BOARD TRAINING VIDEOS

BOARD TRAINING VIDEOS AVAILABLE The North Hills Charter School and the Charter School Resource Center are pleased to inform you that six hours of Board Training videotapes are available and may be purchased for your charter school. These videos are packaged in a set of six tapes, entitled: Charter School Law I, Charter School Law II (Special Education), Accountability I and II, Health and Safety, and Public Records. Click here to open the order form (in PDF format). Please complete the form and send it with your check.

CHARTER SCHOOLS ORIENTATION PROGRAM The Charter Schools Division at TEA is hosting a two-day charter school orientation program on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 28 & 29, 2003, in room 1-104 of the William B. Travis Building at 1701 N. Congress Avenue in Austin. The program will consist of presentations by many agency divisions. New charter school administrators are strongly encouraged to attend this program, whether the school is just opening or has been in operation. Staff members from existing charter schools are also welcome, as are ESC staff and any other interested parties. There is no charge for the orientation. Please let us know if you plan to attend by registering online at www.tea.state.tx.us/ charter/registration/orientation.htm or by calling (512) 463-9575. Parking is available on the roof in Garage R on Brazos between 17th and 18th streets. Due to increased security, you will need to provide your license plate number to staff immediately upon arrival. Cars parked on other floors of Garage R or in other state garages may be ticketed and/or towed. Parking is also available in two University of Texas parking garages just off MLK Boulevard for approximately $7.00 per day. If you have any questions please contact Kirsten Moody via e-mail or at (512) 463-9575.

GOVERNANCE REPORTING FORM DEADLINE The Charter School Annual Governance Reporting Form must be completed and turned into the Division of Charter Schools no later than Saturday, November 1, 2003. The form can be found at www.tea.state.tx.us/charter/forms/forms.htm. Please contact the Division of Charter Schools at 512-463-9575 with questions.

SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILD COUNT Charter schools opening for the first time in 2003-2004 were mailed a packet containing detailed information for submitting special education child counts. The child count will be used to determine eligibility for 2003-2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B (IDEA-B) allocations. These funds are available to newly opened charter schools that provide special education services to eligible students with disabilities based on current full and individual evaluations and individualized education programs (IEPs). The child count should be reported in the Newly Opened Charter School Child Count screens on the automated 2003-2004 Web Standard Application System (WEB SAS) for Special Education Programs. The reporting system will be available on the web from October 1, 2003 through October 22, 2003 and any child count information must be reported through the WEB SAS system during this period of availability. Only newly opened charter schools for 2003-2004 will have access to the child count screens. For assistance in completing the child count, contact your education service center special education contact. For assistance contact Debbie Conaway at (512) 463-9362.