dear charter school leader and...

Dear Charter School Leader and Stakeholder:

At TCSA, we pride ourselves on providing the best charter-specifi c training in Texas. Our Professional Development Program meets the various needs of public charter school board members, administrators, business managers, and teachers. Unlike other training providers, TCSA’s training solely focuses on the needs of open-enrollment charter schools and is aligned with the goals for the sector to improve student learning and school effectiveness. Not only does TCSA training meet TEA’s compliance requirements, but it also drives the strategic ends of the charter school movement—better outcomes for students.

Our newly designed training program, which has been developed with the insights of experienced charter leaders, provides multiple locations and formats for receiving tailored training. Whether online or in a classroom near your charter school, fi nd out for yourself how TCSA is raising the bar. Our new training services include TCSA’s E-learning Suite, Private Board Training, the In-Person Professional Development Series, theNetwork-sponsored events, and the Charter School Business Offi cer Certifi cation (CSBOC). I encourage you to read this catalog to learn more about each of these offerings. Do not hesitate to contact me directly at 512.584.8272 or [email protected] to discuss how to maximize TCSA’s training program to meet the professional development needs of your school offi cers and employees.

I look forward to spending time with you at an upcoming training event. Together, we will drive improvements in board governance, fi nancial management, instructional leadership, and academic achievement. We will fulfi ll the promise of quality driven charter schools to improve the lives and educational success of Texas school children.

Yours in Charter Education,

Art Serna TCSA Director of Training Services ph. 512.584.8272 [email protected]

September 10, 2014HoustonHarmony Public Schools 9321 W. Sam Houston Pkwy S. 77099

October 1, 2014South Padre IslandCheck our website for location address.txcharterschools.org

February 11, 2015AustinWayside Schools6405 S. IH 35 78744

April 15, 2015DallasA+ Charter Schools8225 Bruton Road 75217

.5 Accountability for Public Funds 1 Accountability to the Public .5 School Finance 4 School Law

Charter School Governance & Operations Summit

This session will equip charter school leaders and board members to set in place appropriate governance and operational systems that apply the necessary legal requirements for mission-driven success toward the ulti-mate goal of serving students well. Join us to learn how you should be operating under SB2 and HB5 (83rd Texas Legislature). In addition, develop a set of action items that you can apply at your charter school to ensure all governance policies and procedures are up to date with current legal and regulatory expectations.

Participants will be guided through learning and group discussions that will empower them to:

• diagnose and improve organizational health/morale by the implementation of strategies and programs designed to provide on-going assistance and support to personnel;

• correctly apply charter school employment laws, poli-cies, and procedures fairly, wisely, and considerately; and

• prepare and recommend charter school district policies to improve student learning and charter school district performance in compliance with state and

federal requirements.

Sponsored by:

Learn more, fi nd up-to-date pricing, and register: www.txcharterschools.org

Charter School Student Rights Summit

TCSA is excited to present the Student Rights Summit—a dynamic day of learning, networking, and practice around federal and state charter school matters impacting the charter school student population.

This full-day summit hits on the hot topics that have a direct impact on your charter school’s operational responsibility to serve a student’s safety, free speech, accommodation, and access needs.

Participants will receive real-time critical updates on implementation of legislative changes from the 83rd Texas Legislature. In addition, participants will gain essential knowledge concerning updated state and federal regulations around: First amendment rights, special education, student discipline, CPS reporting expectations, and Criminal Background Check processes.

Do not miss this unique opportunity to learn, share, and network with some of the best minds in Charter School Law.




April 16, 2015DallasA+ Charter Schools8225 Bruton Road 75217

1 Accountability to the Public 1 Health & Safety .5 Public Records3.5 School Law

Sponsored by:


Explicit Instruction: A Systematic Approach for Student Success

Student engagement is critical throughout classroom instructional time to know whether students understand the content they are being taught. Therefore, educators need to pay close attention to how they organize instruc-tional routines and plan for student engagement oppor-tunities in order to monitor student learning. Participants attending this session will understand how important all of these components are in systematically instructing diverse student populations.

During this training session, participants will explore the (1) research and foundations of explicit instruction, (2) elements of designing instructional lessons, (3) the importance of organizing space and establishing routines, and (4) the importance of actively engaging students. Participants attending this session will understand how important all of these components are in systematically instructing diverse student populations.

The Institute for Public School Initiatives (IPSI) serves as a strategic partner to the U.S. Department of Education, Texas Education Agency, TCSA and foundation partners to launch and scale statewide initiatives that increase student achievement and teacher and school effectiveness. The Institute serves as an implementation, design and training partner on projects including: Texas Literacy and Writing Initiatives, GEAR UP, ECHS Design Coaching, Project Share Course Creation (math, science, history, ELA), TCSA’s Quality Framework Design and Support, and district support in HB5 Implementation, instructional coaching, academic leadership, data-driven instruction, and quality process implementation.


Confi rmed Trainer:Dr. Genise HenryInstitute for Public School Initiatives (IPSI),University of Texas


Confi rmed Trainer:Olga Hickman,IPSI, University of Texas

6 Accountability to the Public


Sponsored by:



Sponsored by:

Evidence-based Approach to Guide Instructional Decisions

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but in education, information speaks volumes. Data analysis can provide a snapshot of what students know, what they should know, and what can be done to meet their academic needs. With appropriate analysis and interpretation of data, educators can make informed decisions that positively affect student outcomes. This session will equip charter school offi cers, administrators, and teachers to formulate specifi c and coherent evidence-based recommendations that create the organizational conditions necessary to make decisions using student achievement data in classrooms, schools, and districts.

During this training session, participants will explore (1) how data can be used as part of an ongoing cycle of instructional improvement, (2) how important it is to have a clear vision for school-wide data use, and (3) how to provide instructional guidance and support based on data.

The Institute for Public School Initiatives (IPSI) serves as a strategic partner to the U.S. Department of Education, Texas Education Agency, TCSA and foundation partners to launch and scale statewide initiatives that increase student achievement and teacher and school effectiveness. The Institute serves as an implementation, design and training partner on projects including: Texas Literacy and Writing Initiatives, GEAR UP, ECHS Design Coaching, Project Share Course Creation (math, science, history, ELA), TCSA’s Quality Framework Design and Support, and district support in HB5 Implementation,

instructional coaching, academic lead-ership, data-driven instruction, and

quality process implementation.


Engaging Students Using Effective Mathematics Instruction

Mathematics instruction is facing signifi cant change in Texas. With changing TEKS and instructional materi-als it is important to engage students fully in order to increase student achievement. Participants will learn engagement strategies to enable students to grasp complex mathematics concepts using brain-based activities. To change the achievement on your campus and in your classroom, you must fi rst ensure students are engaged in the content they are learning.

During this training session, participants will learn how to (1) identify strategies to engage students using motivational methods, (2) utilize questioning strategies that lead to increased dialogue in the mathematics classroom, and (3) identify ways to plan for the most engaging lessons in the area of mathematics.

The Institute for Public School Initiatives (IPSI) serves as a strategic partner to the U.S. Department of Education, Texas Education Agency, TCSA and foundation partners to launch and scale statewide initiatives that increase student achievement and teacher and school effectiveness. The Institute serves as an implementation, design and training partner on projects including: Texas Literacy and Writing Initiatives, GEAR UP, ECHS Design Coaching, Project Share Course Creation (math, science, history, ELA), TCSA’s Quality Framework Design and Support, and district support in HB5 Implementation, instructional coaching, academic leadership, data-driven instruction, and quality process implementation.

April 17, 2015Dallas/Ft. WorthA+ Charter Schools8225 Bruton Road 75217

Confi rmed Trainer:Dr. Paula Moeller,Director of College ReadinessInstitute for Public School Initiatives (IPSI),University of Texas



Sponsored by:


Calendar Staff Development Days and Send your Staff to TCSA trainings

TEA’s Waiver Unit will expedite waivers of student instructional days in exchange for staff development days. According to the Agency’s website, the Agency may provide expedited waivers for up to 3 days for general staff development, and up to 1 additional day for a one-day conference aimed at improving student performance. These waiver requests can be approved for up to three years. Visit the TEA website to learn more information about the expedited waiver process. http://bit.ly/TEAWaivers

Register now to attend this year’s conference.

The annual Texas Charter Schools Conference is the only statewide gathering of the entire Texas charter school community. More than 1,300 charter school advocates including teachers, adminis-trators, board members, policy makers, and vendors will gather for training, networking, and sharing best practices for charter effectiveness and compliance. Ultimately, we gather to continue striving for high quality education for our charter students. www.texascharterconference.org

Explicit Instruction: A Systematic Approach for Student SuccessSeptember 12, 2014HoustonorOctober 3, 2014South Padre Island

Texas Charter Schools Conference:Superintendent, Principal and Business Offi cer WorkshopsDecember 10, 2014Houston

Texas Charter Schools Conference:Teacher Workshop December 12, 2014Houston

Evidence-based Approach to Guide Instructional DecisionsFebruary 15, 2015Austin

Engaging Students Using Effective Mathematics InstructionApril 17, 2015Dallas/Ft. Worth

Private Board Training TCSA provides private and tailored board training for your individual school board and administrative team. All training is custom-ized to your school’s needs and directly aligns with TEA standards. Private board training is delivered in (3) and (6) hour blocks at a time and place convenient to your school’s leadership team. Live webinars can be arranged to accommodate schedules.

Regional Board TrainingTCSA will also accommodate a small gathering of neighboring charter school boards for semi-private training. This is an economical option for schools that would prefer to share the cost of training with other boards but value the intimate setting that a semi-private training offers.

To Schedule a Board Training, contact:Art Serna, TCSA Director of Training ph. 512.584.8272 or [email protected].

Texas Charter Schools ConferenceBoard Workshop, Westin Galleria Houston8:00am–3:30pm, Friday, December 12For the third consecutive year, TCSA is offering Charter Board Members an opportunity to earn Commissioner Credit Hours at the Board Workshop on the fi nal day of our annual conference. Join us at the Westin Galleria in Houston December 10-12 where more than 1,300 charter school advocates including teachers, board members, policy makers, administrators, and vendors will gather for training, networking, and sharing best practices for charter effectiveness and compliance. www.texascharterconference.org

On-demand TCSA e-Learning Video Series: Earn up to 20 hours online! Charter School Board Members now have the fl exibility to log in and complete annual training requirements at any time from the comfort of their home or offi ce. The E-Learning Series is designed to provide TEA required training to charter school administrators and board members in a simple, effective on-line platform. Certifi cates are available for download at the completion of the training. Group rates available by request.tcsa.nuvola-networks.com

Earn Credit Hours Online Now:Facilities Leasing & Non-Traditional Financing 1-AFResults Focused Board 1-APUnderstanding the Creation of the New State Accountability System 1.25-AP2012 Federal Accountability Update 1AP2012 PBMAS Update 1-APHealth and Safety Overview 1-HSSchool Safety 1-HSIntroduction to Charter School Open Meetings 1-OMThe Business of Human Resources 1-PR Public Information Act/Public Records 1-PRThe ABC’s of the Charter: Understanding Charter School Audits and Reviews 1-SFCharter FIRST 1-SF Financial Duties 1-SFFIRST Solvency and MOE 1-SFPreparing for Facility Funding 1-SFAvoiding the Pitfalls of At Will Employment 1.25-SLDon’t Fight the Law – Essential Board Policies 1.25-SLFiduciary Duties & Immunities 2013 1-SLHigh Impact Governance 1-SL

Introduction to Charter School Law 1-SL

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHARTER BOARD MEMBERS:

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