ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ, TX— In an effort to better provide high-quality instruction and academic opportunities for all ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ-area students, ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ Independent ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ District and local charter school leaders have come together to form the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ District-Charter Collaboration Compact. ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ 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 ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ Public ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation congratulated the partnership and welcomed ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ as the newest member of the District-Charter Collaboration Compact cities.
The Gates Foundation awarded $100,000 to the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ 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. ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ has the opportunity to compete for significant additional funding for ongoing collaboration and improved student achievement.
The ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ Compact is comprised of the following district and charter operators: The ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ Independent ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ District, Eden Park Academy , Harmony Public ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs, IDEA Public ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs, KIPP ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ Public ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs, NYOS Charter ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ, Responsive Education Solutions, and UT Elementary ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ. Additionally, education nonprofits Educate Texas and the Texas Charter ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs Association are members.
"Today ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ joins a special group of cities," said Vicki L. Phillips, director of Education, College Ready, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "District and charter leaders in ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ 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."
ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ 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 ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ 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 ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ students in the public education system," stated ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ 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 ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ Chief Academic Officer Steven Epstein. "That is what our compact is all about."
"It is great to see charter leaders and the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ Independent ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ 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 ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ 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 ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ's long-term success."
to see photos from the press announcement.
For more information, please contact ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ ISD's Department of Public Relations and Multicultural Outreach at 512-414-2414, or KIPP ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ's Director of External Affairs Evelyn Nazro at 512-638-2552 or enazro@kippaustin.org
ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ Independent ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ 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 ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ.
Harmony Public ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs
Harmony Public ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs are high performing K-12 college preparatory charter schools that focus on math, science, engineering and computer technologies.
IDEA Public ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs
IDEA Public ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs 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 ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ Public ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs
KIPP ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ Public ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs 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 ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ serves 1,500 students across five schools in East ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ.
NYOS Charter ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ
NYOS, Not Your Ordinary ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ, 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 ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs. Premier High ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs operates 2 of its 27 campuses in ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ, serving over 470 high school students in Premier High ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs of ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ.
UT Elementary ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ
The University of Texas Elementary ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ'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 ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs Association
The Texas Charter ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵs 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.