Texas Charter School Weekly
DECEMBER 3, 2023
SEAY NOTES
Now we will move to the next episode in this ongoing soap opera. The Guv has announced his intention to spank his misbehaving children during next year's primaries. His plan is to replace his opponents with folks who will support the private school vouchers. So, what does that mean for us? I don't think he will call another special session only to have the vouchers fail again. He could go full throttle in electing voucher proponents in the primary and then call a special session after the primaries (March 5) if he's successful. Maybe then those representatives who were defeated will change their minds in another special session. But likely this whole thing will get delayed until the next regular session of our legislature in January 2025.
What a shame!
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TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED
Standards for Permissible Electronic Devices and Software Applications
House Bill 18 (88R) established Texas Education Code, Section §32.1021 and requires the TEA to provide these Standards for Electronic Devices and Software Applications with which school districts or open-enrollment charter schools are expected to comply.
OTHER TEA CORRESPONDENCE
SBOE Update, NOV 27
TEA SPED NEWSLETTER, NOV 28
ESSA Program Monitoring - Random Validations Process, NOV 28
ESSER II Liquidation Extension, NOV 30
Impact Aid 101, DEC 1
TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER
The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) would appreciate 5 to 10 minutes of your time to gather information about your school safety training, resource, and service needs and preferences. If you have already completed this survey, please disregard this notice. The TxSSC offers trainings, resources, and technical assistance to K-12 schools, open-enrollment charter schools, and community colleges. Your input as an educational practitioner helps us to serve you better with resources that reflect the current school safety landscape. The information you provide is confidential. Access the survey here: You can exit and return to the survey at any point. Your progress is automatically saved. The survey is open through December 10, 2023.
https://txstate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3h2jp0lEZw0uaMK
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
Disclaimer - Do NOT rely solely on this list. There may be dates that I am not aware of.
DEC 5 - Small Charter TEA Operator Council, 11:00AM
DEC 7 - Medium Charter TEA Operator Council, 10:00AM
DEC 7 - Large Charter TEA Operator Council, 1:00PM
DEC 7 - LASO II grant due
DEC 8 - Fingerprinting Certification and Statement of Compliance due
TEXAS SCHOOL NEWS
Special needs Texans waiting on improved services after education bill fails
NOV 27, KXAN - Just before this year’s regular legislative session, a special commission of lawmakers reported Texas is underfunding special education services by nearly $2 billion. Their recommendations for improving services have gone unfulfilled nearly a year later.
NOV 27, CBS TEXAS - Texas Governor Greg Abbott said 'stay tuned' Monday when asked if he will call for a fifth special session or if he's still hoping his school choice plan is somehow passed by the House.
TEA launches special investigation into San Antonio-based charter network Great Hearts Texas
NOV 27, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS - The Texas Education Agency has launched a special investigation of Great Hearts Texas, a San Antonio-based charter network that last month accused its Arizona parent organization of illegally siphoning millions of dollars from its state funding.
SEAY NOTE - This will be worth watching. There are several out of state CMO's who have similar arrangements with their Texas charter schools.
NOV 28, TEXAS TRIBUNE - Gov. Greg Abbott is starting to make good on his threat to politically target fellow Republicans who oppose school vouchers, issuing his first endorsement of a primary challenger to a House member who has helped thwart his top legislative priority of the year.
SEAY NOTE - Hell hath no fury like a Governor scorned. Or something like that.
Texas’ Billion-Dollar Surplus In Limbo, While Education Funding Wanes
NOV 28, REFORM AUSTIN - As Texas legislators grapple with a failure to allocate funds, the two-year budget cycle is poised to conclude with a surplus exceeding $18 billion, according to Comptroller Hegar’s latest revenue estimate.
Texas teachers are struggling financially. The school voucher war killed a salary raise.
NOV 30, TEXAS STANDARD - Some Texas public school teachers say they have to do side jobs in order to be able to live.
Public charter school board member announces run for House District 97
NOV 30, FORT WORTH REPORT - Cheryl Bean serves on the school board for the Texas Center for Arts + Academics, which governs two public charter schools: the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts and the Texas School of the Arts.
Tax cuts, teacher pension increases at stake after misinformation-led challenge to 2023 election
DEC 1, TEXAS TRIBUNE - Lawsuits based on false claims about voting equipment could delay millions of dollars in cost of living increases for retired teachers expected to arrive in January. The lawsuits also threaten to hold up state property tax cuts for homeowners — arguably Republicans’ signature policy achievement this year.
DEC 1, TEXAS TRIBUNE - Senate Bill 5 would send an extra $800 million to public schools for security upgrades over the next two years. But the measure is at risk of becoming the latest casualty of the rift between the Texas House and Senate.
SEAY NOTE - Add this to the cutting room floor. There is no time for the Leg to pass this bill or the House school safety bill during this session.
With GOP priorities unfinished, Texas House plans to wrap fourth special session Tuesday
DEC 2, TEXAS TRIBUNE - The decision to end work Tuesday leaves long odds for bills to boost school safety funding and make sure that election challenges don’t delay the implementation of property tax cuts, teacher pension raises and infrastructure spending.
What will we learn from the TEA investigation into Great Hearts Texas?
DEC 3, SAN ANTONIO REPORT - The TEA and the agency’s Commissioner Mike Morath, appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2015, have made no public statements about the investigation beyond confirming it is underway. They presumably are looking into alleged financial irregularities and governance issues that first came to light one month ago when trustees at Great Hearts Texas filed a lawsuit against their parent organization, Arizona-based Great Hearts Academies. The lawsuit alleged that Arizona charter officials illegally siphoned off millions of dollars in “fees” from its Texas affiliate, and when local trustees moved to end the practice, the Arizona organization sought to unseat trustees here, a hostile takeover blocked by a state district court judge.
Then, as suddenly as the lawsuit surfaced, it was quietly settled, with both parties in Texas and Arizona saying they were back in sync. Families of Great Hearts students and the media and public were left to speculate about the millions of dollars supposedly misappropriated and whether those funds would be repaid to Great Hearts Texas.
NATIONAL NEWS of INTEREST
The Charter-School Movement Just Keeps On Keepin’ On
FALL 2023, EDUCATION NEXT - Its momentum catalyzed by shifting politics, new strength, better advocacy, and simple staying power.
SEAY NOTE - This is a nice article by Charter Folk newsletter publisher Jed Wallace. He mentions the recent Texas legislative win on the municipal fairness and brags on TPCSA Executive Director Starlee Coleman. Good job, Jed!
Charter Schools Get Less Funding but Achieve Similar Test Scores to Public Schools
NOV 27, YAHOO NEWS - Charter schools provide students with greater educational gains per dollar spent than traditional public schools (TPS). That's the finding of a new report from University of Arkansas researchers that studied public and charter schools across nine American cities. Despite receiving far less money per pupil than TPS, students in charter schools perform better and are estimated to earn more per dollar invested in their education.
Charters Yield More Learning, Higher Earnings than District Schools Per $1 Spent
NOV 28, THE 74 - With a 58% higher return on investment over a 13-year education and a fiscal cliff ahead, districts should put their money on what works.
What Slogan Would You Use to Recruit Teachers? Educators Weigh In
NOV 28, EDUCATION WEEK - “Teachers: Leaders Shaping Lives,” which will air on TV and radio and be featured on social media, aims to “generate a new respect for teachers and motivate people to consider the profession for themselves,” according to a press release.
SEAY NOTE - Ed Week asked their readers for some suggestions on a slogan. One said, “Middling pay, stripped down benefits, and micromanaging abound as you cry into your large coffee and moldy granola bar!” But my favorite was, "We’ve got jeans passes!"
TPCSA NEWS
Upcoming Webinars
Legislative Update / Revenue Projection Workshop
Date & Time: 12/5/2023 from 2-3 PM
Audience: Charter School Leaders, District and Campus Administrators, Business Managers, and CFOs
Speakers: Leo Lopez, Josh Haney, Amy Ma, and Justin Barlow from MoakCasey
Register: Register for the live webinar here!
Description: TPCSA is excited to host the MoakCasey group for this webinar about the 88th Legislative Session. The MoakCasey school finance team will provide a legislative update and charter-specific revenue projection workshop, going over the state aid template, and the TEA summary of finances. Join us live to have all your questions answered!
Recruiting, Rewarding, & Retaining Teachers
Date & Time: 12/12/2023 from 10-11 AM
Audience: Charter School Leaders, Campus Administrators, Recruitment Teams
Speakers: Dr. Lisa Stanley, Superintendent at North Texas Collegiate Academy
Register: Register for the live webinar here!
Description: From 2013-2019, North Texas Collegiate Academy experienced an average teacher turnover of 32% each year. Unable to match the salaries of larger districts in our area, we blamed money for our poor retention rates. The truth was that we weren't doing all we could to build a teacher-friendly culture where our team members could feel proud of their work, feel appreciated in their efforts, and feel valued for their contributions. Hear the simple, practical measures we've taken to sustain over 90% retention for the last 4 school years...even in the midst of the pandemic. At the close of this presentation, participants will be able to:
-Implement some outside-the-box recruitment strategies to attract the best teachers even when you can’t pay as much as your neighboring district.
-Build a teacher-friendly culture without compromising your mission.
-Implement a sustainable system of rewarding teachers that keeps the best teachers in the classrooms that need them the most.
Resilience, Presence, and Self-Care for Educators
Date & Time: 1/9/2024 from 9-10 AM
Audience: Charter School Leaders, District and Campus Administrators
Speakers: Duncan Kirkwood
Register: Register for the live webinar here!
Description: "Embracing the Storm: Resilience, Presence, and Self-Care for Educators" is a transformative presentation designed to empower teachers with the tools and mindset needed to thrive in the face of challenges. This engaging session delves into the art of resilience, emphasizing its significance in the ever-evolving landscape of education. Attendees will discover the profound impact of gratitude on their well-being and teaching effectiveness, as well as explore practical self-care strategies tailored to their unique needs. Moreover, the presentation underscores the importance of cultivating presence in the classroom to foster meaningful connections with students while preserving one's own mental and emotional well-being. Join us on a journey to unlock your inner resilience and elevate your teaching experience.
Science of Teaching Reading Community of Practice
I wanted to let you all know that we still have room in our Science of Teaching Reading Community of Practice being conducted by the Literacy Architects. This is a group that will meet virtually throughout the year and it is FREE for school employees of TPCSA member schools. If you are interested, please fill out the interest form below. The survey form gives more details about what the community of practice involves. If you know of any colleagues at your school who might be interested, please forward this information to them.
Register: Complete this survey to register for the cohort
Meeting Dates (via Zoom):
November 14, 4–6 pm CST
December 14, 4–6 pm CST
January 18, 4–6 pm CST
February 22, 4–6 pm CST
March 21, 4–6 pm CST
April TBD (depending on STAAR tests)
May 9, 4–6 pm CST
THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS
Schulman, Lopez, Hoffer & Adelstein
Pivot North Architecture
Sutton, Frost, Cary
Masterson Advisors
Dr. Alan Seay
Alan Seay retired as a thirty-four year veteran of Texas public education. He spent the first twenty-five as a teacher, coach, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent in traditional school districts before moving to the charter school world in 2011. He served as Superintendent/CEO for A+ Charter Schools and CEO of International Leadership of Texas. His experience with both an independent charter school and a large charter management organization gives him a well-rounded experience in Texas charter schools. He continues to be involved with Texas charter schools as the Charter School Board trainer for Region 10 ESC and Texas Public Charter Schools Association. He continues to work with charter school leaders as a consultant. In addition to his consulting duties, he serves as an adjunct professor for Dallas Baptist University and Louisiana State University - Shreveport.
Email: leadership4school@gmail.com
Phone: 903-271-8081
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadership4school/
Twitter: @AlanSeay3