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.

CHARTER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR LIST SERVE The TEA Charter School Division is encouraging all charters to join the new List Serve for Charter School Administrators. It will provide administrators with program updates and general information concerning charter schools.

SPECIAL CHILD COUNT - FEBRUARY 1, 2002 For newly opened charters since November 1, 2001 or Significant Expansion since November 1, 2001 Friday, February 22, 2002 is the deadline for the electronic submission of the Special Child Count - February 1, 2002. There are no extensions. The on-line application for this special child count, which drives your federal special education entitlements, can be accessed at http://barton.tea.state.tx.us/websas. The charter school's county-district number and authorization code are key to this process. 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. Call Debbie Conaway at 512-463-9362 for assistance.

FEDERAL SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDS AVAILABLE There are a number of charter schools that have yet to apply for the initial tentative entitlements for the 2001-2002 IDEA-B Federal Funds available through the WEB SAS automated system. The purpose of these funds is to support the provision of special education and related services to students with disabilities being served under current evaluations and individualized education programs. Your school's maximum entitlements are available at http://barton.tea.state.tx.us/websas. An application through an on-line application process is necessary to claim funds. Contact your local Region Service Center Special Education Director for assistance.

IDEA-B ENTITLEMENTS NOW ON-LINE The IDEA-B Formula, Capacity Building, and Preschool Maximum Entitlements for Federal Special Education Funds are available at http://barton.tea.state.tx.us/websas An amendment through an on-line amendment process is necessary to claim funds. Contact your local Region Service Center Special Education Director for technical assistance with your on-line application process.

CONGRATULATIONS to Pineywoods Academy who is the first charter to receive a perfect/no irregularities report on their Child Nutrition Compliance Inspection from TEA. Congratulations to Director Carol Nelson Shaw and her hard working staff.

School Finance
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Accountability/Evaluations
Curriculum Updates
Alternative Education
Textbooks
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Instructional Strategies
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Purchasing Co-Op
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ESCs Roles and Responsibilities
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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

ACTION REQUESTED

January 23, 2002

TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

Subject: Charter School Administrator List Serve and Charter Schools Web Page

Please join the new List Serve for Charter School Administrators. The purpose of the list serve is to provide administrators with program updates and general information concerning charter schools. To join the Charter School Administrators list serve, go to the TEA Mailing List Administration page at www.tea.state.tx.us/list:

1. Enter your email address in the space provided.
2. Enter your name and your school's name in the space that asks for "your name".
3. Select Charter School Administrators from the "Select a List" pull-down menu.
4. Please join the list serve by January 31, 2002.

The Mailing List page can also be accessed via the Division of Charter Schools web page, http://www.tea.state.tx.us./charter/.) Please note that the web page is in the process of being redeveloped with new information being added periodically. Recent additions to the web page include House Bill 6 resource materials, the third annual program evaluation for charter schools, and recent charter school administrator correspondence. Contact Ertha Patrick at 512-936-2624 with feedback or questions about the list serve or web page.

Sincerely,

Susan Barnes, Assistant Commissioner
Division of Charter Schools