Volume 3, Number 36, September 15, 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
                      

TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY UPDATES
  • REFERENCE GUIDE PART II The new AUGUST 2000 Reference Guide Part II District Effectiveness and Compliance (DEC) Special Education document has been posted on the TEA website, www.tea.state.tx.us. Please compare the compliance indicators on the folders in your IOV box with this latest version and make any necessary changes. TEA also reminds you to check their website frequently for any other Special Education updates.

  • CHARTER SCHOOL SURVEY In early August, all charter school directors received a copy of the annual charter school evaluation survey from the University of Texas at Arlington. Annual participation in this survey is required by charter school statute, TEC Section 12.118, and failure to participate could lead to probation or revocation of your charter. The survey should be sent to Dr. Delbert Taebel, School of Urban & Public Affairs, Box 19588, Arlington, Texas, 76019 no later than Friday, September 15, 2000. If you are unable to locate your copy of the survey, please contact his office at 817-272-3071.

    • UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CHARTER SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY Carolyn Black, Director of U of H Charter School, invites you to a teaching workshop on Saturday, September 16, 2000. See attached.

    REGION IV EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER has been awarded a grant by the Texas Education Agency to establish the first ESC financial administration service for charter schools. The model will serve as a resource for charter schools that do not currently have the staff expertise to conduct a public school financial administration function. See attached press release. Congratulations to Region IV.


    UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CHARTER SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY

    The University of Houston Charter School of Technology invites you to join us as we share constructivist teaching strategies and philosophies.

    Constructivist Teaching Workshop

    * Overview: Constructivist Theory and Practice
    * Special Presentations Include:
    * Math through Games
    * Physical Knowledge Activities
    * Guided Reading
    * Questions and Answers
    * Tour of K - 5 school

    **Certificate of Attendance Offered**

    UH Main Campus
    Cameron Building, Entrance 10
    (off Cullen at Wheeler)
    Saturday, September 16, 2000
    9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
    713-743-9111

    We look forward to seeing you!


    Carolyn Black, Ph.D.
    Principal, University of Houston Charter School of Technology
    Phone: 713-743-9107
    Fax: 713-743-9121
    Press Release
    Region IV Education Service Center
    7145 W. Tidwell, Houston, TX 77092-2096

    Contact: Kenneth Lynn, Chief Officer, Business Services
    Phone: 713-744-6360     Fax: 713-744-6514     Email: klynn@esc4.net

    ATTENTION- Resource Center for Charter Schools PATSY O'NEILL, EXECUTIVE DRECTOR

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          September 12, 2000


    CHARTER SCHOOLS FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION SERVICE


    Region IV Education Service Center (ESC), located in Houston, Texas, was recently awarded a grant by the Texas Education Agency to establish the first ESC financial administration service for charter schools. The Charter School Financial Support Model established by the Region IV ESC will be a comprehensive financial resource available to charter schools. The model will serve as a resource for charter schools that do not currently have the staff expertise to conduct a public school financial administration function.

    The model will develop and deliver training in the area of school finance targeted to the charter school constituency. In addition to the staff development aspect, the model will also serve as a consultation resource or a contracted financial administration service. Some of the services offered will include an accounting system meeting the requirements of TEC Chapter 44, board financial information, annual operating budgets, automated processing of financial transactions, tax deposits, bank reconciliations, fiscal control monitoring system, application of current state funding formulas, TEA Summary of Finance monitoring, cash management and investments, compliance reporting, fixed asset accounting, facilitation of the external audit -process, and risk management services. The Charter School Financial Support Model also plans to develop a financial administration resource CD-ROM for charter schools.

    The charter school advisory services provided by Bill Outlaw and Jerry Keeble have been assimilated into the Region IV framework, and offices within the Region IV ESC are being constructed to house the charter school financial support function.

    For more information on the Charter School Financial Support Model, please contact Kenneth Lynn at the Region IV Education Service Center at 713-744-6360.