Start a Charter School

TCSA is a proud supporter of charter education and is excited that you have shown interest in starting an open-enrollment charter school. Texas currently needs more innovators that are passionate about improving access to quality educational opportunities for all students. Since 1995 when Texas lawmakers first launched public charter schools, one of the most significant education reforms in the state's history, charter schools have been charged with the duty to:

1. improve student learning;
2. increase the choice of learning opportunities within the public school system;
3. create professional opportunities that will attract new teachers to the public school system;
4. establish a new form of accountability for public schools; and
5. encourage different and innovative learning methods.

_{Texas Education Code, Section 12.001.}

This mission continues today with some of the very best charter schools in the nation currently operating in Texas. It is because of courageous people like you that the charter movement continues to grow and prosper making a difference in the lives of so many children in Texas. Your ambitious voyage to start an open enrollment charter school begins with the charter application. The Texas Charter Schools Association (TCSA) is here to help you.

The Texas Charter Schools Association (TCSA) is a nonprofit statewide membership organization representing effective currently operating charter schools of all types. It is important to not confuse TCSA with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) the governmental agency responsible for facilitating the charter application process.

Currently there is a cap (215) on the number of 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in Texas that can operate open-enrollment charter schools. It is for this reason that applying for an open enrollment charter school is a highly competitive process. The State Board of Education (SBOE), which is charged with the authorization of open enrollment charter schools, typically announces any decision to open an application process during its September meeting, although it might be earlier. It is important to know that there is no guarantee that the SBOE will open a charter school application round every year.

On November 16, 2012, the State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted the Eighteenth Generation Open-Enrollment Charter Guidelines and Application.  Generation 18 applications will be considered for award by the SBOE in September 2013 with an expected start date of fall 2014.  Applications must be received by the February 28, 2013 submission deadline in order to be considered.   The RFA and required document links are not live at this time. They will become available on December 7, 2012 on the TEA website.

Applicants intending to apply as  nonprofit corporations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code MUST have tax exempt status established and the determination letters from the Internal Revenue Service included in the application submissions. A 501(c)(3) determination letter must be submitted with the application in order for the application to be found complete.

TCSA recommends the following steps for applicants looking forward and intending to submit a Generation 18 Charter School Application likely due late February, 2013:

TCSA's CharterStart Consulting Services - Enroll Today!

Let TCSA's Network of Experts Support You in the Generation 18 Application Process - Only A Handful Left Before Reaching the State Cap of 215 So It Will Very Competitive!

The Texas Charter Schools Association (TCSA) is excited to announce the opening of its updated 2012-2013 Charter School Startup Support Services. These services are launched for the benefit of organizations seeking to compete and apply for a Generation 18 open-enrollment charter school from the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE).

Applying for an open-enrollment charter school is an exciting and challenging process. Completing the process successfully requires a sound plan, attention to detail, fortitude, creativity, and down-right hard work. Let TCSA's team of charter school experts help you from the start, guiding you to develop the best application possible for presenting your vision to the SBOE.

While TCSA cannot guarantee that your application will be selected by the SBOE, your organization's participation in TCSA's Charter School Startup Support Services is certain to make your charter school application as competitive as possible. TCSA's services will prepare you for the competition.

TCSA's Charter School Startup Consulting Services are broken into three service categories - slots are limited on each and we reserve the right to be selective to present the strongest candidates possible - so do not delay:

• CHARTER APPLICATION REVIEW SERVICE - TCSA's  team of charter school experts review your near final independently drafted application for completeness, accuracy, and competitiveness, guiding you to make critical revisions and improvements needed to ensure the best application.
  
  
• CHARTER APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT SERVICE - In this full service process, TCSA's charter school experts work with the charter hopeful in a series of one-on-one trainings and application development sessions to help the applicant create the best application possible.
  
  
• CHARTER APPLICANT SBOE INTERVIEW PREP SERVICE - TCSA's team of charter school experts breaks down the dos and don'ts of the SBOE interview process. We provide you with the best in class support for your team to prepare a compelling message for your final stage in the charter application process.

 To enroll TODAY, contact Art Serna, Director of Training Services at aserna@txcharterschools.org and give your team the strongest competitive advantage working alongside the experienced team at TCSA and our extensive network.

Art Serna
Director of Training Services
512.584.8272 ext. 309