Volume 5, Number 37, September 13, 2002 Pages: 2
A Publication of the Charter School Resource Center of Texas
Phone 210-348-7890 Fax 210-348-7899
© Charter School Resource Center of Texas All Rights Reserved

Patsy O'Neill, Executive Director Jimmie Driver, Assistant Director
Sally Friedli, Office Manager Sara Murphy, Administrative Assistant
Barbara Graham, Education Specialist
                      

Pledge Across America

PLEDGE ACROSS AMERICA U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige is encouraging all schools to mark September 17th as Constitution Day by participating in the Pledge Across America. Secretary Paige states "This is an excellent opportunity for all of us to participate in the renewal of American citizenship and celebrate our freedom with one voice." The synchronized Pledge of Allegiance will begin at 1 p.m. CDT on September 17, 2002. For more information go to www.celebrationusa.org.

INITIAL TRANSFER REPORT DUE TODAY This is a reminder that the deadline to enter your INITIAL transfer report is TODAY, Friday, September 13, 2002 at 5:00 p.m. (CST). This report should include returning students as well as new students to your charter. Failure to report transfers will result in noncompliance with the federal court order. For more information, please call Pamela Williams at 512-463-9519 or visit our website at www.tea.state.tx.us/eeo.

CHARTER ORIENTATION SESSION The Charter Schools Division at TEA is hosting a two-day Charter Orientation Session October 17 and 18, 2002. The program begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends around 4:00 p.m. each day. Divisions from across the Agency will present important information about school operation and agency requirements. An agenda of presentations and information about parking will appear in the Friday Fax® on October 11, 2002. The session is at TEA in the William B. Travis Building, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, in room 1-104. To register, please go to http://www.tea.state.tx.us/charter/.

START-UP GRANT RECIPIENTS / GENERATIONS 4, 5, & 6 Reports indicate that several Generation 4, 5, and 6 grantees who have received federal start-up funds for the 2002-2003 school year, SAS-A526, have not spent the majority of the funds as agreed upon at receipt of the grant award. Due to the federal deadline set by the Department of Education, the greater part of these funds must be spent by September 30, 2002, or TEA will have to return the funds. This money needs to be spent quickly and appropriately. Refunds made to the federal government will likely result in smaller grant awards made to TEA in the future which, in turn, will mean less money available to students in Texas.

Please review your grant activities and award balances and plan to expend these resources to avoid any loss of funds. If you have programmatic questions, please contact Linda Freeman at 512-463-9575. For assistance with fiscal- related questions, contact a grant manager in the Division of Grants Administration at 512-463-9269.