to be implemented effectively.
Teachers and staff must be in the classrooms or offices by themselves and must maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from one another.
Teachers and staff should wear masks, if available, or face coverings if masks are not available.
Teachers and staff must screen themselves before coming into school for (1) new or worsening cough; (2) shortness of breath; (3) sore throat; (4) loss of taste or smell; (5) feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit; or (6) known close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19.
Schools must clean and sanitize bathrooms, doorknobs, and other commonly touched surfaces.
Assessment Updates:
HB 3 College Preparation Assessment, Industry-Based Certification Reimbursement, and AP/IB Testing - Use this link for new guidelines, testing dates/procedures, resources, and updates on the following assessments:
- SAT/ACT
- Texas Success Initiative Assessment
- HB College Preparation Assessment Reimbursement
Guidance on Grading - Use this link for updates and FAQs on Grading policies, incomplete grades for remote learning period, incomplete grades for transfer students, and notation of incomplete final grades for the semester on transcripts.
Guidance for 2020 Seniors - Use this link for guidance, updates and FAQs on the following:
- Award of Diploma - Certifying students eligible to graduate, deadlines for certifications, and awarding diplomas to students who want to enter the military early
- Graduation Requirements - CPR Requirements, parent signatures to opt out of endorsements, and performance acknowledgment requirements not completed
- Class Rank and GPA - Identification of the highest-rank graduate for tuition waiver
- Graduation Ceremonies - Approval of virtual and in-person ceremonies
Optional End of Year Assessments - For a detailed FAQs page, use this link.
Waiver and Funding Updates:
School Safety-Related Issues - Use this link for guidance, updates, and FAQs on the following:
- Required Safety and Security Committee meetings
- Safety and Security audit reporting
- 2012020 School Safety and Security Grant
Attendance and Enrollment - Use this link for guidance, updates, and FAQs on the following:
- Taking attendance for students in Optional Flexible School Day Program
- 75,600-minute requirement with the closure of schools
Federal Funding & Grants - Use this link for guidance, updates, and FAQs on the following:
- Flexibility and Waivers - Requests and approvals from USDE on funding awards and IDEA MOE extra expenditures
- Carryover and Application Issues - Current federal grant allocation changes, utilization of carryover funds, and amendment process for a grand application
- Required Documentation - For reimbursements due to COVID-19 costs and documentation of extra-duty pay
- Extension for Grants - Grants with project end dates before 9/2020 and Perkins Grant funds extensions
- Salary Compensation - Using grant federal grant funds to pay employee salaries with new grant responsibilities
- Grant Planning for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 - Use of social media and virtual meeting options and carryover of quotable services
- Eligible Uses of Grant Funds - Grant funds used for unintended student beneficiaries, Title III funds used for supplemental pay, Use of ESSA funds to pay for paraprofessionals to obtain teacher certification, Title I, Part A and Title IV, Part A to purchase laptops/electronics, private nonprofit school equitable services request, and grant end-date extensions for equitable services
- Stimulus Funding under the CARES Act - Guidance on private school services
Steps for Submitting a CPR Waiver - Use this link for guidance, updates, and FAQs