STAAR News
The TEA notified (Oct. 23) ISDs and charters about how the agency intends to approach the STAAR year-to-year progress measure for the 2020-21 school year.
The modifications are needed due to the cancellation of School Year 2019-20 spring and summer administrations of the STAAR due to the pandemic.
The modification of how progress scores are calculated will be based on a comparison of student STAAR scores from the 2018-19 and 2020-21 school years.
Calculations for students currently enrolled in 4th grade will be excused because they were likely in the untested STAAR second grade in 2018-19.
The announcement lists seven categories of STAAR assessments for which progress measures will be calculated, and provides additional info.
Charter Applications
The TEA officially started (Oct. 23) the call for applications that will lead to the selection of Generation 26 open-enrollment charter districts seeking to open in School Year 2022-23.
- Note: Click here for the TEA’s Charter School Applicants page.
Prospective applicants must complete several steps prior to submitting an application, including by having at least one member of their governing board virtually attend a TEA info session (which will be live streamed and available for viewing by the general public).
For the first time, there is one application for applicants operating charter(s) in another state or states, and a separate application for applicants who have never operated a charter before. Previously, there was a single application for out-of-state and new charter applicants. Applications are due by Jan. 20, 2021.
The timeline calls for the commissioner to announce his final list of approved new charter districts by May 28, with the State Board of Education (SBOE) having the opportunity to veto any charter on the commissioner’s final list at the board’s June 2021 meeting.
State law caps the total number of charters at 305 (see graphic on the right).
The TEA is also separately accepting applications from Texas public colleges and universities seeking to operate public school charters. There are currently eight college/university-operated public school charters, including two charters operated by UT Austin.
There are no caps on these types of charters.
Charter Report
The TEA has released its latest Texas Charter Authorizer Accountability Report based on School Year 2018-19 data.
The annual report is required by 2013’s SB2 charter reform bill that transferred the final authority to approve new charters from the SBOE to the education commissioner, and left the SBOE with the authority to veto any of the commissioner’s final charter picks.
The report does not make any conclusions, but does provide various data regarding charters that were approved by the SBOE and by the commissioner — and for ISD-authorized charters, primarily under partnership agreements formed under 2017’s SB1882.
Critical ISD report
San Antonio media reported (Oct. 22) that an 18-page preliminary report issued by TEA investigators accuses the 8,533-student South San Antonio ISD school board of violating state law last year by repeatedly micromanaging their superintendent and his staff.
The appointment of a monitor is recommended — but it’s not clear if the monitor currently assigned to the district would be replaced or if there would be two monitors assigned if the education commissioner accepts the final recommendation. The SSAISD school board has a Nov. 2 deadline to respond before a final report is released.
Small Rural ISDs
The TEA is accepting applications (Nov. 20 deadline) for small and rural ISDs and charters meeting specified criteria to receive mental health teletherapy services.