Stories from the Field

My wife and I opened one of the first contract schools authorized by the Texas legislature in 1995.  It was a store-front one-room school housed in an abandoned Mexican restaurant with two bullet holes in the front window.  We advertised in a local newspaper to inform drop outs and under-performing at-risk teenagers that they had a choice of schools in Dublin, Texas (a rural community).  We opened with six students and quickly expanded to our capacity of 24 students with as many as 35 on the waiting list.  In year two, Paradigm Alternative Center was recognized in U.S.A.

TCSA Unites and Energizes Public Charter School Leaders

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Charter School Association (TCSA) marks its one-year anniversary this week. TCSA is the leading membership organization of effective Texas charter schools of all types and missions. Already, the TCSA membership includes 344 campuses and over 60,000 public charter students from every part of the state. TCSA Executive Director David Dunn said, “Charter schools have joined together as one strong voice through the TCSA. It seems like yesterday when a handful of charter leaders gathered around a table in Austin to discuss the launch of TCSA. While there is still work to do, we’ve accomplished a great deal in one year.”

FORT WORTH — Harmony Science Academy sits on the corner of Walton Avenue and Westcreek Drive in a former supermarket that now looks like a gated office building. Enrollment is 560 in the public charter school, which offers grades K-10.

Across the street is bustling Westcreek Elementary School, a traditional Fort Worth school district campus with 742 students. Its presence doesn’t seem to deter Harmony’s growth, or its mission to provide an alternative public education choice.

Education Week
Published: 02-25-09
By Erik W. Robelen

A Texas charter school network aims to expand the ranks of disadvantaged students who graduate, not just from high school, but from college as well.

Houston, TX- Tenth graders Angel Leon, Imelda Tinajero, and Monica Torres have much the same plans when they finish high school: Unlike their parents, they’re going to college.

The Richland Collegiate High School of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering (RCHS) at Richland College was honored in September 2008 with the “Tech Titan of the Future” Award.  The school was honored at the Richardson Chamber of Commerce’s Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC) annual Gala. The award recognizes higher education institutions that foster and support students to choose careers in engineering and tech-related fields.

“I just hope we find a university that will accept your credits,” was my thought when members of the first graduating class of the Richland Collegiate High School of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering approached me, their Deputy Superintendent, with the challenge: “If we get a million dollars in scholarship offers, can we shave your head?” This happened in March 2007 as RCHS students were completing their first year of classes.

I had no choice but to respond with a hearty “Sure!”