The purpose of Senate Bill 1882, enacted in 2017, is to encourage school districts to enter into partnerships with charter-school operators that will promote access to great schools for all students.
Districts are invited to submit an eligibility approval request under SB 1882 for partners granted an in-district charter to operate a campus. The TEA will review eligibility requests for approval of SB 1882 benefits. This review does NOT impact the district’s decision to award and campus charter and enter into a contract to partner to operate a campus.
Texas independent school districts may grant a campus charter to the following organizations. All proposed operating partners must meet the eligibility requirements and approval criteria established in the 1882 legislation and regulations.
Operating Partners
“Existing Operator” = governing body of a Texas open-enrollment charter school, as identified by TEC 11.174(a)(1), or university charter school in good standing (i.e., “Existing Operator”)
“New Operator” = an organization, as identified by TEC 11.174(a)(2), granted a charter by the district under Subchapter C, Chapter 12, that is eligible to be awarded a charter under Section 12.101(a). (i.e., “New Operator”). Eligible organizations may include:
- Institute of Higher Education
- Non-Profit Organization (operates charter schools in other states)
- Non-Profit Organization (does not operate charter schools)
- Governmental Entity
Types of Partnerships
Texas independent school districts may establish charter operating partnerships for the following types of schools:
“Turnaround Partnership” with a campus in Improvement Required (IR) status
“Innovation Partnership” with a campus not in Improvement Required (IR) status
“New School Partnership” to establish a new campus (with a unique school ID)
Campuses receiving eligibility approval for SB 1882 benefits may qualify for an exemption from specific interventions for two years (under TEC, §11.174(f)) and additional per-pupil funding to support the proposed school model (under TEC, §42.2511).
Guidance - SB 1882 Eligibility Approval Requests
- Path A - Turnaround Partnerships with a New Operator
- Path B -
- Path C -
- Path D -
Pathways to 1882 Agreements
Path A - Turnaround Partnerships with a New Operator
| Process for Seeking SB 1882 Eligibility Approval | Key Dates | Resources |
Phase 1: District Policy and Process
- Purpose: TEA evaluates policies and processes used by the district to authorize and monitor charter schools.
- District Requirements: Districts submit board-approved legal and local charter authorizing policy, and the application for school operating partners, including a description of the approval process. Districts that adopt the TEA recommended model policy and charter application are eligible for automatic Phase 1 approval. If not adopting TEA model resources, Districts should review alignment with the policy and application checklist criteria.
- TEA Review/Approval: TEA will review submitted policy and application and communicate approval decisions on a rolling basis (with 2 weeks of submission). TEA will provide corrective feedback on policies that do not meet minimum criteria.
| March 29, 2018* | - Model Charter Policy
- Model Charter Application
|
Phase 2: Determine Eligibiity for Benefits under SB 1882
- Purpose: TEA to evaluate the proposed district-charter partnerships seeking funding and accountability reset (for IR schools) under TX SB 1882).
- District Requirements: Districts are required to submit a signed performance contract with each charter school operating partner. Additionally, districts proposing a Turnaround partnership with a new operator must submit the relevant operator proposal(s).
- TEA Review/Approval:
TEA will evaluate performance contracts against the criteria included in the performance contract checklist. Districts will be required to identify any planned amendments to the contracts that will be finalized in the Implementation Review Phase (below). TEA will evaluate the education plan, the capacity of the founding team, and if applicable, the academic track record of partner organizations that operate schools outside of Texas.
| April 30, 2018 | - Model Performance Contract
- TEA Evaluation Rubric for partner applications
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Contract Amendment Submissions
- Purpose: TEA to verify that districts and charter operating partners have finalized implementation details of the district-charter partnerships, and amended performance contracts (as applicable).
- District Requirements: Districts submit amended performance contracts and supporting documentation, as applicable.
- TEA Review/Approval: TEA will evaluate amended performance contracts against checklist, and verify resolution of planned amendments identified in Phase 2.
| July 15, 2018 |
|
Eligibility Approval Request Guidance -- this file serves as the instructions and guidance for districts seeking SB 1882 eligibility partnership agreements
TEA will allow districts to request an extension for a later submission date. Requests for extensions must be submitted to TEA no later than Thursday, April 12 at 5pm.
Path B - Proposing an Innovation Partnership or New School with a New Operator
| Pathways Action Steps - Path B Proposing an Innovation Partnership or New School with a New Operator | Key Dates | Resources |
Phase 1: Approve District Policy and Process
- Purpose: TEA evaluates process and practices used t the district-level to authorize and monitor charter schools
- District Requirements: Districts submit board-approved legal and local charter authorizing policy, and the application for school operating partners, including a description of the approval process. Districts that adopt the TEA recommended model policy and charter application are eligible for automatic Phase 1 approval. If not adopting TEA model resources, Districts should review alignment with the policy and application checklist criteria.
- TEA Review/Approval: TEA will review submitted policy and application and communicate approval decisions on a rolling basis (with 2 weeks of submission). TEA will provide corrective feedback on policies that do not meet minimum criteria.
| March 29, 2018 | - Model Charter Policy
- Model Charter Application
|
Phase 2: Determine Eligibility for Benefits under SB 1882
Purpose: TEA to evaluate the proposed district-charter partnerships seeking funding and accountability reset (for IR schools) under TX SB 1882 District Requirements: Districts are required to submit a signed performance contract with each charter school operating partner. Additionally, districts proposing a Turnaround partnership with a new operator must submit the relevant operator proposal(s). TEA Review/Approval: TEA will evaluate performance contracts against the criteria included in the performance contract checklist. Districts will be required to identify any planned amendments to the contracts that will be finalized in the Implementation Review Phase (below). New operators proposing a Turnaround partnership only: TEA will evaluate the education plan, the capacity of the founding team, and if applicable, any relevant track record of operating schools (e.g. school performance data).
| July 15, 2018 | - Model Performance Contract
|
Contract Amendment Submission
- Purpose: TEA to verify that districts and charter operating partners have finalized implementation details of the district-charter partnerships, and amended performance contracts (as applicable).
- District Requirements:Districts submit amended performance contracts and supporting documentation, as applicable.
- TEA Review/Approval: TEA will evaluate amended performance contracts against checklist, and verify resolution of planned amendments identified in Phase 2.
| September 1, 2018 |
|
Path C: Purposing a Turnaround Partnership with an Existing Operator
| Pathway Action Steps - Path C: Purposing a Turnaround Partnership with an Existing Operator | Key Dates | Resources |
| Phase 1: Not Applicable | N/A | N/A |
Phase 2: Determine Eligibility for Benefits under SB 1882
- Purpose: TEA to evaluate the proposed district-charter partnerships seeking funding and accountability reset (for IR schools) under TX SB 1882.
- District Requirements: Districts are required to submit board approved charter policy and a signed performance contract with each charter school operating partner.
- TEA Review/Approval:
TEA will confirm that the district has a currently approved charter policy, however the policy will not be evaluated TEA will evaluate performance contracts against the criteria included in the performance contract checklist. Districts will be required to identify any planned amendments to the contracts that will be finalized in the Implementation Review Phase(below).
| April 30, 2018 | - Model Performance Contract
|
Contract Amendment Submissions
- Purpose: TEA to verify that districts and charter operating partners have finalized implementation details of the district-charter partnerships, and amended performance contracts (as applicable).
- District Requirements: Districts submit amended performance contracts and supporting documentation, as applicable.
- TEA Review/Approval: TEA will evaluate amended performance contracts against the checklist, and verify resolution of planned amendments identified in Phase 2.
| July 15, 2018 | |
Path D: Purposing an Innovation or New Partnership with an Existing Operator
| Pathways Action Steps - Path D Purposing an Innovation or New Partnership with an Existing Operator | Key Dates | Resources |
| Phase 1: Not Applicable | N/A | |
Phase 2: Determine Eligibility for Benefits under SB 1882
- Purpose: TEA to evaluate the proposed district-charter partnerships seeking funding and accountability reset (for IR schools) under TX SB 1882.
- District Requirements: Districts are required to submit board approved charter policy and a signed performance contract with each charter school operating partner.
- TEA Review/Approval:
- TEA will confirm that the district has a currently approved charter policy, however the policy will not be evaluated.
- TEA will evaluate performance contracts against the criteria included in the performance contract checklist. Districts will be required to identify any planned amendments to the contracts that will be finalized in the Implementation Review Phase (below).
| Rolling
Last Day to Submit: July 15, 2018 | - Model Performance Contract
|
Contract Amendment Submissions
- Purpose: TEA to verify that districts and charter operating partners have finalized implementation details of the district-charter partnerships, and amended performance contracts (as applicable).
- District Requirements:Districts submit amended performance contracts and supporting documentation, as applicable.
- TEA Review/Approval
- TEA will evaluate amended performance contracts against the checklist, and verify resolution of planned amendments identified in Phase 2.
|
Submission Checklist:
- Cover Letter
- Performance Contract/Charter
- Phase 2 - Partnership Plan Proposal
- Partnership Assurances
