NON-REGULATORY GUIDANCE

DRAFT NON-REGULATORY GUIDANCE FROM USDE The Non-Regulatory Guidance addresses questions the U.S. Department of Education has received regarding various provisions of the Charter School Program (CSP) statute, including those related to student admissions to charter schools, the use of lotteries, private school conversions, and the involvement of for-profit organizations in charter schools. The non-regulatory guidance also addresses how businesses, faith-based communities and other community-based organizations and individuals associated with them can be involved in the development and operation of charter schools. These guidelines do not contain all of the information you will need to comply with CSP requirements, but are intended to provide guidance on the CSP and examples of ways to implement it. For information call (202) 260-1882. The document is at www.tea.state.tx.us/charter/resources/nonreg.htm.

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.

NEW WEB PAGE The Division of Charter Schools has a new web page www.tea.state.tx.us/charter/correspond/listserve.htm. This page lists each list serve message that has been sent this school year. The messages sent through the Charter School Administrators List Serve are used to keep administrators apprised of critical events and deadlines. To review the messages that have been sent, please visit this new page.

CHARTER SCHOOLS ORIENTATION The Charter Schools Division at TEA is hosting a two-day charter school orientation 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 at kchristo@tea.state.tx.us or at (512) 463-9575. See attached draft agenda.

CHARTER SCHOOL CHILD COUNT Charter schools were mailed a packet on October 16, 2003, containing detailed information for submitting special education child counts. The child count will be used to determine eligibility for additional 2003-2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B (IDEA-B) allocations. These funds may be available to charter schools that provide special education services to eligible students with disabilities based on current full and individual evaluations and individualized education programs (IEPs) and have experienced a significant expansion of enrollment based on an event unlikely to occur on a regular basis. The child count should be reported in the Significantly Expanded 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 November 3 - 24, 2003, and any child count information must be reported through the WEB SAS system during this period. This count is not for the newly opened charter schools who reported a count of students in October 2003. For assistance, call your ESC special education contact or Debbie Conaway at (512) 463-9362.