С»ÆѼµ¼º½, TX— In an effort to better provide high-quality instruction and academic opportunities for all С»ÆѼµ¼º½-area students, С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Independent С»ÆѼµ¼º½ District and local charter school leaders have come together to form the С»ÆѼµ¼º½ District-Charter Collaboration Compact. С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Compact partners are committed to providing students – especially those with the highest needs – the best possible schools, whether they are run by the district or charter operators. At an event today at KIPP С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Public С»ÆѼµ¼º½s, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation congratulated the partnership and welcomed С»ÆѼµ¼º½ as the newest member of the District-Charter Collaboration Compact cities.
The Gates Foundation awarded $100,000 to the С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Compact to support its work. This project is part of an overall initiative of the Gates Foundation to support communities where district and charter leaders agree to collaborate in a meaningful way to increase college and career readiness for all students. С»ÆѼµ¼º½ has the opportunity to compete for significant additional funding for ongoing collaboration and improved student achievement.
The С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Compact is comprised of the following district and charter operators: The С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Independent С»ÆѼµ¼º½ District, Eden Park Academy , Harmony Public С»ÆѼµ¼º½s, IDEA Public С»ÆѼµ¼º½s, KIPP С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Public С»ÆѼµ¼º½s, NYOS Charter С»ÆѼµ¼º½, Responsive Education Solutions, and UT Elementary С»ÆѼµ¼º½. Additionally, education nonprofits Educate Texas and the Texas Charter С»ÆѼµ¼º½s Association are members.
"Today С»ÆѼµ¼º½ joins a special group of cities," said Vicki L. Phillips, director of Education, College Ready, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "District and charter leaders in С»ÆѼµ¼º½ have signed this historic compact as an outward symbol that they are ready and willing to make an unprecedented, public commitment to work together for the benefit of all students in their city. The Gates Foundation is proud to support this community where education leaders want to learn from each other and build upon successful practices, whether those practices are found in district-run or charter-run schools."
С»ÆѼµ¼º½ joins 15 other cities - Baltimore, Boston, Central Falls, Chicago, Denver, Hartford, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Rochester, Sacramento and Spring Branch - who have signed compacts.
The objectives of the С»ÆѼµ¼º½ District-Charter Compact include: improving student achievement through teaching and learning, enhancing human capital, maximizing resources, and creating opportunities for collaborative leadership and problem-solving. "A formal collaborative creates the opportunity to provide higher quality educational programming and services for all С»ÆѼµ¼º½ students in the public education system," stated С»ÆѼµ¼º½ ISD Superintendent, Meria Carstarphen.
The compact partners have been working to create a shared vision for uniting around how we can provide a world-class education for all students and improve student achievement.
"All of us agree that all students can achieve and deserve the highest quality public schools," said KIPP С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Chief Academic Officer Steven Epstein. "That is what our compact is all about."
"It is great to see charter leaders and the С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Independent С»ÆѼµ¼º½ District working together on common challenges and opportunities facing students in Central Texas," said John Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of Educate Texas (formerly the Texas High С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Project). "Innovative partnerships focused on creating learning environments that produce quality teaching and personalized learning for all students, regardless of governance structure, are key to С»ÆѼµ¼º½'s long-term success."
to see photos from the press announcement.
For more information, please contact С»ÆѼµ¼º½ ISD's Department of Public Relations and Multicultural Outreach at 512-414-2414, or KIPP С»ÆѼµ¼º½'s Director of External Affairs Evelyn Nazro at 512-638-2552 or enazro@kippaustin.org
С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Independent С»ÆѼµ¼º½ District
AISD is a diverse, urban district that is making great progress in student academic achievement. AISD is the fifth largest school district in Texas, and serves approximately 86,000 students at 124 schools.
Eden Park Academy
Eden Park Academy has been an Exemplary-rated, open-enrollment charter school, for the past four consecutive years. This fall, Eden Park Academy will expand its educational program to include a pre-k and high school program, increasing enrollment from 250 to 700 students. By 2019, Eden Park will serve 2,500 students on four campuses in southeast С»ÆѼµ¼º½.
Harmony Public С»ÆѼµ¼º½s
Harmony Public С»ÆѼµ¼º½s are high performing K-12 college preparatory charter schools that focus on math, science, engineering and computer technologies.
IDEA Public С»ÆѼµ¼º½s
IDEA Public С»ÆѼµ¼º½s is focused on the singular goal of "College for All Children." With an emphasis on "No Excuses," IDEA prepares students from underserved communities for college and citizenship. For the past five years, 100% of IDEA students have enrolled in a four-year college or university.
KIPP С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Public С»ÆѼµ¼º½s
KIPP С»ÆѼµ¼º½ Public С»ÆѼµ¼º½s is part of the national "Knowledge Is Power Program" network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools with a track record of preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. KIPP С»ÆѼµ¼º½ serves 1,500 students across five schools in East С»ÆѼµ¼º½.
NYOS Charter С»ÆѼµ¼º½
NYOS, Not Your Ordinary С»ÆѼµ¼º½, was founded in 1998 by a group of parents who wanted better for their children. A better academic program. A better learning environment. Better instructional tools. Meaningful relationships. We strive toward these ideals every day.
Responsive Education Solutions
Responsive Education Solutions is combating the enormous social and economic problem of increasing student dropout rates with its Premier High С»ÆѼµ¼º½s. Premier High С»ÆѼµ¼º½s operates 2 of its 27 campuses in С»ÆѼµ¼º½, serving over 470 high school students in Premier High С»ÆѼµ¼º½s of С»ÆѼµ¼º½.
UT Elementary С»ÆѼµ¼º½
The University of Texas Elementary С»ÆѼµ¼º½'s mission to develop students into lifelong learners through rigorous, research-based curricula, individualized instruction, high expectations, and a nurturing environment; provide opportunities for professional development for the University's academic units; and to serve as an exemplary educational model for diverse learners.
Educate Texas
A leading catalyst for progress, Educate Texas, a public-private initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, is an innovative alliance of public and private groups that share a common goal: improving the public education system so that every Texas student is prepared for success in school, in the workforce, and in life.
Texas Charter С»ÆѼµ¼º½s Association
The Texas Charter С»ÆѼµ¼º½s Association is the statewide Association representing approximately 390 charter schools and educating more than 100,000 students in every part of our great state. In total, an estimated 135,000 Texas students attend open-enrollment charter schools with an additional 56,000 students currently on waiting lists.