ACADEMIC/ACCOUNTABILITY ACADEMIES will be hosted by the Resource Center this summer in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas for all Texas charter schools. Topics will include DEC visits, TAAS, and Strategies for At-Risk Students. See attached for times, dates and agendas. Please RSVP to the Resource Center at 210-348-7890. Free lunches will be provided each day.

Required Reading Assessment for Kindergarten and First Grade due in May A Pre and Post Reading Assessment is required by the state for all Kindergarten and First Grade students in Texas. Contact your Educational Service Center if you need advice on which assessment tool to use.

Teacher/Administrator Positions Available Charter directors who are interviewing teachers for positions in their schools can post their job vacancies and available positions in the Friday Fax. As you know, the Friday Fax is on our website (www.charterstexas.org) and receives thousands of hits. Please indicate grade levels and/or subjects, name of contact person at the charter and direct phone line, if applicable. Many outstanding teachers/administrators are in the Texas charter school movement and those wishing to relocate may want to stay within the Texas charter school family.

CONGRATULATIONS to Rapoport Charter and Waco Charter for the great TV coverage of their combined charter school week celebration and the presentation of Governor George W. Bush's proclamation of Texas Charter School Week. Congratulations to Nancy Grayson and Laura Middleton. Dr. Grayson was pleased to announce that Rapoport was approved for $212,000 for E-rate funding.

CONGRATULATIONS to American Institute for Learning Charter for the $847,000 three-year Federal grant to establish and expand four technology learning centers in Austin. Congratulations to Rebecca Benz and Richard Halpin.

CONGRATULATIONS to EOAC Waco Charter who more than doubled their TAAS scores in just two short years. Their scores for the 1999-2000 school year are 84% passing in Reading, 78% passing in Math and 80% passing in Writing. Laura Middleton reports they were just two points below a Recognized Rating.

TRAINING FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS Robert Guercio, principal at West Houston Charter, is offering Dual Enrollment Program training, as part of a Federal charter school grant. The training would involve learning: how to get a dual -enrollment program started, the TASP testing program, fees and tuition, confidentiality of student records, college requirements for students with disabilities, and transition plans for special education students. WHC seniors, including special ed students, have been graduating with an average of nine college hours. For more information call Robert Guercio at 281-497-7420.

GUN FREE SCHOOLS REPORT is due June 13, 2000 into TEA. The information will be on the TEA website at www.tea.state.tx.us/taa next week.