Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath addresses the State Board of Education on Wednesday. Morath recommended the SBOE approve five new charter schools in the state.We’re testing using AI-powered tools to provide an audio version of this story. While this audio recording is machine-generated, the story was written by human journalists.Five new charter schools could be one step closer to opening in Texas if the State Board of Education greenlights them this week.
Representatives from each of the schools also gave presentations to the 15-member body. Some of the schools would focus on making STEM careers more accessible to students and equipping them with entrepreneurship skills while at least one other would place a heavy emphasis on literacy. Charter schools receive state funding based on average daily student attendance and do not receive money from local tax revenue like traditional public schools. They do not need to comply with as many state regulations as traditional school districts do, but the TEA says they are held to strict academic standards and expected to take an innovative approach to the classroom.
“There's just no reason to pump the brakes on creating those opportunities,” spokesperson Brian Whitley said of the five charter schools under consideration. “Demand for public charter schools has been growing over the years. Families recognize that a one-size-fits-all all system doesn't work. So it will benefit a lot of families, and it will benefit a lot of children to continue allowing new public charter schools to open.