Volume 3, Number 32, August 18, 2000
A Publication of the Resource Center for Charter Schools
Phone 210-348-7890 Fax 210-348-7899
© Resource Center for Charter Schools All Rights Reserved

Patsy O'Neill, Executive Director; Jimmie Driver, Assistant Director;
Sally Friedli, Office Manager; and Sara Murphy, Administrative Assistant
                      

Charter School Initial On-Site Visit (IOV) Training
Tuesday, August 29, 2000    10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Region 2 ESC Corpus Christi
209 N. Water Street, Room 151
RSVP to Sara, 210-348-7890
The Resource Center has received numerous requests to conduct one more IOV Training. We will provide two boxes with 119 colored-coded indicator folders and sample documentation. Workshops and lunch are provided by the Charter School Resource Center at no cost to the charters.

TITLE I Congratulations to Richard Mik, director of Heights Charter School, for being selected to serve on the Commissioner's Title I Committee. If you have questions for the committee, email Richard at HCS@wt.net.

REGION 4 ESC has appointed Sikini Wilson, 713-744-8171, swilson@esc4.net, as a charter school Field Service Agent and Dr. Ann Frisch, 713-744-6562, afrisch@esc4.net, as a Special Education contact for charters.

REGION 12 ESC has appointed Harriett Shearer, 254-666-0707, as a Special Education contact for charter schools.

TEA DIVISION OF STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS Reminders about several important deadlines, including the SAS deadline, are attached.

TECHNOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), Texas Tech University, and the Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC) have received a three-year state challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to train superintendents and principals in technology and leadership training. See attached.

GIRLS AND BOYS PREP Girls and Boys Prep Charter will host city and state competitions this fall for 6th-12th grade students in History, Science, Math, and English. For more information and to attend an inservice on October 9th, please RSVP by September 1, 2000 to Ms. Iman Davis at 713-270-5994 or fax, 713-270-1302.
REMINDERS from the DIVISION OF STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS at TEA
  1. September 1, 2000, is the deadline to submit the Application for Federal Funding (SAS-A200-01). This September 1, 2000, deadline is only applicable to previously opened charter schools who submitted their Data Request for Federal Funding form AND received a tentative entitlement.

  2. Cash is available IF the charter school receives a federal Notice of Grant Award (NOGA). Money can then be accessed through WEB-ER.

  3. Following are the due dates for evaluation reports for school year 1999-2000:

    • August 15, 2000-Title I, Part A
    • August 15, 2000-Title II, Part B
    • September 1, 2000-Title IV

  4. The Gun-Free School Report (SSP-445R00) is required before a charter school is considered eligible to receive federal funds for school year 2000-2001 for programs administered by the Division of Student Support Programs. If you have not yet filed this report, please complete it right away. You can access it at- http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.support/

    Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grant

    A generous opportunity to get a laptop computer for your school, and excellent technology training, has become available just this month. The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), Texas Tech University, and the Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC) have received a three-year state challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to train superintendents and principals in technology and leadership training. The Academy is open to private and charter schools as well as public schools. Registration is limited to 3 private and charter school registrants per site, or 30 charter and private school participants total in the state.

    Only principals and superintendents may register. You must be the chief executive officer on your campus or in the district. Approximately 700 Texas principals and superintendents will attend the Academy. The sessions are offered at regional education service centers.

    Participants receive a five-day Academy over the school year, online activities, and a laptop computer for $295 Academy fee and $550 laptop computer fee (new Dell Latitude or Apple PowerBook) (total $845). Participants must attend all five days of the Academy to receive the laptop computer at the reduced price. The charter or private school owns the computer after the Academy (not the individual). For schedule and complete details, go online at www.tasasnet.org, "What's New, Technology Leadership Academy for Superintendents and Principals Registration." Be sure to check the schedule on the website before committing to attend.

    All charter and private schools on TEA's database received an Academy fax registration form August 3. If you do not have the registration form (it is not on the website), call Ellen Bell or Jennifer Wright at TASA (512-477-6361) to receive one. Registration closes September 1 and is first-come, first-served.

    Ellen V. Bell
    Associate Executive Director, Professional Development
    Texas Association of School Administrators
    406 E.11th
    Austin, TX 78701-2617
    (512) 477-6361
    (512) 482-8658 fax
    EBell@TASAnet.org