the state’s separate system of privately · works with charters and philanthropic organizations...
TRANSCRIPT
1
An Overview:
The State’s Separate System of Privately
Operated Charter Schools in the
El Paso Area
August 2020
By: William J. Gumbert
2
It’s Your Schools, Students, Tax Dollars and Communities
With limited information being available to local parents, taxpayers and
stakeholders, this material is intended to provide an overview of the State’s
separate system of privately operated charter schools (“charters”) in the El
Paso Area.
3
State Charters: Introduction
▪ State Charters: Private organizations that are provided a State contract to
independently operate taxpayer funded schools by recruiting students from
local school districts.
▪ Approval Process: The Texas Legislature has empowered the Texas
Education Agency (“TEA”) to unilaterally approve the expansion of existing
charters in local communities. No input from parents, taxpayers or
stakeholders is required or requested.
▪ Governance: State charters are governed by a private Board of Directors
that is “appointed” by the charter. Board members are not required to
reside in the El Paso Area.
▪ Presence: There are currently 176 different State charters that are recruiting
students to enroll at the 750 charter campuses operating across Texas.
4
Who is Driving the “Charter School Movement”?
▪ The “Charter Movement” is not directed by parents, taxpayers or communities.
▪ Rather, the private “philanthropic” foundations listed below are the primary
drivers of the “Charter School Movement” that is designed to control and
privatize public education in Texas.
George W. Brackenridge Foundation
Kleinheinz
Family
Foundation
5
Political Influence:
Federal/State Education Policy and
Charter Funding
Charter Support Organizations
Charter Advocacy Organizations
Local Organizations to Recruit/Expand
Charters
Grants to Support Charter Expansion Private
Foundations
“Philanthropic”
Funding to Expand
“The Charter
Movement”
Charter Movement: A Multi-Dimensional Strategy Disguised as “Philanthropy”
6
Strategy: Spend Millions to Force the Public to Spend Billions to Support Charters
$ Millions of
Donationsto
Expand
State Charters
State
Charter
AnnuallyTransfers
Governanceand
Control of$ Billions
Philanthropic Investment Strategy to Control the Governance and Funding of Public Education
Private
Foundations:
“Philanthropic”
Investment
Strategy to
Control
Public
Education
7
Private Funding is Fueling Expansion
Private Donor
Commitment to
IDEA Expansion Region
Permian Strategic Partners/Scharbauer $ 55,000,000 Midland/Odessa
Charter School Growth Fund/ Walton & Gates $ 23,800,000 Rio Grande Valley
KLE Foundation $ 23,558,800 Austin
CREEED/Hunt Family Foundation & Other $ 17,000,000 El Paso
Laura and John Arnold Foundation $ 9,500,000 Houston
Sid W. Richardson Foundation $ 5,774,000 Tarrant County
Kleinheinz Family Foundation $ 5,774,000 Tarrant County
Walton Family Foundation $ 5,417,800 Tarrant County
Ewing Halsell Foundation $ 5,500,000 San Antonio
Choose to Succeed/Brackenridge Foundation $ 4,528,351 San Antonio
Source: IDEA Audited Financial Statements and 2019 Bond Documents.
8
Privately Funded Charter Advocacy Organizations
Promotes charters in local communities, provides parents
with resources on charters, and offers “fee based” student
recruiting services for charters.
Serves as the support organization for the charter school
movement in Texas and has the stated objective to expand
charters. Promotes charters with the media, elected officials and
parents. Trains leaders and parents to become charter advocates.
A Political Action Committee formed to provide political
contributions to members of the Texas Legislature to obtain
favorable charter legislation to support expansion.
Advances the charter school movement by influencing Federal
education policy and improving State charter policy and
advocacy.
Advocacy organization that uses its network and assets to
influence education policy and expand privately operarated
educational options in local communities.
9
Privately Funded Organizations to Influence Public Education
The Commit Partnership attempts to influence education
policy, practice and funding through strategic initiatives
in North Texas.
Recruits new charters to achieve the goal of having 80,000
San Antonio Area students enrolled in charters by 2026.
▪ Works with charters and philanthropic organizations
to expand the number of State charters in El Paso.
▪ Influences School District Board of Trustee Elections
Supports increasing school options in Fort Worth,
including the expansion of privately operated charters
and school district partnerships with charters.
Directs educational initiatives that include the
recruitment and funding of charter expansion in the
Permian Basin.
10
State Charters are Big Business – Without Better Results
Charter
State
Academic
Rating
Enrollment –
2019/20
Taxpayer
Funding –
2019/20
IDEA Public Schools 89 49,320 $ 497,901,367
Harmony Public Schools (7 Charters) 88-95 34,562 $ 348,900,567
KIPP - TEXAS 86 28,577 $ 283,341,215
Uplift Education 87 19,973 $ 203,538,985
International Leadership of Texas 85 19,210 $ 189,569,002
ResponsiveEd (2 Charters) 87-89 17,144 $ 166,569,642
YES Prep Public Schools 89 12,049 $ 124,949,038
Jubilee Academies 79 6,459 $ 64 500,751
Life School 81 5,540 $ 56,168,245
Texans Can Academies (Dropout Recovery) 63 5,134 $ 52,426,490
Total – 10 Largest Charter Operators -- 197,968 $ 1,987,865,302
▪ 10 Largest Charters Receive $2.0 Billion of Taxpayer Funding Per Year.
▪ But Average an 84 State Academic Rating - Below Most Local School Districts
Source: Txschools.gov., TEA Student Transfer Reports and State Funding Reports.
11
148,785
172,655
196,467
224,549243,695
269,361289,525
310,300328,911
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20
Ch
art
er
En
roll
men
t
Statewide, student enrollment in the State’s separate system of privately
operated charters has increased by 121% over the last 8 years.
Source: Texas Education Agency.
Historical Charter Enrollment: State of Texas
12
$1.17$1.33
$1.56$1.80
$2.03$2.26
$2.56
$2.85
$3.29
$0.00
$0.50
$1.00
$1.50
$2.00
$2.50
$3.00
$3.50
$4.00
2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20
Ch
art
er
Fu
nd
ing
(B
illi
on
s)
Since 2011/12, $18.8 billion of taxpayer funding has been diverted from locally
governed school districts to fund the State’s separate system of privately operated
charters.
Source: Texas Education Agency.
Taxpayer Funding for Charters: State of Texas
13
3,448
3,9524,216
4,5284,705
5,275 5,186
6,098
7,227
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20
Ch
art
er
En
roll
men
t
Harmony Expansion
Source: Texas Education Agency – Student Transfer Reports.
El Paso Area: Historical Charter Enrollment
In the El Paso Area, Charter Enrollment has Increased 110% Over Last 8 Years
IDEA Expansion
14
$25.7$29.6
$31.6$34.0 $35.4
$39.6 $38.9
$45.7
$54.2
$0.0
$10.0
$20.0
$30.0
$40.0
$50.0
$60.0
2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20
Fu
nd
ing
Im
pact
($ M
illi
on
s)
Over the last 9 years, State charters have reduced the funding of school
districts in the El Paso Area by $334.7 million!
Source: Texas Education Agency – Student Transfer Reports and Funding Estimates.
El Paso Area: Estimated Financial Impact of Charters
Largest Increase
2nd Largest Increase
15
State Charters in El Paso Area: 9 Charters and 21 Schools
Charter Enrollment
Estimated
Annual Impact
Harmony Science Academy – El Paso 2,737 $ 20,527,500
IDEA Public Schools 1,949 $ 14,617,500
Burnham Wood Charter District 1,071 $ 8,032,500
El Paso Academy 335 $ 2,512.500
Vista Del Futuro Charter School 284 $ 2,130,000
ResponsiveEd – Premier High Schools 250 $ 1,875,000
El Paso Leadership Academy 214 $ 1,605,000
La Fe Preparatory School 200 $ 1,500,000
Triumph Public High Schools – El Paso 187 $ 1,402,500
Total 7,227 $ 54,202,500
Source: Texas Education Agency – Student Transfer Reports and Funding Estimates.
Recruited
By
CREEED
16
El Paso Area: Estimated Financial Impact – 2019/20
School District
Charter
TransfersEstimated
Annual Impact
El Paso ISD 2,836 $ 21,270,000
Socorro ISD 2,281 $ 17,107,500
Ysleta ISD 1,345 $ 10,087,500
Clint ISD 401 $ 3,007,500
Canutillo ISD 294 $ 2,205,000
San Elizario ISD 52 $ 390,000
Anthony ISD 18 $ 135,000
Fabens ISD -- --
Source: Texas Education Agency – Student Transfer Reports and Funding Estimates.
17
Comparison of Academic Achievement
Source: Texas Education Agency – Student Transfer Reports and Funding Estimates.
18
State: School Districts Produce Better Student Outcomes
Texas School Districts
"A-B" Rated86.2%
"C" Rated11.2%
"D-F" Rated2.6%
State Charters
"A-B" Rated58.6%
"C" Rated23.7%
"D-F" Rated17.7%
▪ 86.2% of School Districts are Rated “A-B”
▪ 41.4% of Charters are Rated “C” or Below
Source: Txschools.gov
19
El Paso Area: State Academic Ratings
School District
State
Academic
Rating
El Paso ISD 88
Socorro ISD 90
Ysleta ISD 89
Clint ISD 88
Canutillo ISD 91
San Elizario ISD 89
Anthony ISD 88
Fabens ISD 88
Source: Txschools.gov.
▪ Every El Paso Area school district
has an above average State
Academic Rating of 88 or higher.
▪ Every El Paso Area school district
has a State Academic Rating that
is equal to or higher than 783
other school districts and State
charters in Texas!
20
El Paso Area: School District Campus Academic Ratings
El Paso Area: School District Campuses
"A-B" Rated80.7%
"C" Rated14.5%
"D-F" Rated4.8%
El Paso School Districts: 228 Rated Campuses
"A-B" Rated
184
"C" Rated
33
"D-F" Rated
11
There are 228 school district campuses that are rated in the El Paso Area. 80.7%
or 184 of these campuses are rated “A” or “B”.
Source: Txschools.gov., TEA – TAPR Reports.
21
Parents Choose Charters Based upon “Perception”
Private businesses market their
products to appeal to parents.
Cocoa Krispies is advertised
with the “PERCEPTION” that
it will make your child
“healthier”!
State charters recruit families in local communities by also marketing a
“perception” to prospective families:
22
The Challenge
Pepsi Won the “Taste Test” Coke is the “Number 1 Soft Drink”
Better Product Is Not Always the Consumer’s Choice
23
School Choice Challenge: Per Student Expenditures
Description A B C D E
Instruction $ 5,717 $ 5,328 $ 5,993 $ 4,701 $ 5,583
Career & Technical Training$ 330 $ 408 $ 321 $ 13 $ 158
Guidance and Counseling,
Health Services & Social Work$ 643 $ 465 $ 575 $ 475 $ 100
Extracurricular Activities$ 239 $ 244 $ 254 $ 118 $ 153
Students with Disabilities$ 1,292 $ 1,185 $ 1,644 $ 906 $544
General Administration/
School Leadership$ 903 $ 776 $ 930 $ 1,925 $ 1,642
Source: Texas Education Agency – TAPR Reports
24
School Choice Challenge: Revealed
Description A B C D E
Instruction $ 5,717 $ 5,328 $ 5,993 $ 4,701 $ 5,583
Career & Technical Training$ 330 $ 408 $ 321 $ 13 $ 158
Guidance and Counseling,
Health Services & Social Work$ 643 $ 465 $ 575 $ 475 $ 100
Extracurricular Activities$ 239 $ 244 $ 254 $ 118 $ 153
Students with Disabilities$ 1,292 $ 1,185 $ 1,644 $ 906 $544
General Administration/
School Leadership$ 903 $ 776 $ 930 $ 1,925 $ 1,642
Source: Texas Education Agency – TAPR Reports
25
School Choice Challenge: Teachers and Class Size
Description A B C D E
Avg. Teacher Experience 13.3 Years 11.0 Years 12.5 Years 5.1 Years 5.2 Years
Non-Certified Teachers 0.0% 3.6% 0.04% 57.2% 28.1%
Teacher Turnover Rate 10.9% 9.2% 8.0% 25.1% 17.2%
Students Per Teacher 14.7 16.6 14.9 22.0 14.3
Class Size: Grade 3
16.2
Students
20.2
Students
18.4
Students
28.9
Students
26.2
Students
Source: Texas Education Agency – 2018/19 TAPR Reports
26
School Choice Challenge: Revealed
Description A B C D E
Avg. Teacher Experience 13.3 Years 11.0 Years 12.5 Years 5.1 Years 5.2 Years
Non-Certified Teachers 0.0% 3.6% 0.04% 57.2% 28.1%
Teacher Turnover Rate 10.9% 9.2% 8.0% 25.1% 17.2%
Students Per Teacher 14.7 16.6 14.9 22.0 14.3
Class Size: Grade 3
16.2
Students
20.2
Students
18.4
Students
28.9
Students
26.2
Students
Source: Texas Education Agency – 2018/19 TAPR Reports
27
Student Demographics
Description A B C
IDEA:
El Paso
Campuses
Harmony:
El Paso
Campuses
“At Risk” Students 59.1% 49.3% 53.5% 43.2% 41.0%
Students with Disabilities 11.0% 10.3% 12.6% 7.5% 10.0%
Disciplinary Students 1,336 504 503 ZERO ZERO
Student Mobility 17.3% 14.2% 13.4% N/A 8.5%
Source: Texas Education Agency – 2018/19 TAPR Reports
Although taxpayer funded, State charters enroll a lower percentage of At Risk,
Disciplinary and Mobile students, and fewer Students with Disabilities than
school districts in the El Paso Area.
28
Student Demographics: Low Rated Campuses
Description
EPISD:
Schuster
Elementary
EPISD:
H.R. Moye
Elementary
EPISD:
Alta Vista
Elementary
IDEA:
El Paso
Campuses
Harmony:
El Paso
Campuses
“At Risk” Students 70.5% 77.4% 81.6% 43.2% 41.0%
Students with Disabilities 14.3% 21.9% 9.7% 7.5% 10.0%
Student Mobility 19.0% 23.4% 18.1% N/A 8.5%
Source: Texas Education Agency – 2018/19 TAPR Reports
▪ Of 92 campuses, EPISD has 3 campuses labeled as “low performing” by the State.
Each campus enrolls a significantly higher percentage of At Risk, Mobile, and
Disabled students than State charters.
▪ Students at these schools are NOT recruited by State charters.
29
A Self-Manufactured College Acceptance Rate
Student Handbooks of IDEA and Harmony:
“Students must be accepted to college in order to graduate”
30
College Enrollment and Degrees Earned
Description A B C
Graduates 4,163 2,774 3,036 200 22
Enrolled in College 60.9% 66.4% 63.9% 79.0% 81.8%
Enrolled in College 2,535 1,842 1,940 158 18
Earned 2 or 4-Year Degree 1,194 862 922 77 N/A
Enrolled/Earned Degree 47.1% 46.8% 47.5% 48.7% N/A
Source: Tpeir – Texas Education Reports.
▪ State charters have limited high school graduates; and
▪ Despite serving the unique needs of all students, El Paso Area school
districts have a comparable percentage of students that earn a 2 or 4-year
college degree (does not include professional certifications).
Comparison: College Enrollment and Degrees Earned - Class of 2011/12
31
El Paso Area: State Charter Expansion
32
El Paso Area: State Charter Expansions
Charter Campus Opening
Grades
Served
Estimated
Enrollment
El Paso Leadership Academy 2020 9-12 300
El Paso Leadership Academy 2021 6-8 240
ResponsiveEd – Classical Academy of El Paso 2020 PK-12 1,200
Harmony School of Endeavor – El Paso 2021 PK-12 1,200
IDEA Horizon Vista Academy 2020 PK-5 625
IDEA Horizon Vista College Preparatory 2020 6-12 575
IDEA El Paso Academy - 5 2021 PK-5 625
IDEA El Paso College Preparatory - 5 2021 6-12 575
IDEA El Paso Academy - 6 2021 PK-5 625
IDEA El Paso College Preparatory - 6 2021 6-12 575
Total - New Campuses -- -- 6,540
IDEA Grade Additions – Existing Campuses -- -- 1,880
Total Projected Charter Enrollment Growth -- -- 8,420
Source: Texas Education Agency – Student Transfer Reports and Funding Estimates.
33
7,2278,227
10,407
11,892
13,292
14,45215,222 15,477 15,647
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28
Stu
den
t E
nro
llm
en
t
Source: TEA Charter Amendments and Enrollment Estimates.
El Paso Area: Projected Charter Enrollment
With the existing expansions that are known, charter enrollment in the El Paso
Area is projected to more than double in the next 8 years.
34
$54.2$61.7
$78.1
$89.2
$99.7
$108.4$114.2 $116.1 $117.4
$0.0
$20.0
$40.0
$60.0
$80.0
$100.0
$120.0
$140.0
2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28
Fin
an
cia
l Im
pact
(Mil
lio
ns)
Source: TEA Charter Amendments and Enrollment Estimates.
El Paso Area: Projected Charter Enrollment
Based upon the existing expansions that are known, State charters will reduce
the funding of El Paso Area school districts by $785 million over the next 8 years.
35
State Charters: Annual Funding Impact in El Paso Area
Source: Txschools.gov., TEA Student Transfer Reports and Funding Estimates.
Over $300 Million Per Year
El Paso Area
School Districts
Since State charters recruit existing students from
El Paso Area school districts, $52.4 million of
taxpayer funding is annually diverted from school
districts to the private organizations within the
State’s separate system of charters.
State Charters
State
Charter
$54.2 Million Per Year
36
Example: Financial Impact of State Charters
Source: Texas Education Agency – PEIMS Financial Reports
▪ 20 students transfer from all 282 school district campuses in the El Paso Area.
▪ Equals 5,640 students and a reduction of $42.3 million of funding per year.
▪ But school districts can only marginally reduce staffing and operating costs.
▪ RESULT: Lower Resources to Provide Educational Programs to Benefit
Students in El Paso Area School Districts.
School District
Annual
FundingSchool District:
Operating
Costs
Per
Student
Instructional
Programs
For
Current
Students
37
Example: Financial Impact of State Charters
Description 2011/12 2018/19
Student Enrollment 63,794 57,178
Student Instruction and Instructional Resources 61.6% 58.2%
Guidance and Counseling Services 3.9% 4.4%
Extracurricular 2.0% 2.4%
Health Services & Social Work 1.4% 2.0%
Curriculum/Instructional & School Leadership 10.7% 12.0%
General Administration/School Leadership 1.7% 2.4%
Facility Maintenance & Operations 9.5% 9.0%
Source: Texas Education Agency – PEIMS Financial Reports
Closed Campuses
3.4% = $20 Million
38
Report Card
School
Districts School AttributeState
Charters
Higher Percentage of “A/B” Rated Campuses and
Lower Percentage of “D/F” Rated Campuses
More Experienced and Certified Teachers
Lower Teacher Turnover/Retention of Quality Teachers
Less Students Per Teacher
Higher Per Student Expenditures for “Instruction”
Higher Per Student Expenditures for “Student Services”
More Resources Devoted to “Health/Community Services”
Lower “Administrative/Leadership” Costs
Enrolls and Serves All Students that Register
Resources to Manage Public Perception/Reputation
Source: Texas Education Agency – TAPR Reports and PEIMS Financial Reports.
39
Conclusion and Disclosures
Disclosures: This material was prepared by William J. Gumbert, a voluntary advocate of public education. The
material was assembled to educate parents, taxpayers and stakeholders in El Paso on the State’s separate
system of taxpayer funded, privately operated charter schools. No direct or indirect compensation has been
provided to the author for the preparation of this material.
The contents herein are based upon information provided by the Texas Education Agency, Txschools.gov, and
other publicly available information. Sources for the content are identified herein. While the author believes
these sources to be reliable, the author has not independently verified the information. The material also
contains estimates that are based upon the professional experience of the author.
For purposes of this material, the State charters reviewed consisted of all charters within a 20-mile radius of El
Paso. El Paso Area school districts is defined as: El Paso, Socorro, Ysleta, Clint, Canutillo, San Elizario,
Anthony, and Fabens ISD. The opinions expressed herein are solely the opinions of the author. All readers are
encouraged to complete their own review of the “Charter School Movement” and make their own
independent conclusions.