Proposed Guidelines and Application for Open-Enrollment Charters
November 20, 2009
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the State Board of Education (SBOE) an opportunity to adopt the application form for the fifteenth generation of open-enrollment charter schools.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: TEC, §12.101 and §12.110.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: Prior to each charter school award cycle, the SBOE has adopted an Open-Enrollment Charter Guidelines and Application document establishing the contents of the application and the criteria by which charter schools would be awarded to eligible entities. The SBOE last adopted such a document on September 21, 2007.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The proposed application form and timeline for the fifteenth generation of open-enrollment charter schools was scheduled to be adopted by the SBOE in July 2008. The SBOE voted to postpone adoption of the application and timeline for the fifteenth generation of open-enrollment charter schools until September 2008. The September meeting was canceled due to hurricane-related issues and was rescheduled for November. During the November 2008 meeting, the SBOE voted to table the fifteenth generation application.
During the May 2009 SBOE committee meeting, committee members had the opportunity to discuss proposed revisions to the application and the process for awarding open-enrollment charters. Committee members agreed to review the revised application and process for awarding open-enrollment charters as prepared by agency staff and to discuss the revisions and process at the July meeting. At the July 2009 SBOE committee meeting, members agreed to postpone the discussion of the draft application until September 2009. At the September 17, 2009 meeting, committee members expressed their desire to have a Generation 15 application on the agenda as an action item for the November 2009 meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Open-enrollment charter schools provide avenues for local restructuring, flexibility, innovation, and choice for parents and students. Significant public interest exists in the process of applying for open-enrollment charter schools as is indicated by requests for applications.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: The SBOE is scheduled to adopt the Public College or University Charter Guidelines and Application in a separate item.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED:
Adopt the Fifteenth Generation Open-Enrollment Charter Guidelines and Application.
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
Separate Exhibit:Fifteenth Generation Open-Enrollment Charter Guidelines and Application (to be distributed at the committee meeting)