News and Press

We were horrified and saddened to learn about the loss of 19 children and 2 teachers in Uvalde yesterday. During a week that was supposed to be filled with the anticipation of the end of a school year and a job well done instead, this school community was met with tragedy. We grieve with these families as they face a future without their loved ones and offer our condolences. 

Statement from Bibi Yasmin Katsev, Executive Director, Texas District Charter Alliance on dangerous Tik Tok challenges

Calling on Senate and House leaders to study the issue and help implement solutions to protect students and educators

January 6, 2022

“We have shared an on-going and growing student safety issue with leaders in the Texas Senate and House. Over the last several months, school districts and charter schools have been experiencing unusual social media threats that have become increasingly harmful to students, parents, teachers, and school property. TikTok, a social media video sharing network, has allowed the distribution of various “video challenges,” including dangerous ones that have resulted in vandalism, harassment, student walkouts, and threats of violence and school shootings.

“Threats and disruptive social media challenges like these have caused additional stress for students, staff, and parents; increased student absences; and have disrupted the important work of teaching and learning. This is all at a time when students can ill-afford to have any further disruptions to their learning. In addition, these threats have forced Police Departments across our state to devote resources to investigating these actions.

“DCA members believe this activity must end immediately. And for long term solutions, DCA encourages our leaders in both the Senate and the House to commit to studying this issue during the interim. We have requested the relevant committees to investigate and learn more about the harmful impact TikTok challenges have had on the academic and social-emotional learning environment in our public schools and what solutions we can implement. We believe schools should be safe environments for all students and action must be taken to address these harmful social media trends.”

As a collaborative organization of district and charter leaders, Texas District Charter Alliance members stand together ready and available to answer any questions or concerns. DCA represents 30 organizations; Academica, Aldine ISD, AUSL, Beaumont ISD, Brooks County ISD, Democracy Prep Charter School, El Paso ISD, El Paso Leadership Academy, Freer ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Great Hearts, Green Dot Public Schools, KIPP Texas, IDEA Public Schools, Learn4Life, FW Leadership Academy Network, Longview ISD, Midland ISD, Premont ISD, Relay Lab Schools, ResponsiveEd, Rural Schools Innovation Zone, San Antonio ISD, School Innovation Collaborative, Spring Branch ISD, Third Future Schools, Transformation Waco, Uplift Education, and YES Prep Public Schools.

Statement from Bibi Yasmin Katsev, Executive Director, Texas District Charter Alliance on financial improprieties at IDEA Public Schools

May 26, 2021

We need to be able to trust the officials charged with running our public schools and public institutions. Therefore, it pains us to read about the financial improprieties previously occurring at IDEA Public Schools. These issues were brought to light through the Board’s extensive auditing procedures. We support strong financial and academic accountability for school districts and charter schools, and believe these guard rails protect and provide a high-quality environment for students. We appreciate the focus of the Board on continued transparency and accountability and on what is best for students and teachers.

Statement from Bibi Yasmin Katsev, Executive Director, Texas District Charter Alliance on ADSY for Texas Partnership schools

Providing another path for educators to get students’ additional help

April 21, 2021

We were pleased to see the inclusion of funding for students attending Texas Partnerships schools in House Bill 1525. No matter the school type, students who need additional time for learning due to gaps or disruptions deserve to go to schools that are funded to offer these programs. Especially as students recover from COVID learning loss.

House Bill 3 (86R) added half-day formula funding for school systems that add instructional days to any of their elementary schools starting in the 2020-2021 school year. Funding for Additional Days School Year (ADSY) is available for those days beyond a minimum of 180, up to 210 total, specifically for grades pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. These elementary school-aged students are some of our most vulnerable, who need to be reading by third grade and progressing appropriately. ADSY provides an incentive to elementary campuses to get students the additional help they need. The ADSY initiative is also flexible and can be used to best support students with either additional summer learning, targeted remediation during the school year or a different design of the school year.

Members of the Texas District Charter Alliance are grateful to Representative Jay Dean (District 7-Longview) for listening to educators. His support of this specific flexibility for Partnership schools provides the ability to add instructional days to help students recover from learning loss.

The Texas District Charter Alliance (DCA) is composed of district and charter leaders who have come together to engage in advocacy to put students’ interests before all else and seek to improve all public schools.  We support transformative policies that allow for partnerships and collaboration between districts and charters to provide schools with opportunities for greater innovation and student achievement.

The Texas District Charter Alliance (DCA) represents 30 organizations; Academica, Aldine ISD, AUSL, Beaumont ISD, Brooks County ISD, Democracy Prep Charter School, El Paso ISD, El Paso Leadership Academy, Freer ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Great Hearts, Green Dot Public Schools, KIPP Texas, IDEA Public Schools, Learn4Life, FW Leadership Academy Network, Longview ISD, Midland ISD, Premont ISD, Relay Lab Schools, ResponsiveEd, Rural Schools Innovation Zone, San Antonio ISD, School Innovation Collaborative, Spring Branch ISD, Third Future Schools, Transformation Waco, Uplift Education, and YES Prep Public Schools.

“The members of the Texas District Charter Alliance serve vulnerable students from low-income backgrounds, from communities of color, and from underrepresented and historically underserved groups. With the interruption of in-person schooling and uneven remote learning during the spring, we know our students need even more support and more focus on their needs as they head back to school.”

“The Texas District Charter Alliance is calling on the Texas Congressional Delegation to take the next steps to support these students with additional education funds. Last year, we applauded the historic passage of HB 3, the new Texas school finance law. Therefore, we do not want to see state budgets that are already stretched due to COVID-19 to be unable to fund identified priorities in education next year. We ask that additional federal education funds are flexible to be able to support extended learning time in order to address learning loss. DCA also supports federal funding efforts to prioritize food security and increase equitable online learning capacity.”

The Texas District Charter Alliance (DCA) is composed of district and charter leaders who have come together to engage in advocacy to put students’ interests before all else and seek to improve all public schools.  We support transformative policies that allow for partnerships and collaboration between districts and charters to provide schools with opportunities for greater innovation and student achievement.

The Texas District Charter Alliance (DCA) represents 25 organizations; Aldine ISD, Beaumont ISD, Brooks County ISD, Democracy Prep Charter School, El Paso ISD, El Paso Leadership Academy, Freer ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Great Hearts, KIPP Texas Public Schools, IDEA Public Schools, Leadership Academy Network, Longview ISD, Midland ISD, Premont ISD, Relay Education, Responsive Education Solutions, Rural Schools Innovation Zone, San Antonio ISD, School Innovation Collaborative, Spring Branch ISD, Transformation Waco, Uplift Education, and YES Prep.

Letter to the Texas Congressional Delegation

To our DCA members and friends, we are saddened and angry about the killing of George Floyd and too many others, and about the systemic racism that persists in our state and in our country. We grieve with our Black members, friends and community and commit to learning more and speaking out about racial injustice. We stand united with you: black lives matter. DCA was started by educators coming together to collaborate and share what works in order to put students’ interests before all else. Our work is more important now than ever. We join together in this critical time to demand justice, and to seek change and the dismantling of systemic racism.

Statement from Bibi Yasmin Katsev, Executive Director, Texas District Charter Alliance on passage of the CARES Act – the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. (H.R. 748)

March 27, 2020

“Today, the Texas District Charter Alliance was pleased to see the U.S. House passage of H.R. 748, the CARES Act, joining with the U.S. Senate to help Americans struggling in the wake of COVID-19 and providing economic relief directly to Americans, to businesses, the education system and to our health care workers. It was rightly focused on immediate and urgent needs, and we are grateful for the first steps taken to support students and families with funding for several sectors of education during this difficult time.”

“I want to express a special thanks to our District Charter Alliance members for their quick efforts to transition to distance, online, at-home learning that is focused on the best interests of every student.”

The Texas District Charter Alliance (DCA) is composed of district and charter leaders who have come together to engage in advocacy to put students’ interests before all else and seek to improve all public schools.  We support transformative policies that allow for partnerships and collaboration between districts and charters to provide schools with opportunities for greater innovation and student achievement.

The Texas District Charter Alliance (DCA) represents 23 organizations; Aldine ISD, Brooks County ISD, Democracy Prep Charter School, El Paso ISD, El Paso Leadership Academy, Freer ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Great Hearts, KIPP Texas Public Schools, IDEA Public Schools, Leadership Academy Network, Longview ISD, Midland ISD, Premont ISD, Responsive Education Solutions, Rural Schools Innovation Zone, San Antonio ISD, School Innovation Collaborative, Spring Branch ISD, Transformation Waco, Uplift Education, and YES Prep.

March 27, 2020

“Today, the Texas District Charter Alliance was pleased to see the U.S. House passage of H.R. 748, the CARES Act, joining with the U.S. Senate to help Americans struggling in the wake of COVID-19 and providing economic relief directly to Americans, to businesses, the education system and to our health care workers. It was rightly focused on immediate and urgent needs, and we are grateful for the first steps taken to support students and families with funding for several sectors of education during this difficult time.”

“I want to express a special thanks to our District Charter Alliance members for their quick efforts to transition to distance, online, at-home learning that is focused on the best interests of every student.”

The Texas District Charter Alliance (DCA) is composed of district and charter leaders who have come together to engage in advocacy to put students’ interests before all else and seek to improve all public schools.  We support transformative policies that allow for partnerships and collaboration between districts and charters to provide schools with opportunities for greater innovation and student achievement.

The Texas District Charter Alliance (DCA) represents 23 organizations; Aldine ISD, Brooks County ISD, Democracy Prep Charter School, El Paso ISD, El Paso Leadership Academy, Freer ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Great Hearts, KIPP Texas Public Schools, IDEA Public Schools, Leadership Academy Network, Longview ISD, Midland ISD, Premont ISD, Responsive Education Solutions, Rural Schools Innovation Zone, San Antonio ISD, School Innovation Collaborative, Spring Branch ISD, Transformation Waco, Uplift Education, and YES Prep.

Partnering by Choice Discussion Lively and Informative at #TribFest19

by: Bibi Yasmin Katsev, Executive Director, District Charter Alliance

The tagline to the Texas Tribune Trib Fest session today was “when charter school operators and public school districts put aside their differences and join forces, students win.” We could not agree more. Moderator and journalist Bekah McNeel started off with the broad question, “why are districts and charters doing partnerships. It would be so much easier not to.”

The leaders on stage shared they came together for the benefit of kids and reaching students across the district and the region they serve. Midland Superintendent Riddick said, “When families can choose their path, students succeed.”

The panel’s discussion touched upon the complex work of two large organizations collaborating and negotiating the many aspects of partnerships. They talked about vulnerability, trust and being open and transparent along the way. They talked about accountability on both sides of the equation, equity and finding areas and students where the need is great.

The “why” question was particularly moving when the discussion turned to helping schools that have been struggling for multiple years. Midland’s superintendent stated, “The community has not given up on the school. [We have to] design a school for the students who did not have options, and to attack the work for this generation who are under attack.”

The panelists all agreed partnership work with turnarounds and innovations is not easy, and it is important to focus on creating sustainable changes that will remain to serve students well in the future. Collectively, the four school leaders shared, “It takes a courageous superintendent and board to do this work. It involves getting the right leader. It takes changing sometimes fixed mindsets in education. It takes cooperation and finding a team that works well together.”

Thank you to District Charter Alliance members Traci Davis from Grand Prairie ISD, Yasmin Bhatia from Uplift Education, Orlando Riddick from Midland ISD, and Bethany Solis from IDEA Public Schools for sharing their partnership stories, struggles and successes. On behalf of the members of the District Charter Alliance, we wish them all the best this school year as they work hard for the students they serve.

The Texas District Charter Alliance (DCA) represents 21 organizations; Aldine ISD, Democracy Prep Charter School, El Paso ISD, El Paso Leadership Academy, Fort Worth ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Great Hearts, KIPP Texas Public Schools, IDEA Public Schools, Leadership Academy Network, Longview ISD,  Lubbock ISD, Midland ISD, Responsive Education Solutions, Rural Schools Innovation Zone, San Antonio ISD, School Innovation Collaborative, Spring Branch ISD,  Transformation Waco, Uplift Education, and YES Prep.

May 24, 2019

“The District Charter Alliance celebrates the passage of House Bill 4205. This bill allows school districts to move forward with struggling campuses and find innovative models through partnerships to serve children well and keep students in the same campus location.”

The District Charter Alliance supports responsible and meaningful legislation that allows for district charter partnerships and provides students with opportunities for greater innovation and success.  

• Without the passage of HB 4205 in the 86th Legislative Session, current law would have compelled a school district to go with one of two options when a school is in danger of being closed due to poor performance. If a campus is forced to close its doors, it cannot reopen and serve the same grade levels it did previously. The only two options: close the school entirely or serve different grade levels - which further disrupts learning for struggling students.
• HB 4205 will now provide a third option: it will allow a school district to partner with a high performing non-profit with a track record of success for all student populations. In a similar manner to the guard rails put in place for partnerships within the 2017 law, SB 1882, districts are able to partner with an innovative, high-performing entity and non-profit for a school turn-around.
• With this additional tool for school boards and districts to use, HB 4205 accomplishes the intent of current law: to ensure children are not stuck at a troubled school. Students can stay in their local school with a new partner with a proven track record of success.