We are looking forward to seeing all 900 registered attendees at the conference. Please find attached the following:

• Conference Schedule
• Concurrent Sessions: times and meeting rooms
• Concurrent Sessions: description of each session

RIVERBOAT CRUISE All registered attendees are invited to a dinner cruise Monday evening, April 29^th on board the Colonel River Boat. We will offer two seatings and shuttles will be available to and from the boat. Due to our large numbers, only registered attendees are invited. It is important that you wear your conference nametag to be admitted onto the boat.

•  5:20 - 7:00 p.m. First Seating
•  7:50 - 9:30 p.m. Second Seating
•  Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You may want to bring a light sweater or jacket.
  

CHECK-IN EARLY To avoid long lines on Monday morning at the registration table, you may check-in early and pick up your conference packets on Sunday, April 28^th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Moody Gardens Hotel, Ballroom Entrance.

SHUTTLE SERVICE For shuttle service reservations to Moody Gardens from Houston Hobby and Houston International airports call 409-740-5466, well in advance of your travel date.

WALK-IN REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED Because we have reached the maximum capacity of the meeting rooms at Moody Gardens, no walk-ins will be permitted. No substitutions will be accepted at check-in without written documentation. Our nametags have already been printed therefore we are unable to provide nametags for substitutions. Because of security measures, all registered attendees must wear their name badges at all times, including the evening cruise on Monday, April 29^th. For your safety, hotel security will be tight.

DIRECTIONS TO MOODY GARDENS FROM HOUSTON

• Take I45 South.
• Exit 61^st Street.
• Right on 61^st Street to Seawall Blvd.
• Right on Seawall Blvd. to 81^st Street.
• Right on 81^st Street to the stoplight at Jones Rd.
• Look for the Moody Gardens sign on the left.
• Left on Hope Blvd.
• Follow signs to Moody Gardens.

DISSEMINATION GRANT QUESTIONS Staff members in the Charter Schools Division have received questions concerning applicant eligibility for the dissemination grant. You can find eligibility criteria listed as follows on page 2 of RFA 701-02-011:

…the charter school has been in operation for at least three (3) consecutive years and has demonstrated overall success. Eligible applicants must have "Acceptable" or higher accountability ratings verified by the Agency. The accountability rating must be "Acceptable" or higher for 2000-2001 and "Acceptable" or higher for 1999-2000 and/or 1998-1999. Eligible applicants must provide evidence of improved student performance in reading and mathematics and evidence parent satisfaction. Examples may include parent surveys/ evaluations. If a charter school has multiple campuses, all campuses must be rated "Acceptable" to be eligible. Eligible applicants must be financially viable as determined by review of documents on file with the Agency, including audit reports, information from the Texas Retirement System, the Internal Revenue Service, and any other Pertinent information. Applicants coordinating with public and private entities must also submit documentation demonstrating financial viability.

The complete RFA is on the following web page: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/charter/applications/rfa123.doc

Applications not meeting the accountability criteria are ineligible for any dissemination grant funding. Call Esther Garcia or Ertha Patrick at 512-463-9575 for questions.

ORIENTATION SESSION The charter school division at TEA is hosting a two-day orientation session on May 9 and 10, 2002 in room 1-104 of the William B. Travis building at 1701 N. Congress in Austin. The tentative presentation schedule for Thursday, May 9 is from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 10. An agenda will run in the May 3 issue of the Friday Fax®. Parking information will be included in a subsequent Friday Fax®. Staff from new charter schools are required to attend an orientation before beginning operation. The next orientation will be July 22 and 23, 2002. Existing charter school personnel and ESC representatives are always welcome. To register, please call the Charter Schools Division at 512-463-9575.

CHARTER AMENDMENTS LAST ALERT Amendment requests to increase maximum enrollment, expand grade levels served, add a campus, or expand the geographic boundary must be received by the Charter Schools Division at TEA by May 1^st. A new commissioner rule requires that no such amendments may be approved after June 1, 2002 to be effective in school year 2002-2003. Previous amendment request forms have indicated that a school must send the agency a budget with an amendment request to add a campus. This is no longer necessary. An amendment request form and instructions are attached.

TEXAS OPEN ENROLLMENT CHARTER HANDBOOK The charter school division at TEA will be distributing the new version of the charter school handbook at the Charter School Conference in Galveston. Each campus may receive a copy. A table for handbook distribution will be set up near the registration area at the conference and will be manned on Monday, April 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Tuesday, handbooks will be available at the table from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Campuses that do not send a staff to pick up a handbook will be mailed a copy after the conference. Additional copies may be downloaded from the TEA charter schools website at www.tea.state.tx.us/charter/. The webpage version of the handbook will be updated as soon as possible after any changes to agency policy are made. We hope that this method of maintaining the handbook will prove helpful in supporting clear communication between the Agency and charter schools.

Sixth Annual Texas Charter School Conference LET'S ROLL
Monday, April 29, 2002
8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m.	4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.	Conference Registration Vendor Showplace Continental Breakfast		First Floor South Foyer East and West Foyers First Floor South Foyer
9:00 a.m.	11:00 a.m.	General Session		Ballroom
			Welcome and Introductions
			Patsy O'Neill Student Presentation     Diane Merchant & Wilma Green Keynote Speech	Resource Center for Charter Schools Pledge of Allegiance and God Bless America Mainland Prep Charter Students Let's Roll with Courage, Commitment, and Consistency
			UNITING CHARTERS THROUGH ACCOUNTABILITY Panel Walking the Talk: Charter Accountability
			Susan Barnes	Assistant Commissioner
			Clearing the Bar: Academic Accountability
			Karen Case	Associate Commissioner
			Solid as a Rock: Financial Accountability
			Tom Canby	Managing Director of School Financial Audits
			All for One; One For All: Total Accountability
			Hugh Hayes	Deputy Commissioner
11:00 a.m.	11:15 a.m.	Break
11:15 a.m.	12:15 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions
12:30 p.m.	1:30 p.m.	Luncheon		Ballroom
			Welcome and Introductions
			Susan Barnes	Assistant Commissioner
			Student Presentation
			Diane Harris	Universal Charter School Students
1:45 p.m. 2:45 p.m. 3:00 p.m.	2:45 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions Break Concurrent Sessions
5:15 p.m. 7:45 p.m.	7:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m.	Dinner Cruise: First Seating Dinner Cruise: Second Seating		River Boat: The Colonel River Boat: The Colonel
Tuesday, April 30, 2002
8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m.	4:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.	Conference Registration Vendor Showplace Continental Breakfast		First Floor South Foyer East and West Foyers First Floor South Foyer
9:00 a.m.	11:00 a.m.	General Session
			Welcome and Introductions
			Patsy O'Neill	Resource Center for Charter Schools
			Student Presentation
			Tom Torkelson	IDEA Academy Charter Students
			Introduction of Speaker
			Richard Farias	Raul Yzaguirre Charter School
			Keynote
			Raul Yzaguirre	President, National Council of La Raza
			Uniting Charters Nationwide Panel
			Capital Hill and Charters     No Child Left Behind and Federal Issues     Jon Schroeder
			The Texas Connection     Governance Structure and HB 6     Bob Schulman
			Charters Across the Nation     National Movement: A Charter Perspective     Johnathan Williams
11:00 a.m.	11:15 a.m.	Break
11:15 a.m.	12:15 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions
12:30 p.m.	1:30 p.m.	Luncheon		Ballroom
			Welcome and Introductions
			Susan Barnes	Assistant Commissioner
			Student Presentation
			Richard Farias	Raul Yzaguirre Charter Students
1:45 p.m.	2:45 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions
2:45 p.m.	3:00 p.m.	Break
3:00 p.m.	4:00 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions

Contact:

Kirsten Christophersen (Charter Schools)
p (512) 463-9575 f (512) 463-9732
kchristo@tea.state.tx.us
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/charter/

Charter schools must be operated in accordance with the charter application approved by the State Board of Education. If changes to the charter are desired, the governing body of a charter school may request that the charter be amended after that body has voted that the request be made.

All amendment requests are considered to be substantive requests. If at some point the commissioner creates a list of non-substantive amendments, a form will be created to address those.

The Charter School Division generally sends amendment requests to the divisions of Special Education, Legal Services, and School Financial Audits for review. Reviewers are asked to inform the amendment coordinator of any problems with the charter school operation, governance, or administration or with the amendment request itself. Staff members in the reviewing divisions are asked to complete the review within two weeks. After receiving the reviews, the amendments are taken to the commissioner for consideration.

The commissioner considers many things when taking action on amendments, including standardized testing performance, school financial management, and history of compliance with selected reporting requirements. Also included are currently approved grade levels, maximum enrollment, geographic boundary, and campuses.

Amendment requests to expand grade levels, increase maximum enrollment, or add a campus cannot be approved by the commissioner to be effective before the start of the third full year of school operation. MAY 1 is the deadline for receipt by the Charter Schools Division of any request to expand grade levels, increase maximum enrollment, or add a campus. Such requests cannot be approved after June 1 preceding the school year in which the expansion would be effective.

No new campus numbers will be assigned for existing campuses after December 1. (This is to avoid splitting a campus after the initial submission of student data in October.)

Please note the following:

All amendment requests must be accompanied by a written resolution adopted by the governing body of the charter holder and signed by the members voting in favor. The resolution must authorize the commissioner to amend the open-enrollment charter as set forth in the text of the amendment, as finally negotiated between the charter holder and the commissioner, including any conditions.

In addition, all amendment requests should include the text and page number, or a photocopy, of the current charter language to be changed, and the text proposed as the new charter language. Amendments 1, 2, 3, or 4, below, require evidence that impact statements have been mailed to affected districts.

1. A charter school requesting expansion of grade levels is required to submit an educational plan for each proposed grade level with the amendment request. Without the educational plan, the amendment request will not be sent forward for review or considered by the commissioner.
   
   
2. A charter school requesting a maximum enrollment increase greater than 25% of the currently approved maximum enrollment must submit a business plan with the amendment request to ensure that the school has planned for increased growth. Without the business plan, the amendment request will not be sent forward for review or considered by the commissioner.
   
   The business plan should include the following elements: a detailed discussion of the necessity of an enrollment increase; a discussion of any added facilities, furniture, equipment, and/or personnel made necessary by the enrollment increase; a proposed budget for the charter school that includes the added costs; and a comparison of the previous year's budget, as amended, with the proposed budget for the coming year, including an explanation of significant variances.
   
   
3. A charter school requesting an additional campus must submit a certificate of occupancy (if required by local regulation) for the campus before state funds may be generated by students enrolled at that campus. However, an amendment to secure approval for an additional campus may be considered by the commissioner before such a document has been received.
   
   
4. A charter school requesting geographic boundary changes must submit evidence that impact statements were sent to all school districts included in the new area requested. A Statement of Impact form and a sample letter to districts are included here.
   
   
5. A charter school requesting to change or enter into a contractual agreement with a management company is required to submit a copy of the management company contract.
   
   
6. A charter school requesting to relocate a campus must submit a certificate of occupancy (if required by local regulation) for the campus before state funds may be generated by students enrolled at that campus. However, an amendment to secure approval for an additional campus may be considered by the commissioner before such a document has been received.

All amendment requests must be accompanied by a written resolution adopted by the governing body of the charter holder and signed by the members voting in favor. The resolution must authorize the commissioner to amend the open-enrollment charter as set forth in the text of the amendment, as finally negotiated between the charter holder and the commissioner, including any conditions. In addition, all amendment requests should include the text and page number, or a photocopy, of the current charter language to be changed, and the text proposed as the new charter language. Amendments 1, 2, 3, or 4 require evidence that impact statements have been mailed to affected districts.

1.	Change Grade Levels Served   REQUESTED EFFECTIVE DATE: ___________________________________ Currently approved grade levels __________________________________________________________ Requested Change ____________________________________________________________________ Education plans for each new grade level to be served are attached (required)   yes   no
2.	Change Maximum Enrollment REQUESTED EFFECTIVE DATE: ____________________________________ Currently approved maximum enrollment ____________________________________________________ Requested Change ____________________________________________________________________ Business plan to incorporate increased enrollment is included (required)   yes   no
3.	Add a Campus REQUESTED EFFECTIVE DATE: ________________________________________________ New Address (if available) _______________________________________________________________ Is the proposed campus within the currently approved geographic boundary? ________________________      If not, see request below to Change Geographic Boundary. If the amendment is approved, is a campus number requested? ____________________________________ If the amendment is approved, should mail be sent to the campus? _________________________________ A certificate of occupancy for the new site must be sent before students may attend school.
4.	Change Geographic Boundary REQUESTED EFFECTIVE DATE: ____________________________________ Currently Approved Boundary ___________________________________________________________ Proposed Change _____________________________________________________________________
5.	Change/Enter into Contractual Agreement with a Management Company A copy of the management company contract is attached (required)   yes   no Please describe the requested amendment to the charter regarding a management company. (Please attach another sheet of paper to describe the request, if necessary.) ____________________________________________________________________________________
6.	Relocate Campus REQUESTED EFFECTIVE DATE: ______________________________________________ County District Number ________________________________________________________________ Current Address ______________________________________________________________________ Proposed Address (if available) _____________________________________________________ A school requesting to relocate a campus must submit a certificate of occupancy (if required by local regulation) for the campus before state funds may be generated by students enrolled at that campus. Please note that the proposed site must be within the currently approved geographic boundary. If it is not, you must also submit an amendment request to extend the geographic boundary.
7.	Other Amendment to Charter (Please attach another sheet of paper to describe the request, if necessary.) ____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________ Signature of Authorized Administrator	_________________________ Title/Position	_________________________ Date
_________________________ Printed Name of Authorized Administrator	_________________________ Phone	_________________________ Fax

ASSOCIATION OF CHARTER EDUCATORS
Area Meeting Locations

Tuesday, April 30, 3:00 p.m.

ACE Area	Meeting Room
San Antonio DFW/North Texas East Texas Houston Austin/Waco West Texas/Panhandle South Texas	Vine II Ivy I Wisteria Iris/Tulip Daffodil Bluebonnet/Jasmine

ACE General Meeting

Tuesday, April 30, 4:00 p.m., Main Ballroom