SIXTH ANNUAL TEXAS CHARTER SCHOOL CONFERENCE will be held on Monday and Tuesday, April 29 & 30, 2002 at the Moody Gardens Hotel in Galveston. We expect over 700 attendees this year so please call the Moody Gardens Hotel at 888-388-8484 for room reservations as soon as possible. Let the hotel know you are with the Charter School Conference to qualify for the $125 rate, which can accommodate up to four people in one room for $125. Conference information and registration forms are attached.

COMMISSIONER'S RULES It is anticipated that the majority of the proposed new Commissioner's Rules will be in the Texas Register by February 15, 2002. The TEA Charter School Division and Legal Staff will host a stakeholders meeting on this portion of the proposed rules on Thursday, February 28, 2002 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. in Room 1-104 of the William B. Travis Building in Austin. Charter schools are encouraged to submit their comments on the proposed rules in writing to Susan Barnes (Fax: 512-463-9732; sbarnes@tea.state.tx.us) or Jim Thompson (Fax: 512-463-3662; jthomps@tea.state.tx.us) prior to February 28th if possible. Comment period on the rules ends on March 17, 2002..

BOARD TRAINING After all of the Commissioner's rules have been approved, the Resource Center will proceed with our Charter School Board Training, which will then be in compliance with HB6. Topics will include all those required in HB6. Watch the Friday Fax® for the schedule of the no-cost Resource Center Board Training that will be offered in your metropolitan area.

SCHOOL REPAIR & RENOVATION GRANTS REMINDER SRR grant funds may be used only for approved activities occurring between January 2, 2002 and June 30, 2003. SRR grants will be awarded contingent upon the grantee being in compliance with state-mandated audit and accounting requirements, all appropriate federal requirements, and upon the grantee meeting the contractual conditions and requirements of other discretionary grants awarded by TEA. Some grants may be awarded contingent upon the grantee coming into compliance with such, and some grants may have additional requirements imposed upon them to be eligible for funding. Potential grantees that cannot come into compliance will not be awarded a grant.

REGION IV INSTITUTE Region IV ESC is sponsoring a condensed version of the Critical Issues in Urban Special Education Institute: Educating Our Most Challenged and Challenging Students held at Harvard University in July 2001. This three-day Institute will be held at Region IV ESC in Houston on February 13 - 15, 2002. The focus for the February Institute is on the most challenging students with disabilities who may be mentally ill or criminally involved. Professionals serving these students will learn comprehensive approaches for the coordination of mental health, social, medical and juvenile justice services that high-risk students need to be successful.

For on-line registration information go to www.esc4.net and click on Registration, then go to the Professional Development link. Enter the keyword "Educating" on the search screen and click on Full Description, then Fax Registration. If you have any questions call Kathryn Cook at 713-744-6887 (email kcook@esc4.net) or Jackie Townsend at 713-744-6365.

PURCHASING ADVISORY FROM ACE The new commissioner's rules defining the procedural requirements charter schools must follow when awarding contracts for the construction, repair, renovation, improvement, or addition to real property are not yet final. See document below on how charters should proceed until the rules are finalized.

PURCHASING ADVISORY FROM ACE

Construction, Repair, and Renovation. The new commissioner's rules defining the procedural requirements charter schools must follow when awarding contracts for the construction, repair, renovation, improvement, or addition to real property are not yet final. Under the proposed rules, charter schools would have the option of amending their charters to give them the same variety of options that school districts have. These rules are not expected to be final, however, until early April. It is our understanding that TEA's position is that until the rules are final and a charter school has amended its charter, the charter school must follow the competitive bidding requirements under Subchapter B, Chapter 271, Local Government Code, when awarding a contract for construction, repair, renovation, improvement, or addition to real property. The Association of Charter Educators (ACE) is mailing each school a copy of this Subchapter of the Local Government Code. Once the commissioner's rules are final, a charter school can amend its charter to adopt the purchasing options available under Subchapter, Chapter 44, Texas Education Code (see the new Texas School Law Bulletin or go to www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/ed/ed004400.html#ed012.44.031 to review these options). There is also the possibility that the State Board of Education will revise this rule to allow additional purchasing options as well. ACE will be presenting these additional options to TEA and the Board for consideration. If you have suggestions for additional options, please e-mail them to Christi Martin at ChristiRMartin@aol.com.

Professional Services. Additionally, charter schools must follow the statutory requirements under Subchapter A, Chapter 2254, Government Code when awarding a contract for the services of certain professionals, including accountants, architects, professional engineers, real estate appraisers, and land surveyors. (See statute for a full list.) Essentially, this statute requires that the selection of covered professionals be made on the basis of "demonstrated competence and qualifications". The statute also states that the contract must be "for a fair and reasonable price". ACE is also mailing a copy of this statute to all charter schools.

Note: The foregoing does not substitute for the advice of legal counsel. It is recommended that a charter school consult their attorney before entering into the types of contracts discussed above.

YES! Please register me for the Sixth Annual Texas Charter School Conference,
Monday and Tuesday, April 29 & 30, 2002 at the Moody Gardens Hotel in Galveston.

Name_________________________________________________________________
     Please type or print neatly.

Title__________________________________________________________________

School/Organization_____________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________________
      List your school or organization address. This address will appear in our Conference Directory.

City/State/Zip__________________________________________________________

Phone__________________ Fax________________ Email_____________________

Fees: [Registration fee includes five meals: breakfast and lunch on both days, and the evening dinner on Monday, April 29th.]
_____ $100 Texas Charter School Staff, Teachers & Board Members
_____ $150 TEA & Region Service Center personnel
_____ $200 All other attendees
_____ $400 Vendors