Update on the Current Charter Application Cycle and the
Upcoming Charter Requests for Applications
April 14, 2011
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides staff the opportunity to update the board on the current sixteenth generation charter applicant cycle and discuss the upcoming open-enrollment charter guidelines and applications.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §12.101 and §12.110.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: Prior to each charter school award cycle, the State Board of Education (SBOE) has adopted guidelines and an application document establishing the procedures for the applicant cycle, the contents of the application, and the criteria by which charter schools would be awarded to eligible entities. The Open-Enrollment Charter Guidelines and Application – Sixteenth Generation and the College or University Charter Guidelines and Application were adopted by the SBOE on July 23, 2010.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: Senate Bill (SB) 1, 74th Texas Legislature, 1995, granted the SBOE the authority to establish up to 20 open-enrollment charter schools to eligible entities. In 1997, the 75th Texas Legislature granted the board the authority to approve 100 additional open-enrollment charters and an unlimited number of open-enrollment charters to serve students at risk of dropping out of school. In 2001, House Bill (HB) 6, 77th Texas Legislature, called for the combination of the two types of charters described above into one open-enrollment category and limited the number of charters to 215. In addition, HB 6 gave the board authority to approve an unlimited number of charters to public senior colleges or universities that meet additional requirements. HB 1423 was passed during the 81st legislative session giving the board the authority to approve an unlimited number of charters to public junior colleges.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Charter schools provide avenues for local restructuring, flexibility, and innovation. Significant public interest exists in the process of applying for charter schools.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Scott
Commissioner of Education
Staff Members Responsible:
Ray Glynn, Deputy Commissioner
School District Leadership and Educator Quality
Laura Taylor, Associate Commissioner
Accreditation
Mary Perry, Director
Charter School Administration