- Instructional Services Division
- General Information

General Information
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What is a Charter School?
A charter school is a type of public school. Charter schools provide education through a "charter," which is a type of contract granted by a chartering entity such as the commissioner of education, State Board of Education (SBOE), or the board of trustees of an independent school district.
Charter Home - Purpose and Definition
In 1995, the Texas Education Code established a new type of public school known as a charter school. Charter schools are subject to fewer state laws than other public schools with the idea of ensuring fiscal and academic accountability without undue regulation of instructional methods or pedagogical innovation. Like school districts, charter schools are monitored and accredited by the state.
According to the Texas Education Code, the purposes of charter schools are to:
- improve student learning;
- increase the choice of learning opportunities within the public school system;
- create professional opportunities that will attract new teachers to the public school system;
- establish a new form of accountability for public schools; and
- encourage different and innovative learning methods.
Texas Education Code, Chapter 12
Charter school administrators should become familiar with the laws that apply to charter schools. Chapter 12 of the TEC (outside source) discusses many, but not all, charter school issues. Subchapter D of Chapter 12 is specific to open-enrollment charter schools; Subchapter E of Chapter 12 is specific to university charter schools.
Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 100
The TAC contains rules adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) and the commissioner of education. The SBOE and the commissioner of education may adopt new rules or amendments to existing rules. Title 19 TAC, Chapter 100, is the primary source of rules that apply to open-enrollment charter schools.
Region 11 Charter Schools Professional Development Needs?
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Charter Schools - You have a voice at ESC Region 11!
Help us shape your charter school needs by completing the survey below that will provide us with valuable input about your charter school needs!
Upcoming Events & Deadlines for 2021-2022
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2023
January
- January 27 - ESC R11 New Special Education Director Collaboration 2022-2023
- January 27 - ESC R11 New Counselor Cohort Series Spring 2022
- January 28 - ARF due (Fiscal year ending on 8/31)
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January 31 - SPAT Grant Application due
- January 31 - Existing Charter Schools: 2022-2023 SC5050 form (optional) for Significant Expansion due to TEA (to request additional ESSA and/or IDEA-B funding to be received in 2023-2024 based on significant expansion experienced in 2022-2023)
February
- February 2 - ESC R11 Assistant Principal Leadership Collaborative
- February 3 - TREx Activation - Existing charters opening new campuses and sites and new charter LEAs opening in August 2023 will have access to TREx.
- February 7 - TEA’s CSPF Operational Standard Feedback session Registration (or March 14)
- February 8 - TEA FY202 School Safety Allotment Survey Due
- February 9 - ESC Region 11 Instructional Leaders Meeting - In-Person
- February 10 - TEA School Safety Standard Cost Estimates Collection Due
- February 14 - TEA’s CSPF Governance Standard Feedback session Registration (or March 7)
- February 15 - ESC Region 11 Superintendent Cluster Meeting - Tarrant County at ESC 11
- February 16 - ESC Region 11 Superintendent Cluster Meeting - Parker/Wise County at Springtown ISD
- February 17 - 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant due
- February 21 - Charter School Roundtable Meeting
- February 21 - ESC Region 11 Superintendent Cluster Meeting - Palo Pinto/Erath County at Bluff Dale ISD
- February 22 - ESC Region 11 Superintendent Cluster Meeting - Johnson/Hood/Somervell County at Godley ISD
- February 23 - ESC Region 11 Superintendent Cluster Meeting - Denton/Cooke County at Sanger ISD
- February 24 - ESC R11 New Counselor Cohort Series Spring 2022
March
- March 1 - Charter Expansion Amendment window closes
- March 1 - TASA Meetings at ESC
- March 2 - ESC R11 Assistant Principal Leadership Collaborative
- March 2 - 2021-2022 School Report Cards distribution to parents deadline
- March 7 - ESC R11 Technology Leadership Academy
- March 24 - ESC R11 New Counselor Cohort Series Spring 2022
Request for an Indirect Cost Rate for Charter Schools for 2023-2024 survey due to TEA in March
April
- April 5 - TASA Meetings at ESC
- April 13 - ESC R11 Assistant Principal Leadership Collaborative
- April 15 - Campus Number Request - TEA will send the "All In One" form to new campuses opening to complete and make a Campus Number Request
- April 18 - Charter School Roundtable Meeting
- April 18 - TEA's Using CSPF for Decision Making: Amendments
- April 20 - ESC R11 Technology Leadership Academy
- April 21 - ESC R11 New Counselor Cohort Series Spring 2022
May
- May 3 - TASA Meetings at ESC
- May 16 - TEA's Using CSPF for Decision Making: Renewal/Revocation
- May 16 - ESC R11 Technology Leadership Academy
June
- June 13 - TEA's CSPF Initial Draft and Feedback
July
- July 1 - Certificate of Occupancy Request and Campus Verification - TEA will send the "All In One" form to new campuses opening to complete a Certificate of Occupancy
- July 26 - TEA's CSPF Final Draft and Feedback