TCSA Legislative Priorities 2011

Improving Texas public education undeniably requires a creative and collective approach. The current traditional public school system alone is not working; charter schools are central to profound reform. Charter schools are free public schools that offer flexibility to adapt to the educational needs of individual students. Charters create what Texas students deserve – a reliable and real choice to gain an education that suits them best. Charter schools vary in mission and model, serving a wide range of students, many with needs beyond traditional public school instruction.

The vision for charter schools, as stated in the Texas Education Code, is to improve student learning, increase the choice of learning opportunities within the public school system, create professional opportunities that will attract new teachers to the public school system, establish a new form of accountability for public schools, and encourage different and innovative learning methods. Charters around the state are closing the achievement gap, empowering communities, and preparing children for college and the workforce.

Effective public schools, both charter and district, should be defined as those schools that meet high levels of student achievement through such benchmarks as test scores, individual student academic growth, successful prevention and/or recovery of dropout students, and college or workforce readiness, among other benchmarks.

The following legislative priorities will support the success of Texas charter schools and prepare the most children possible for success beyond high school. In implementing these reforms, we will ensure Texas has the best charter legislation in the country, and more importantly, the best public education system possible. Download TCSA’s Legislative Priorities.

Allow Equal Funding for Charter Students

Charter public schools should receive funding equal to that of traditional public schools. Charter schools receive state funds based on the average daily attendance of students (same as traditional public schools); however, they do not receive funds from local tax revenue. Texas Education Agency (TEA) data indicates that charter schools receive approximately $1200 less in total revenue per pupil than traditional public schools.
Currently, the state supports traditional school districts which are small by choice through the small and mid-sized adjustments. Similarly sized charter schools should be eligible for the adjustments under the same formulas.

Increase & Improve Charter School Facilities

Texas charter schools currently do not receive facilities funding, leaving them with substantial financial burdens. The Texas Legislature should provide charter schools with greater access to existing public school facilities, particularly in school districts with vacant schools or unused property. Charter schools should be given preference, in the form of favorable terms and qualification, when a school district seeks to lease or sell under-utilized buildings or property.
Charter schools should have the same access to bond guarantees through the Permanent School Fund (PSF) as traditional public schools. Extending this privilege to charters would provide immense savings by reducing the cost of issuance and lowering interest rates.
Charter facilities leased by a private owner to a public, open-enrollment charter school should become exempt from real property taxes for the duration of the lease agreement. The savings should be passed onto the school.
Effective charter schools should be given a per pupil allotment to cover the maintenance and operation of a school’s facility.

Promote Managed Growth

The current cap on open-enrollment charters needs to be lifted to meet the growing demand for high quality charter schools. The State Board of Education should be given the authority to grant 20 more charters per year.
All charter schools hat prove sustained success in accordance with their mission type should be able to replicate and expand through a streamlined process. Rules relating to replication and expansion should not exceed current accountability standards. New charter campuses should be eligible for startup funds for new charters.
Charter school terms should be no less than 10 years and the charter should automatically renew unless the school’s charter is revoked before the expiration of the charter term.
The Texas Legislature should strengthen procedural due process rights provided for effective charter schools.

Create Designation for "Dropout Reduction Charter High Schools"

A new designation in Chapter 12 of the Texas Education Code should be created for Alternative Education Campuses that operate Dropout Reduction Charter High Schools. “Dropout Reduction Charter High Schools” will be registered for evaluation under Alternative Education Accountability (AEA) procedures.
Specifically, the Texas Legislature should ensure: 1) Dropout Reduction Charter High Schools should be accurately and appropriately measured for serving special populations of: at-risk students; over-aged students; credit-deficient students; or any other large concentration of subgroups. 2) Dropout Reduction Charter High School Programs enrolling students that are unable to graduate with their cohort group should be placed in a separate cohort group assessed by the Texas Growth Index. 3) Dropout Reduction Charter High Schools should be able to expand or replicate based on acceptable Academic Excellence Indicator System ratings and financial ratings.

Create Charter Schools for Autism Students

The Texas Legislature should allow for more new charter school campuses that primarily serve students with autism spectrum disorder. In 1999, an estimated 5,000 students qualified for special education services under the autism classification; by 2009 that number had grown to almost 26,000 – an increase over 400%ą. Currently, there are no rules or standing law regarding the percentage of charter schools dedicated specifically to students with disabilities.
Charter schools created for students on the autism spectrum would provide intensive individualized instruction, utilizing the expertise of qualified individuals and individualized education plans tailored to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of the autistic children.

¹ Presented by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to the Senate Education Committee on June 16, 2010.

Increase Overall Accuracy in Performance Measures

The Texas Legislature should ensure accountability measures match school mission. Performance monitoring for special mission charter schools should be appropriate to the population being served.
Attribution for student learning is critical to the charter school movement. The Texas Legislature and the Texas Education Agency have implemented the Texas Projection Measure. TCSA supports this idea, however the Texas Legislature and Texas Education Agency should examine the prospect of a value-added measure that will more accurately measure actual student learning gains over time.