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Texas reaches cap for charter schools in public sector
Next move may include expanding number or shutting troubled facilities
By JENNIFER RADCLIFFE
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Nov. 21, 2008, 11:23PM
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Texas handed out its final public school charter Friday, a move that
puts pressure on the state to either lift its self-imposed cap or shut
down low performing campuses to make room for more of the
untraditional schools.
The State Board of Education awarded eight charters, raising the total
to Texas' cap of 215. Advocates say the thousands of children still on
charter school waiting lists serve as proof that Texas needs to
continue expanding the movement.
About 82,000 Texas students attend one of the 450 or so campuses that
are operated by the charter holders.
"There's a growing realization that parents are looking for additional
educational opportunity," said David Dunn, executive director of the
newly formed Texas Charter Schools Association. "At the very least, we
think the 215 needs to be raised."
Texas first allowed charters — tax-supported campuses that aren't
subject to the same regulations as traditional schools — in 1995.
Red flags were raised a few years later when state officials approved
nearly 120 applications at once. Many of those schools have gone on to
have serious academic and financial troubles, prompting the
Legislature to limit the number.
Because of the cap, the state has handed out very few charters in
recent years.
The eight charters granted Friday were: the Bob Hope School in Port
Arthur; City Center-Health Careers in San Antonio; Henry Ford Academy,
San Antonio; Imagine International Academy in McKinney; Imagine
International Academy in Georgetown; Manara Academy in Irving; The
East Austin College Prep Academy and the TLC Academy in San Angelo.
Other applicants
Before legislation is approved to increase or eliminate the cap, space
may be freed up under the cap if charters are closed, consolidated or
revoked. Two charters, held by schools in Lubbock and Midland, were
returned earlier this month.
The state also recently closed a troubled Fort Worth campus.
"We literally received two charters in an overnight envelope
yesterday," said board member David Bradley, who serves on the
committee that reviews applicants.
The remaining eight applicants that were passed over Friday —
including the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity and
the Koinonia Community Learning Academy, both in Houston — will be
given top consideration for any opening that arise in the next year.
(Meanwhile, the WALIPP Academy plans to continue operating as an all-
boys Houston ISD charter school.)
In an unusual move, the board opted to extend the current class of
applicants, rather than calling for a new crop in 2009, Bradley said.
Texas is one of about 40 states that allow charter schools. About two
dozen of those states have a cap on the number that can operate.
Success stories
Several successful charters, such as the Knowledge is Power Program
and YES College Prep, have opted to expand in Texas under their pre-
existing charters, rather than to seek new charters for each campus.
While they can forgo the rigorous application process that way, they
also miss out on the $450,000 that new charter holders receive over
their first three years.
With the help of private fundraising efforts, KIPP plans to open three
new elementary schools and a new middle school next year. Texas must
reconsider its policies to make it easier for successful schools to
expand, KIPP spokesman Steve Mancini said.
"It defies sense that there should be barriers to entry for schools
with proven-track records," he said. "We need to manage growth, but
accelerate the supply of quality public schools."
KIPP officials hope that the bipartisan momentum created for charter
schools during the recent presidential election spills over to Texas'
upcoming legislative session.
"With reaching the cap, it actually raises the opportunity to spark
that debate again in Texas," Mancini said. "We think this will be a
big year for charter schools."
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