Floydada ISD Seeks an In-District Charter Partner for 2020-2021

The FISD Board of Trustees intends to issue a call for applications for a Campus Charter or Program

Charter (“Subchapter C Charter”) pursuant to various paths set forth in TEC Chapter 12, Subchapter C.

The Board specifically invites and encourages applications pursuant to TEC §12.0521.

Rural school districts face many challenges in offering diverse pathways toward college and career readiness for students. In 2018, 23% of Texas students earned a certificate or any type of college degree. It is projected that by 2025, 77% of jobs will require a certificate, 2-year college degree, or 4- year college degree. Rural districts will find it even more challenging to meet this future need by preparing students for jobs that do not exist in the workforce today due to financial, human capital, program, and geographical constraints. In order to better prepare our students for post-secondary experiences, including college and the workforce, we must enter into partnerships that will diversify what we are able to offer our students. Through engagement of a charter operating partner, we will be able to access additional funding that is strictly available to charter schools, thus allowing us the opportunity to offer students diverse pathways that will allow them to earn 2-year degrees or certifications that will prepare them for the work force, all at no cost to students or parents.

FISD is willing to enter only into partnerships that emphasize retention of quality educators, engagement of community stakeholders, use of evidence-based programs, and industry and higher education partnerships. Ultimately, the FISD Board of Trustees will provide oversight of the charter partnership through consistent and comprehensive monitoring of student achievement relative to goals established in a performance contract.

Purpose of Charter Schools

TEC Chapter 12 establishes charter schools for the following purposes:

  1. Improve student learning;

  2. Increase the choice of learning opportunities within the public-school system;

  3. Create professional opportunities that will attract new teachers to the public-school system;

  4. Establish a new form of accountability for public schools;

  5. Encourage different and innovative learning methods.

Benefits of In-District Charter Authorization

  1. School Management: We will expand our college and career pathways and will be managed through a performance agreement with a selected “partner” who will oversee the day-to-day operations.

  2. Local Control: While the partner will work with us to make program and personnel decisions, the district board and superintendent remain in control through the development of a performance contract. FISD has made clear in its application materials that extracurricular programs or any other programs that work well in our district will remain unchanged.

  3. Additional Funding: Adopter districts are eligible for up to $600,000 in Public Charter School Replication and other grants to make capital and programmatic improvements to serve students, while still receiving our current local and state funding.

  4. Connecting Education and Economic Development: This partnership has the potential to positively impact our local community by preparing students to meet the needs of our local

workforce.

  1. Simply put, this is a voluntary effort that will allow us to offer college degrees and/or certifications to all students at no cost to families.


Charter Application Process Overview

The partner application process shall include:

1. A comprehensive written application submitted by each applicant in accordance with applicationguidance and requirements provided by the Board;

2. A rigorous review of the written application conducted by a review committee (“Review Committee”) of at least three members, including at least one district staff member and one external evaluator, with relevant and diverse expertise;

3. A formal recommendation from the Review Committee to the Superintendent for approval or denial of each application, based on evidence from the Review Committee’s evaluation of the application; and

4. A formal recommendation from the Superintendent to the Board for approval or denial of each application, based on evidence from the Review Committee’s evaluation of the application; and

5. A formal vote by the Board to approve or deny each application.