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. TCSA is here to help you.

Currently there is a cap 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. Accordingly, TCSA recommends that you attend or watch the next September meeting of the Texas State Board of Education. You can watch the meeting live in Austin or watch via the web from the TEA website.

While there is no guarantee that the SBOE will open an application process next September, TCSA recommends the following steps in preparation for the potential opportunity:

1. Potential applicants should start reviewing the TEA website for charter school information and alerts. This will get you familiar with the requirements for obtaining and operating a charter. 

2. Establish a non-profit organization and secure tax exemption from the IRS under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. These two steps can take a considerable amount of time so it is essential to get started early. We encourage you to identify board members who will be capable of overseeing the management of a robust and multi-faceted organization.

3. Review the previous year's application for open enrollment charter schools. The application for future generations should be very similar. You should start to assemble a planning team for responding to the application questions and required appendices. Generally, preparing and submitting a complete and compelling charter school application takes several months of planning and development.

4. Attend a training session hosted by TCSA on starting a charter school. Our next training session will be held in Austin on August 30, 2010. We will also offer this training session again in December as well as an additional, "advanced" session. 

5. Join TCSA as supporter member for $40 and start coming to TCSA training and events. Attendance will give you access to (1) existing charter operators to learn from and (2) current information about laws and best practices for running an effective charter school.

Finally, TCSA recommends that you add your name to our newsletter distribution list so that you can read our Friday weekly newsletter. This will keep you in the loop on all things charter school in Texas.