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Tennessee Association of Charter School Authorizers

February 19, 2016 - Minutes

525 Brick Church Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37207

Present (including on phone):

Alan Coverstone, Belmont University Carol Swann, Metro Nashville Public Schools Chantavia Burton, Achievement School District Rich Haglund, Achievement School District Marcy Tidwell, TDOE

Maya Bugg, TN Charter School Center Elizabeth Taylor, State Board of Ed. Tess Stovall, State Board of Ed Leigh Cummins, State Board of Ed. Tara Bergfeld, TN Comptroller Stephanie Mason, Robertson Co. Schools

MINUTES

1. Authorizer updates (Letters of Intent) (Authorizers) See the list compiled by Marcy Tidwell at TDOE (attached). Highlights:

- Trend toward CS HSs, rather than elementary - Robertson, Claiborne, Cleveland City, Jackson/Madison, Knox, Lauderdale - each got one

What do you do between receiving LOIs and applications? (Carol)

- Read all and start building review teams - Schedule review timeline, including training for reviewers

How could we be helpful to Robertson or other new(er) Authorizers?

- Tess and Marcy have communicated with all those Authorizers to let them know have onsite or conference call training on review process.

- Helpful to hear what other Authorizers doing.

2. Dues collection (Rich/Alan) We agreed on the dues schedule at annual meeting in November

a. Membership categories i. Authorizer (Active/Potential) ii. Affiliated Organization iii. Friends of TACSA

b. Active Authorizers i. Office $250 ii. Individual $150

c. Potential Authorizers (no schools open) i. Office $100 ii. Individual $50

d. Affiliated Organizations i. Organization $100 ii. Individual $50

e. Friends of TACSA - $0 f. Non-member conference $10

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We have been working to get TACSA identified as official vendor for MNPS. So, have first dues contribution for MNPS as an authorizer.

Will take that to the bank to enable us to create website license

Will then communicate about dues with invoice to chartering authorities

Become vendors with those organizations

3. Department Update (Marcy/Rich/Carol) - Policy and Legislature - Annual report revision possibilities Hunter (TCSC) working with EdTec on new budget form Scaled back last year, but now recreated entirely. May pilot with some MNPS applicants before using uniformly next year.

Considering adding rubric to renewal application Also reviewing the interim review guidance MNPS has a renewal rubric that could be used. Constantly verifying that information in TDOE School Directory is current. Susan Liverman is helping Marcy verify that, and may contact you. TDOE expects another CSP application cycle from USDOE that TN could apply for.

- Will reach out to Authorizers for specific things to include. - Alan happy to help. - Look at annual reports to link to interim reports and renewal applications.

No authorizer fee bill for LEAs yet - seems dormant this session. This year an opportunity still for schools and Authorizers to develop proposal. Concern that $500 application fee too low to discourage repeat poor quality applications. Bill proposing to limit replication unless operator's TN growth scores average 4 or 5. As an organization, will want to use opportunities to educate policymakers about quality authorizing. Comptroller has been asked to look into funding discrepancy in SCS to its charters (using incorrect ADM figure; short $50/pupil). Will be reaching out to all authorizing districts. Ask Tara if also looking at ASD. Authorizer survey still to be distributed

The comptroller will be reporting on charter facilities to Senate, has already reported to House committees. The next meeting will be May 20 at 2 p.m. 866.805.1416,8687023071#

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