Month: September 2022

TEA & State Updates
  • The SBOE has scheduled a special meeting on Monday and Tuesday, September 26–27, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. to consider proposed revisions to the social studies TEKS for first reading and filing authorization.At the laste SBOE meeting, the board determined that it would not move forward with new social studies standards. Instead, the board asked TEA staff to bring to the next meeting a draft of the current standards that only adds content to address requirements from SB 3 passed during the second special session.
  • Texas House Public Ed and Higher Ed committees held a marathon joint hearing on Tuesday to address the persistent teacher recruitment and retention problem. Some speakers drew attention to the sizeable proportion of instructors who enter the profession without credentials.According to testimony given by TEA Deputy Commissioner Kelvey Oeser, 40% of the newly hired teachers in the previous school year were either uncertified or had completed an alternative certification program.
  • U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 297 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022, including 31 schools in Texas. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Secretary Cardona made the announcement during his Road to Success Back to School bus tour. The list of schools in Texas can be found here.
  • The state subsidy provided through the Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB) Incentive Program for the May 2023 administration will be $39 for each AP and IB exam taken by an eligible student.  The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has provided subsidies for students taking AP and IB exams since 1993 with the enactment of the Advanced Placement Incentive Program. TEA is committed to ensuring AP and IB exams remain affordable for low-income students. More here.
  • According to a recent poll from The Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler, the majority of Texas voters support voucher-like policies that permit state funds to be used to send kids to private schools. According to the poll conducted among 1,268 registered voters between September 6-13, 60% of respondents favored the school choice option, while 28% opposed it. When asked if they “support or oppose giving parents the option to use state funding to send their children to private school,” roughly 54% of respondents supported the option, compared to 34% who did not.
  • TEA’s Texas Partnerships benefits approval process has upcoming required webinars and deadlines in the coming months. A Partner Training is on Sept 30, and Performance Contract Trainings are on Oct 7 and Oct 14. LOIs and other required documents are due Sept 30. Texas Partnerships offer districts the opportunity to expand the diversity of school options, bring in targeted expertise for innovation and turnaround support, and empower school leaders and partners to give more students access to great schools. More information on the Texas Partnership opportunity here, and the webinars and deadlines here.
DOE & National Updates
  • A new bill sent to Congress on Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) would force colleges and universities to be more open about their student transfer criteria. A list of all the institutions from which a student’s credits are guaranteed to be accepted is required to be posted on the websites of two- and four-year schools under the Transparency for Transfer Students Act. Castro noted, “at too many schools, convoluted transfer regulations make it tougher for transfer students to achieve a four-year degree.”
Articles of Interest
Important Dates
  • Monday and Tuesday, September 26–27, 2022 – SBOE Special Meeting
  • Friday, September 30 – Gubernatorial debate in the Rio Grande Valley
  • Tuesday, October 18 – Texas Commission on Community College Finance final hearing

Check out more and Subscribe to Amanda List TX Legislative Updates here. 

Submitted by: Rachel Holmberg 

Teacher: Dalton Bagley  

School: Kihei Charter 

Since 2017, Charter School Capital has invited written and video submissions celebrating exceptional teachers. Named the Dewey Awards—after Mr. Richard Dewey, a teacher close to our hearts at Grow Schools—these stories speak about teachers who provided exceptional mentorship. Every year, we are flooded with a brilliant selection of stories told by students and charter school supporters all over the nation. One winner receives a gift of $1000 to a charter school of their choice. Although we only select one winner, each of these stories is worth sharing, so this week we bring you a story written by Rachel Holmberg about Mr. Bagley of Kihei Charter School.  

This teacher is someone who I found real comfort and value coming to. Mr. Bagley was my 6th-grade teacher, and I am now in 9th grade, and all of the students that were in his class still talk about how much they appreciated him to this day. He was one of those teachers who was able to connect with his students and make them feel truly heard and understood. During this period of my life, I had this idea of having to be perfect, and it was very damaging. I am so glad that I was in his class during this time because he would have these talks with us called ‚” nuggets of wisdom”. Which would allow us as students, peers, and friends to discuss topics that would forever make an impact on us. 


 We would get the opportunity to open up to each other and relate, and this built a beautiful loving community in our class. I specifically remember seeing Mr. Bagley talking about a vulnerable topic and getting choked up. This was very impactful on me because our society tells boys and men that it’s not ok to cry and to be vulnerable, but he was willing to show us that side of him. This led me to be more open about my emotions and speak about them because I knew that there was only love and compassion in the room.  


 From his class, I was truly humbled, and I was able to learn so much from him and apply it to the way I think and process different things. Being part of a world that automatically wants to know who you are before you do is very difficult, and I felt that his class gave me a different perspective on myself, which allowed me to accept who I was. There were countless times where he would tell me that he was proud of me, and that would truly make me want to keep pushing forward and to do better. 


 I remember hurting myself really badly and I wasn’t able to go to PE, so I would go to the office and do homework, and he would sit with me if he didn’t have class, and it gave me great comfort. We would talk and it was so nice because due to having my injury I was very depressed and it was nice to have someone there who I felt truly cared about me.

 
 At the end of the year, I had all of my teachers sign my yearbook and I was so excited to see what they were going to put, and this is what he said ‚ “An English teacher should have the words to describe the awesomeness of a student; however, you’ve completely stumped me. You are such an inspiration to me, and you’ve taught me so much more than I could have taught you. I don’t think I could be the teacher I am today without you.” Those words have stuck with, and I know they will forever.  Mr. Bagley is one of the most compassionate, caring, and loving teachers that I have ever had, and truly made an impact on my life.  

Submit your inspirational teacher story today: https://deweyawards.charterschoolcapital.com/

As the school year unfolds, there are many questions surrounding the continued effect of disease on education. In our effort to keep school leaders informed this fall, we headed straight to the source for more information: Gregory A. Poland, M.D., the director of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group. In this information-packed webinar, Dr. Poland discussed the science behind monkeypox and SARS-CoV-2, their vaccines, and ways to “live safer” during the continuing pandemic. 

Dr. Poland began his talk by affirming what many in education are feeling—burnout. The effects of the pandemic have had an enormous toll, specifically within schools. Dr. Poland shared recent survey results from the National Education Association, which reports 55% of educators are thinking about leaving the profession earlier than they had planned. “They’re exhausted and exasperated, and classroom teachers and other school staff are under an unprecedented level of strain,” Dr. Poland emphasized, “made worse by dire staff shortages that have plagued school systems across the country.” And yet, as Dr. Poland said repeatedly—“the pandemic isn’t over.” 

The current educational environment begs the question: what can school leaders and educators do this year to offset a viral surge—one that Dr. Poland predicts is coming this winter? Administrators, teachers, and parents alike are well aware that schools can be high transmission areas for any type of virus, so it makes sense to be concerned. The answer depends largely on which virus we are talking about—monkeypox is of less concern for schools, leading Dr. Poland to clarify: “it’s not a significant issue for kids…we don’t see it until people are getting into their 20s.” But by contrast, Dr. Poland predicted that the SARS-CoV-2 virus “will continue to develop immune-evading mutations,” that will occur “irregularly and unpredictably over time.” 

The inevitability of future COVID variants and surges can sound disheartening for schools, which serve as one of the most important parts of our community infrastructure. Beyond providing supportive learning environments for students, they also support social and emotional development, provide access to critical services, and improve life outcomes. “I’m not saying kids should not be in school,” Dr. Poland clarified, “live your life—but do so safer.” 

On that point Dr. Poland was clear: there’s no such thing as “safe,”—only “safer”—and relying on immunity from previous infection or previous vaccines isn’t enough. After reviewing what researchers understand about COVID-19 and its variants, Dr. Poland stressed:  

  • Mask wearing (a KN-95 or N-95 worn properly, when indoors around people who aren’t your family)—even if previously infected or vaccinated 
  • Staying up-to-date with boosters, since they wane in effectiveness over time, along with a flu vaccine for maximum protection 
  • Eating well, getting adequate sleep, getting exercise, and stress management—all of which have measurable effects on the efficacy of the immune system 

Lastly, Dr. Poland urged listeners to get their information from credible sources, given the amount of disinformation surrounding these diseases and vaccines in general. We all need to do our part, he believes, to keep our communities safer this academic year.

We hope you found this webinar helpful as you plan for this school year—we’re dedicated to delivering valuable resources like these to schools. If you missed this dynamic presentation from Dr. Poland, you can find our on-demand recording here.  

 

As we approach midterm election season, some are foreseeing education voters becoming the new “swing” voters. The National Alliance of Public Charter Schools reports that in a recent national survey of more than 5,000 guardians of school-aged children, education has taken on renewed importance when it comes to voting. The survey found that many families who are members of both major political parties want more charter schools in their areas, and would even cross party lines when voting if it meant supporting certain education policies. 

2022 Blog - Elections Chart

As for the “why” behind these numbers, many have speculated that when families got a front row seat to their child’s education during the pandemic, they grew inspired to change things. School closures, safety issues, and ongoing debates about approaches to subjects like diversity and history have also stoked the flame of familial concern. With the midterm election including state school board positions along with races for governor and legislators, the election’s outcome will have a direct effect on schools and what happens in the classroom. 

All signs point toward growing support for charter schools, as further evidenced in CCSA’s recent survey.  Jeffrey R. Henig, a Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, called this shift a “major movement” toward charter schools in a recent interview, where he also stressed the number of issues facing education voters this election. 

While education is always on the ballot, it is likely to feel more important this year than ever—and is a great reason to get to the polls. You can learn more at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools “Be an Education Voter” Portal. 

For a more in-depth discussion of NAPC’s survey results, watch the Numbers Don’t Lie panel from the 2022 National Charter Schools Conference, recorded on June 21, 2022. 

The Teachers Who Changed Our Lives

Mr. Dewey was the 3rd grade teacher of Stuart Ellis, CSC’s founder, and CEO. Mr. Dewey was an exceptional teacher—he encouraged his students to think outside the box, and made his students feel that they had limitless potential. He worked hard to ensure each of his students felt loved, cared for, and special. He was one of those unforgettable teachers—teachers who change the very course of life.  

In memory of Richard Dewey, we’re asking you to call on your inspiration to tell your story: is there a teacher who helped you get where you are today? Maybe they taught you something you’ve never forgotten or helped you understand something for the first time. Maybe they were your ally during a difficult time and showed that they cared about you as a person. Maybe you’ve never had the chance to put into words or video how you feel about this person—the extent of your gratitude, or the depth of their contribution to your life’s path. Now is your chance to do just that. 

By sharing the story of your change-making teacher, you’ll have the chance to be granted $1,000 to be given in that teacher’s name to the charter school of your choice.  

  • Submissions are open to students, parents, teachers, and school supporters  
  • Stories can be submitted in writing (300 words or more) or video (1-10 minutes in length) 
  • Submissions are invited between September 14th  – October 28th 
  • Grant winners will be announced on November 16th

SUBMIT YOUR STORY HERE 

View Winning 2021 Stories  

https://charterschoolcapital.com/blog/dewey-awards-2021-announcing-contest-winners/