Month: July 2023

Positive legislative changes are happening in Texas regarding public charter schools.

During the 88th Texas Regular Legislative Session, two charter bills passed that will grow the charter movement in the state. The first is a bill lawmaker filed during the last four legislative sessions, requiring political subdivisions to consider open-enrollment charter schools the same as school districts for zoning purposes.

Why is this legislation so important?

Over the past several years, multiple cities across the state denied or delayed building permits even though the Texas Education Agency (TEA) had approved a campus to operate. The denied building permits and zoning issues have affected both campus expansions and new charters, and, in some cases, permits were delayed for months, costing charter operators additional money in construction fees. The City of Dallas went as far as to have a moratorium on charters, and now, for years, no charters have been allowed to build within the city limits. With this bill’s passage, political subdivisions must treat charter facilities like school districts, and local politics will no longer stop charter growth in Texas.

The second bill passed extends the request and notification window to 36 months. Under current practices, public charter schools may not send a notification or request to TEA to open a new campus until 18 months before the campus is scheduled to open, which is not enough time to construct a new campus and prepare for opening, especially considering supply chain concerns. Extending the request and notification window to 36 months allows all parties more time to prepare and execute their plans.

Update from the State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting

During last month’s State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting, members passed a new law, changing the non-contact period for charter applicants. For years, charter applications were not allowed to connect with SBOE members during a no-contact period lasting from the day of charter application submission until the day the SBOE votes to approve the charter, which can last up to seven months. The board approved a new law, ending the no-contact period for charter school applicants on the date the applicant passes the external review. In the past, opponents of charter schools used the no-contact period to discourage members from supporting charter schools. With the new bill in place, charter advocates may contact members and seek support for new charter applicants, leveling the playing field for all parties involved.

Also, at last month’s SBOE meeting, four out of five charters were approved. State law allows the Texas Education Agency Commissioner to select applicants that have received the application cut score and passed TEA/SBOE capacity interviews. The SBOE has final approval authority and can agree with the Commissioner’s recommendations or veto. This time, Commissioner Mike Morath selected five Generation 28 Public Charter Schools to be granted, and the SBOE only vetoed one.

There is always more work to do, and becoming an advocate for public school choice is essential! We must let our local and federal elected officials know to continue supporting public charter schools in Texas and beyond.

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

The idea of the audit can invite stress, and it’s understandable to feel daunted by the need to address compliance and other issues while you’re focused on the day-to-day aspects of growing a school. The Charter School Audits Guide Preparing Your School for the Annual Audit offers month-by-month breakdowns schools can use to stave off overwhelm. The key is preparing a little bit at a time.

Here’s what the plan looks like:

School Audit month-by-month breakdown

As seen in the chart above, month one is dedicated to the fiscal audit overall. That’s because month one is when schools have just completed the previous year’s audit, so the first steps are about how to move forward from there.

For a detailed look at previous months, click the links below:

Month 1 – What do after your audit

Month 2 – Post-Audit Conversations

Month 3 – HR

Month 4 – Insurance

Month 5 – Operations

Month 6 – No Audit, Fiscal Year End

Month 7 is dedicated to your internal governance audit. Here are key areas to assess:

  • Governing Policies and Procedures: Review your governing policies and procedures to ensure they align with the latest legal requirements and best practices. Take this opportunity to assess their effectiveness and make sure you have a clear framework in place that supports transparent decision-making and accountability.
  • Conflict-of-Interest Policy: Examine your conflict-of-interest policy, which is not only required by authorizers and state regulations but also is a vital tool for maintaining integrity within your school. Ensure that it is comprehensive, up-to-date, and effectively addresses potential conflicts that may arise.
  • Updating Existing Policies/Procedures: Evaluate any existing policies and procedures that may need revision or improvement. This includes things like student discipline, academic standards, financial management, and personnel policies.
  • Board Resolution Calendar: Develop a board resolution calendar to facilitate ongoing adoption reviews at monthly board meetings. This calendar will help you keep track of important resolutions that need to be addressed and approved regularly, ensuring that necessary decisions are made in a timely manner.
  • Board Committees and Calendar: Assess the effectiveness of your board committees and their alignment with the school’s strategic goals. Evaluate whether the committees are functioning optimally and whether their activities are adequately documented. Additionally, review your board calendar to ensure that meetings are scheduled strategically, allowing for productive discussions and decision-making.
  • Organizing Meeting Documentation: Take steps to organize and centralize board meeting documentation, including agendas, minutes, and resolutions. Consider creating an annual binder for easy access and historical reference. Additionally, ensure that these documents are readily available on your school’s website.

By focusing on areas such as governing policies, conflict-of-interest policies, updating procedures, and organizing meeting documentation, you are actively fostering a culture of accountability and transparency. Insights gained will help guide your decision-making and promote continuous improvement in governance practices.

Want to take a closer look at the month-by-month audit prep plan? Download The Charter School Audits Guide Preparing Your School for the Annual Audit for free here!