The Fourth Annual Texas Charter School Conference will be April 9 - 10, 2001 at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin. We expect approximately 700 attendees, so please call 512-343-2626 to make your hotel room reservations as soon as possible. To receive the $109 room rate, let them know you are with the Charter School Conference. Please fill out the attached registration form and send back to the Resource Center with your payment.
TEA UPDATE Kathryn Jones has been hired for the position of Program Specialist formerly held by Bill Fojtasek in the Division of State Funding at TEA. Ms. Jones has been at the agency for four years, previously with the Permanent School Fund and the Textbooks Division. She can be reached at 512-475-3618.In a letter dated January 26, 2001, the Division of Special Education mailed a data request for a Special February Child Count Collection for charter schools only. These forms are due back to the Agency by Feb. 23, 2001 for consideration of initial or additional funds from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B for 2001-2002 related to charter schools opened since Nov. 1, 2000, or significantly expanding enrollment since Nov. 1, 2000. While completion of the Special February Child Count is not mandatory, only those charters who respond to the data request and meet the guidelines as a new or significantly expanding charter as outlined in the instructions will be considered for initial or additional IDEA-B funds.
Kathryn Jones has been hired for the position of Program Specialist formerly held by Bill Fojtasek in the Division of State Funding at TEA. Ms. Jones has been at the agency for four years, previously with the Permanent School Fund and the Textbooks Division. She can be reached at 512-475-3618.In a letter dated January 26, 2001, the Division of Special Education mailed a data request for a Special February Child Count Collection for charter schools only. These forms are due back to the Agency by Feb. 23, 2001 for consideration of initial or additional funds from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B for 2001-2002 related to charter schools opened since Nov. 1, 2000, or significantly expanding enrollment since Nov. 1, 2000. While completion of the Special February Child Count is not mandatory, only those charters who respond to the data request and meet the guidelines as a new or significantly expanding charter as outlined in the instructions will be considered for initial or additional IDEA-B funds.
ASSOCIATION OF CHARTER EDUCATORS (ACE)The ACE Board is pleased to announce the hiring of Christi Martin as Interim Executive Director. The Board of ACE is encouraging all charters to join the Association as soon as possible. See attached.
Help make our voice heard!The Texas Legislature is in session and charter schools are on its agenda. If we are not actively involved in the process, legislators may well impose burdensome restrictions that could severely limit our opportunities for success.
The Association of Charter Educators (ACE) is a statewide organization of charter schools formed to ensure that our voice is heard when important decisions are made. We need your help! By joining ACE, your school will be doing its part to promote equitable laws and resources for Texas charter students, teachers, and schools. ACE members will be updated regularly during the legislative session and are invited to share concerns and comments at any time. Further, the increasing media attention being focused on charter schools has highlighted the need for a centralized voice for the charter school community. ACE will work with member schools to improve the accuracy and fairness of media coverage. ACE may also be able to help lower your health, liability, and property insurance costs, in addition to other service costs, by facilitating group rates. In short, it's time to get organized. The needs are clear.
Who can join?The Association is open to all, but only charter holders will have the opportunity to join as voting members.
What is the organizational structure?An interim board has been established to govern the organization until July 1st. The first elected board will be chosen by Association members at the Charter School Resource Center Conference in April. The current board is comprised of 17 members from across the state. Frances Teran of La Escuela de las Americas in San Antonio has been chosen by the board to serve as the Interim President. Annette Cluff of the Varnett Charter School in Houston as Interim Vice President, and Rosemary Perlmeter of the North Hills School in Irving as Interim Treasurer. Christi Martin will be serving as the Interim Executive Director.
How do we join?Send a completed ACE Membership Application along with payment of dues to the following address:
Additional information about ACE may be obtained by contacting any board member or Christi Martin at 512-301-6819.
Name of School: ___________________________________________________________
Name of Sponsoring Entity: _______________________________________________
Contact Person: ___________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________
Phone: ___________________________________________________________
Fax: ___________________________________________________________
E-Mail: ___________________________________________________________
NOTE:The Sponsoring Entity of each Member School is responsible for designating one representative authorized to vote on that Member School's behalf. If the person authorized to vote on behalf of your school is someone other than the Contact Person listed above, please provide the name of that person in the space below. An authorized representative must be a board member, officer, or employee of the school or its sponsoring entity.
Authorized Representative:_________________________________________________
Please send a completed application form and payment for your school's dues to the following address:
School Membership Dues:$300.00 per charter plus $1.00 per student enrolled.*
Upon receipt of a completed application and dues, the authorized representative of your school will be eligible to vote in the April election of board members and on resolutions presented to the ACE membership. Members of ACE will be updated regularly during the legislative session and are invited to share concerns and comments at anytime.
*The student count is to be based on the school's enrollment on October 27th (TEA snapshot date). A sponsoring entity may apply for multiple memberships based on the number of charters it holds. Dues will be assessed separately for each charter.
Name of School: ______________________________________________________________________
Name of Sponsoring Entity: _____________________________________________________________
Purpose: Payment of School Membership Dues.
Calculation of Dues:Dues are calculated as $300.00 per charter plus $1.00 per student enrolled. The student count is to be based on the school's enrollment on October 27th (TEA snapshot date). A sponsoring entity may apply for multiple memberships based on the number of charters it holds. Dues will be assessed separately and should be remitted separately for each charter.
Number of Students: _____________________________________________
Amount Owed: _____________________________________________
Please mail Membership Application and amount owed to the following address: