|
TRS Insurance Deadline
 HEALTH INSURANCE
HB 3343 requires that all charter schools must
decide by September 1, 2001 whether or not they will participate in the new
Texas Health Insurance program for the 2002-2003 school year. For information
check online at www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/topics/index.html. See
attached sample letter.
$26 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS FOR TEXAS CHARTERS The Resource Center will host a grant writing workshop for instructions on
preparing proposals for the Federal Repair and Renovation Grant funds
(RFA#701-01-027) that will be available on a competitive basis for Texas charter
schools and ISD's. The workshop will be on Wednesday, August 29, 2001 from
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Mexican-American Unity Council building, across
from La Escuela Charter School, 2300 West Commerce, San Antonio. See attached
map. Grant writing training will be conducted by Michele Sabino, Grant Officer
of Houston Endowment and Christi Martin, Executive Director of the Association
of Charter Educators. Representatives from TEA will also provide helpful hints for
preparing schedules and meeting other requirements related to standard federal grant
application forms. Training will be conducted by Susan Barnes, Senior Director of
the TEA Charter Schools Division and Esther Murguia, Education Specialist.
RSVP to the Resource Center by Friday, August 24 at 210-348-7890. No cost for
the workshop or lunch. For more information and to print a copy of the RFA go
to the Texas Education Agency at www.tea.state.tx.us; then to School Finance
and Grants; then to grant information; then to available grants and contracts.
SCHOOL REPAIR AND RENOVATION GRANT REVIEWER If you are
interested in being considered as a reviewer for the School Repair and
Renovation Grant (October 14-16) please contact Sandy Senn at 512-463-8525
for a nomination form.
CHECKLIST FOR NEW CHARTERS CHARTERS The Charter Schools Division at TEA
will be making site visits to all new schools opening in the 2001-2002 school year
and will be contacting your school soon to arrange the visit. Please complete the
attached checklist and have all the documents available during the site visit.
Additionally, new charter schools need to have all documents on the checklist
on file at TEA. Please fax all needed documentation to Linda Freeman at
512-463-9732 as soon as possible. Call Linda with any questions at 512-463-9575.
ALTERNATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY WORKSHOPS
- The deadline for registering to participate in the TEA alternative
accountability procedures is Friday, September 14. The alternative
accountability procedures are designed to provide more flexibility for
schools that serve non-traditional populations. Schools must register to
participate each year.
- The Association of Charter Educators (ACE) is partnering with the John
H. Wood Charter School, Dallas Can! Academy, and Varnett Charter School
to offer three regional work sessions to help schools choose accountability
indicators that will best reflect the progress of their students. There is no
charge for attendance and all charter school representatives are welcome.
Although there is no need to RSVP, you may contact Christi Martin at
512-771-8753 for more information. Dates, times, and locations are
as follows:
- SAN ANTONIO Thursday, August 23, 2001 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
John H. Wood Charter School . 210-499-4221
620 E. Afton Oaks Blvd.
- DALLAS Friday, August 24, 2001 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Dallas Can! Academy-Oak Cliff . 214-943-2244
325 W. 12th St. (2nd Floor)
- HOUSTON Monday, August 27, 2001 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Varnett Charter School . 713-723-4699
5025 South Willow Drive
TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
CHARTER SCHOOLS DIVISION
Final Documentation Checklist
Charter Schools Opening During 2001-2002 School Year
Name of school _________________________________________________________________________
County-district number _________________________ Date of opening ____________________________
Type of charter: Open enrollment ______________________ 75% At-risk __________________________
School Director _________________________________________________________________________
School Address _________________________________________________________________________
Phone number ______________________________ Fax number _________________________________
Email address __________________________________________________________________________
Final Documentation Checklist
1. _______Certificates of Occupancy for all school facilities
If any individual facilities inspections (e.g., by the local health department, fire department, or
building safety inspector) are required by local ordinance in addition to or instead of a
Certificate of Occupancy, then individual approvals from these officials should be provided.
2. _______ Asbestos management plan (40 C. F. R. part 763, subpart E)
3. _______ Management company contract (if any)
4. _______ Lease contract (if any)
5. _______ Names and addresses of charter holder board members for any members not included
in the original application
6. _______ Names and addresses of school board members (if different from charter holder board)
for any members not included in the original application
7. _______ Updated budget
8. _______ Final calendar
To: (Charter schools)
From: Charles Dunlap, Executive Director
Date: July 20, 2001
Subject: TRS-ActiveCare
House Bill 3343, as passed by the 77th Texas Legislature and signed into law by the
Governor on the 15th of June 2001, establishes a statewide health care benefits program
for active public education employees. The legislation provides for:
Funding to all school districts, regional education service centers, other educational
districts, and qualified charter schools.
"Health coverage or compensation supplementation" funding to all employees (who are
members of the Teacher Retirement System) of all school districts, regional education
service centers, other educational districts, and participating charter schools.
A statewide health care benefits program to be administered by the Teacher Retirement
System (TRS). The plan will be known as TRS-ActiveCare.
Eligibility for participation in TRS-ActiveCare is determined by the classification of your
educational entity. Your entity is classified as a charter school. As a charter school, your
entity has the option of participating in TRS-ActiveCare effective September 1, 2002. Please
see the enclosed Overview and Instructions for information regarding the program and
requirements pertaining to your participation. Enclosed also is an Entity Information Sheet
to be completed and returned to TRS not later than September 1, 2001.
An educational entity that has the option to participate in TRS-ActiveCare effective
September 1, 2002, and elects not to participate, will have another opportunity to join the
program in September 2005. However, TRS may determine that an earlier opt-in date is
cost-effective to the program and administratively feasible. At this time, there is no provision
to withdraw participation in TRS-ActiveCare once an entity is in the program.
For questions regarding school finance legislation, please contact Joe Wisnoski
512-463-8994 or Omar Garcia 512-463-9238 at the Texas Education Agency.
For questions regarding the TRS-ActiveCare program and the compensation supplement
to employees, please call 512-397-6446, or email
Maggie.Schmitt@trs.state.tx.us or
Betsey.jones@trs.state.tx.us. Progress updates will be available on the TRS
website,
www.trs.state.tx.us..
|
