1. REACH THE PEAK OF YOUR CHARTER CONTRACT
USE YOUR PROGRAM SPECIALISTS AS YOUR HARNESS
Nina Gonzalez
Drue Ann Wise

2. objectives Preview helpful webpages
Understand amendment basics and types
Review amendment submission
Recognize common submission mistakes
Get to know support specialists
objectives
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3. Helpful webpages TEA Homepage Charter School Homepage
Amendments Homepage
Helpful webpages
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4. Understanding amendments basics
The terms of an open- enrollment charter may be revised only with the consent of the charter holder governing board and by approval of the commissioner of education.
19 TAC § (b)
Understanding amendments basics
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5. Understanding Amendments: basics
An amendment is ANY CHANGE to the existing contract for charter and is not a matter of right or entitlement.
19 TAC § (b)
Understanding Amendments: basics
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6. Understanding Amendments: basics
Meet all applicable requirements
File an amendment request
Include a signed board resolution
Submit all required documents
File non-expansion amendments any time
Understanding Amendments: basics
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7. Understanding amendments: basics
Commissioner considerations for approval:
Student and other performance
Compliance, staff, financial, and organizational data
Performance of all charters under charter holder
Whether all applicable requirements are met
Best interest of students
Other information
Understanding amendments: basics
©Texas Education Agency 2016

8. Understanding amendments: Basics
The commissioner’s decision on an amendment request
is final.
The same amendment request may not be submitted
prior to the first anniversary of the original request.
The commissioner may impose approval conditions.
A relocation amendment is not an expansion.
Prior notification of the intent to revoke the charter
results in ineligibility to apply for an amendment.
Understanding amendments: Basics
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9. Understanding amendments: types
Non-Expansion
Expansion
Understanding amendments: types
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10. Understanding Amendments: expansion Types
Expansion Amendment
Add a new campus
Expand the geographic boundaries
Increase the maximum student enrollment
Change the grade levels served
Understanding Amendments: expansion Types
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11. Understanding amendments: expansion
Expanding prior to receiving the commissioner’s approval will have financial consequences as outlined in 19 TAC § (d)(1).
Understanding amendments: expansion
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12. Understanding amendments: expansion types
Expansion Amendment are approved only if:
Charter is in 4th year of operation
Request is received no earlier than first day of February and no later than first day of April
Most recent rating for 90% of the campuses operated under the charter is “academically acceptable”
Impact statements have been provided to affected school districts
Understanding amendments: expansion types
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13. Understanding amendments: expansion types
Expansion Amendment are approved only if:
The amendment is in the best interest of students
The charter holder governing body has considered a business plan
Compliance information has been submitted
The charter holder meets all other requirements applicable to expansion amendment requests
Understanding amendments: expansion types
©Texas Education Agency 2016

14. Understanding amendments: additional campus
The request must be accompanied by all required documentation as outlined on the request form.
Understanding amendments: additional campus
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15. Understanding Amendments: Geographic Boundaries
The request must be accompanied by letters of notification to affected districts and must include evidence of mailings.
Understanding Amendments: Geographic Boundaries
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16. Understanding Amendments: Maximum Enrollment
The board resolution
must include a
statement that a business plan has been considered, approved, and that the enrollment growth is prudent.
19 TAC § (b)(10)(A)
Understanding Amendments: Maximum Enrollment
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17. Understanding amendments: maximum enrollment
Business plan components can be found on the charter amendments webpage.
Understanding amendments: maximum enrollment
©Texas Education Agency 2016

18. Understanding Amendments: Grade Levels
The request must be accompanied by appropriate educational plan(s) for the additional grade level(s).
Include a scope and sequence for the proposed grade level(s) and a list of curricular resources to be used.
Understanding Amendments: Grade Levels
©Texas Education Agency 2016

19. Understanding amendments: non-expansion examples
Admission/enrollment changes
Close/return campus
Fiscal year change
Charter/campus/district name change
Campus relocation
Change to education plan or program
Understanding amendments: non-expansion examples
©Texas Education Agency 2016

20. Understanding amendments: educational program
Any change to the educational philosophy or mission of the school or curriculum models or whole-school designs
Submit all program changes and/or additions with the request
Changes to the charter contract language:
Currently approved language
Revised language with changes clearly marked
Proposed language as adopted
Understanding amendments: educational program
©Texas Education Agency 2016

21. Amendment request submission
Contacts
Amendment Request Forms
Submission Process
Amendment request submission
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22. Amendment request submission: contacts
A-L Charter Schools Nina Gonzalez
M-Z Charter Schools Drue Ann Wise
Amendment request submission: contacts
©Texas Education Agency 2016

23. Amendment request submission: expansion request forms
Expansion Amendment Request Form
One form for all expansion requests
Include justification for request
Review checklist for required documents
Electronic superintendent signature
Submit by
Amendment request submission: expansion request forms
©Texas Education Agency 2016

24. Amendment request submission: non-expansion request form
Non-Expansion Amendment Request Form
One form for all non-expansion requests
Include justification for request
Review checklist for required documents
Electronic superintendent signature
Submit by
Amendment request submission: non-expansion request form
©Texas Education Agency 2016

25. Submitting amendment requests: electronic signature
Click on the signature line
Follow the instructions
Save username and password for future use
Save document on desktop
Submitting amendment requests: electronic signature
©Texas Education Agency 2016

26. Amendment request submission: electronic submission
All amendment requests are to be submitted electronically to the charter amendments address
Amendment request submission: electronic submission
©Texas Education Agency 2016

27. Common submission mistakes
Unsigned amendment request form
No board resolution
Missing board signatures
Educational program changes and/or additions not submitted
Required documentation missing
Current and required language missing
Common submission mistakes
©Texas Education Agency 2016

28. Nina Gonzalez, Program Specialist nina. gonzalez@tea. texas
Nina Gonzalez, Program Specialist (512) Drue Ann Wise, Program Specialist (512)
Support specialists
©Texas Education Agency 2016

29. Copyright Notice
These materials are copyrighted © and trademarked as the property of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of TEA, except under the following conditions:
I. Texas public school districts, charter schools, and Education Service Centers may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for the districts' and schools' educational use without obtaining permission from TEA;
2. Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for individual personal use only without obtaining written permission of TEA;
3. Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and remain unedited, unaltered and unchanged in any way;
4. No monetary charge can be made the reproduced materials or any document containing them; however, a reasonable charge to cover only the cost of reproduction and distribution may be charged.
Private entities or persons located in Texas that are not Texas public school districts or Texas charter schools or any entity, whether public or private, educational or non-educational, located outside the state of Texas MUST obtain written approval from TEA and will be required to enter into a license agreement that may involve the payment of a licensing fee or a royalty fee. Contact TEA Copyrights with any questions you may have.
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