THE SEVENTH ANNUAL TEXAS CHARTER SCHOOL CONFERENCE will be May 5 & 6, 2003 at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin. We will be celebrating Charter Schools Week 2003 during this event. As you plan your 2002-2003 school calendar you may want to consider scheduling staff development days on May 5 & 6, 2003 so many of your teachers will be able to attend. We expect at least 900 attendees, so please call 512-343-2626 to make your hotel room reservations early. To receive the $125 room rate with up to four people in a room, let them know you are with the Charter School Conference.

REGION 20 CHARTER ADMINISTRATOR SUMMER SERIES - Region 20 ESC will host a Charter School Administrator Summer Series June 11-13, 2002 at 1314 Hines Avenue in San Antonio. The conference will include: Child Find and Assessment; ARD Process; Legal Issues in Special Education; On-Line Assistance for Funding Processes; and training on how to access the new web board at Region 20. Cost is $50 per person for charter schools in Region 20. There will be a waiting list for people outside Region 20. Register at www.esc20.net/workshop.htm. For questions call Robin White, Education Specialist at Region 20, at 210-370-5441.

NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL CONFERENCE will be held June 19 - 22, 2002 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Resource Center for Charter Schools will host a meeting for Texas attendees at the National Charter School Conference. The US Department of Education strongly encourages charter schools to attend and authorizes the use of your federal start-up funds for this travel. Grantees with previously approved travel will not have to amend their budget to cover additional expenses. Grantees without previously approved travel must submit a budget amendment to cover this expenditure. See instructions in Part II, for Schedule 3A. Charters still in the negotiation process, i.e., without a NOGA, may need to submit or change the Schedules 3 and 3 E to include travel for the conference. (See attached.)

SPINAL SCREENING RULES - Revisions to the Texas Department of Health Spinal Screening Program Rules (§§37.141-37.152) become effective August, 2002. A summary of the revisions is available on the TDH School Health Program website at www.tdh.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/spinal.htm. The most significant revision for Texas is the clarification that state law requires spinal screening in grades 6 and 9, or 5 and 8. State law does not allow for schools to adapt screening programs in grades other than those two specified. For more information contact Ernesto Marquez at 512-458-7111.

SPEECH SERVICES EVALUATION - Some charters in the Houston area have been approached by an individual and asked to supply information related to the evaluation of speech services. The Agency has been contacted to inquire whether the charter school is required to participate. TEA sends prior notice on state letterhead in situations where your participation is required or encouraged. Participation in requests such as these is at the discretion of the charter administrator. You may also wish to review the federal requirements (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) regarding confidentiality of student information. Their website is http://www.ed.gov/offices/OM/fpco/ferpalist.html.

CHARTER RENEWAL INFORMATION SESSION - In response to several requests, the Charter Schools Office is offering a Charter Renewal Information Session for Generation Two schools. The information session will take place June 6, 2002, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., at the Texas Education Agency in Room 1-111. More specific information about the renewal process and completing the application will be presented. The Special Education, Legal, and Financial Audits internal reviews will be discussed in more detail. Information concerning the student performance and compliance review will be provided. The information should be helpful for standard and fast-track renewal schools, however, attendance is optional. Since fast-track applications are due June 14, 2002, this provides a good opportunity to clear up any final questions or issues before turning in the application. Standard renewal applications are due September 3, 2002. Please contact Ertha Patrick or Johnny Galvan at 512-463-9575 to register for the information session.