Proposed Selection of a Public College or University Charter
November 18, 2011
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the board an opportunity to approve the operation of a public college or university open-enrollment charter school for opening in the 2012-2013 school year. The interview for the proposed school to be operated by the University of Texas at Tyler will be conducted during the meeting of the Committee on School Initiatives on November 17, 2011.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §12.152 and §12.154.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: Senate Bill (SB) 1, 74th Texas Legislature, 1995, granted the State Board of Education (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, HB 6 called for the combination of the two types of charters described previously into one open-enrollment category and limited the number of charters to 215. In addition, HB 6 gave the board authority to grant charters, outside the 215 limit, to public senior colleges or universities that meet additional requirements. HB 1423, 81st Texas Legislature, 2009, amended TEC, Chapter 12, Subchapter E, to allow public junior colleges to be awarded charters. Three charters have been granted to universities under TEC §12.152.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: On July 22, 2011, the board adopted the request for application form for public colleges and universities. The RFA was issued on August 5, 2011.
FISCAL IMPACT: A decrease in state revenue to the local district would occur as the result of students attending the open-enrollment charter school instead of the local school district.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: In accordance with current statute, the approval of open-enrollment charter schools will provide new avenues for local restructuring, flexibility, innovation, and choice options for parents and students.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: Open-enrollment charter schools are subject to the public school accountability system under TEC, Chapter 39, Subchapters B, C, D, E, and J.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED:
Approval of a public college or university open-enrollment charter school.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Scott
Commissioner of Education
Staff Members Responsible:
Lizzette Reynolds, Deputy Commissioner
Policy and Programs
Laura Taylor, Associate Commissioner
Accreditation and School Improvement
Mary Perry, Director
Charter School Administration