People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy after." Oliver Goldsmith
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The Texas Charter School Association welcomed
more than 700 parents students teachers industry leaders & legislators from across Texas to rally on the south steps of the State Capitol during National Charter Schools Week showing their support for public charter schools and
legislation moving this session with the backing of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Senate Education Committee Chair Dan Patrick (above).
National Charter Schools Week a week dedicated to raising awareness for more than 6000 schools serving over 2.3 million students is celebrated every year to highlight the milestones made since the Charter School concept was created by legislators including many in Texas in the late 1980s.
The birth of the first charter law in 1991 ushered in a major bi-partisan teacher driven with parents highly empowered and curriculum tailored to the interests and needs of students movement. TIME Magazine a few years later would call it a Grassroots Revolt."
Across the country State legislators are grappling with how to ensure quality" charter law reforms. authorizing laws to address the rapidly changing face of education to an increasingly diverse student population. Texas is viewed by national experts as being at the forefront of engaging in the creation of the new public school."
Todays rally participants represent more than 154000 students on 500-plus open-enrollment charter school campuses across Texas. And equally as important our larger-than-expected crowd represents the more than 101000
students on waiting lists for a spot at a charter school" said David Dunn executive director of
the Texas Charter Schools Association (TCSA).
I especially thank our Legislators today. We thank them for their support and for all the hard work they are doing this session to pass good and needed charter legislation."
Charter school parents leaders and supporters traveled from Houston San Antonio San Marcos Dallas Fort Worth San Angelo and locally from Austin to rally for legislation that helps their children and strengthens overall charter school policy to benefit all charter schools statewide.
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst (above left) addressed the rally participants as did
Senate Education Committee Chairman Dan Patrick and State Representatives
Marsha Farney and
Diane Patrick (below right).
Supporters and increasingly states themselves are pointing to evidence that public charter schools are making a difference for students in Texas and nationally.
- In 2011 (the last year of rankings in Texas) in public charter schools rated under Texas Standard Accountability System higher percentages of African-American and Hispanic students passed the TAKS test in every core
subject area than in traditional public schools.
- According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in her annual Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST) Texas charter schools account for nearly 30 of the states most fiscally efficient public schools even though they represent only 3 of the student population.
- Texas public charter schools as a percentage serve more African-American students more Hispanic students more economically disadvantaged students and more at risk students than traditional public schools. Public charter schools serve only slightly fewer limited English proficient and special education students as a percentage than traditional public schools.
- U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools Rankings: 8 out of the top 20 in Texas are public charter schools.
- Public Charter Schools Success: A Summary of the Current Research on Public Charters Effectiveness at Improving Student Achievement
Some 22 years into a still developing charter school industry with 6200 schools 2.5 million students and 6 million adults involved there are more policies and laws in place today than the concepts founders imagined including a rigorous push for more and better schools. Demanded largely by supporters who led the battle to start frustrated
teachers and parents industry analysts today know that children often thrive when or if given an education delivery option.
Charter school parents like our two parents from Dallas and Austin who spoke at the rally today students teachers and leaders across the state are working this session with the Texas House and Senate to pass legislation that will strengthen and support effective charter schools in Texas said the TCSAs Dunn.
We need to lift the arbitrary cap on charter schools and more accurately measure drop out recovery schools and the work they do with students returning to high school to recover credits and graduate" Dunn said.
The Texas Charter Schools Association is the statewide association representing open-enrollment charter schools in every part of the state. More than 154000 Texas students attend open-enrollment charter schools on over 500 campuses with more than 101000 additional students on waiting lists.
Rapidly becoming a more well-known and proven public school option for parents and students looking for more choices innovation and an individualized education in Texas charter schools are tuition-free open-enrollment public schools that have the flexibility to adapt to the educational needs of individual students. Charter schools are required by law to meet the same rigorous academic and financial standards dictated by the State of Texas for all public schools.
All charter school students take the STAAR and TAKS tests similar to traditional public school students and receive accountability ratings from the TEA including schools with the mission of drop out recovery which are held
accountable under the alternative accountability system.
There is currently an arbitrary cap on the number of charters awarded in Texas at 215 with 209 already having been awarded as of November 2012.
Get Informed: Learn the intricacies of charter legislation
