Naked City

Will Eagle Fly Statewide?

The state's virtual charter school promoters are apparently determined to do another end run around the Legislature's repeated refusal to authorize their schemes for home-based online schools taught using software and computer equipment purchased with public-school funds. Turned away in several attempts during the 78th Legislature, the virtual vampires recruited the University of North Texas to submit a virtual charter program earlier this fall, but in the face of statewide and on-campus opposition, UNT administrators withdrew their bid to the Texas Education Agency.

Now Eagle Academies of Waco -- a charter running online schools in several cities, including Austin -- has applied for an "amendment" to its state charter for three schools (Beaumont, Waco, and McAllen/Pharr) to add 1,000 pupils and become effectively a "virtual school" for the entire state. Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott has until Dec. 24 to make a decision on the application, or it goes into effect automatically. On Monday as the Chronicle went to press, TEA spokesperson Debbie Graves Ratcliffe said that she expected Scott's decision to be issued the next day and that she understood the staff recommendation is to reject the application, primarily because the Eagle Academy schools "do not have a stellar record" on state accountability standards. According to an April 4 Chronicle report by Michael May, "Chartered Well ... and Badly," nine of Eagle's 23 charters have been rated "low-performing" for the past two years.

The Chronicle recently obtained a Sept. 10 memo from Eagle administrator Barbara Hinkle to Kirsten Christophersen in the charter division of the TEA, in which Hinkle wrote, "At the request of Robert Scott, Eagle Academies of Texas is preparing documentation to submit an amendment for a statewide Virtual Academy," and asked for advice about preparing the documentation. (At press time, Hinkle could not be reached for comment.)

Ratcliffe said that she was told Eagle Academy first contacted Scott about making the application, and simply was informed about how to proceed. "I don't think there was any 'Nudge, nudge, wink, wink' [from Scott] that Eagle should apply," Ratcliffe said. At least 80 school districts reportedly wrote to the agency opposing Eagle's application.

Got something to say on the subject? Send a letter to the editor.

  • More of the Story

  • Naked City

    Headlines and happenings from Austin and beyond

    Naked City

    The state attorney general tells the city what it already knew.

    Naked City

    Neighbors are pleasantly surprised with their Supercenter deal.
  • Naked City

    Can the state settle with the insurer without policyholders' consent?

    Naked City

    The feds give their blessing to the new map, though the courts may still object

    Naked City

    AG Greg Abbott -- of all people -- says Texas isn't liable under the federal law.

    Naked City

    Medical marijuana backers score another victory in the appellate courts.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

READ MORE
More Charter Schools
Charter School Loophole Vote Pushed Another Week
Charter School Loophole Vote Pushed Another Week
Seemingly settled issue of planning and land use for charter schools drags out

Richard Whittaker, June 24, 2016

Pulling From TEA Report, Ratliff Argues Public Schools Better Than Charters
Pulling From TEA Report, Ratliff Argues Public Schools Better Than Charters
Fed education leaders counter SBOE vice chair on charters

Richard Whittaker, July 24, 2015

More by Michael King
Point Austin: Trump’s Personal 2025 Project
Point Austin: Trump’s Personal 2025 Project
The Heritage Foundation supplies the blueprint

Oct. 1, 2024

Point Austin: Doug Greco’s Campaign Odyssey Turns to Federal Court
Point Austin: Doug Greco’s Campaign Odyssey Turns to Federal Court
Mayoral candidate sues for more outside cash in campaigns

Sept. 20, 2024

KEYWORDS FOR THIS STORY

Charter Schools, Eagle Academy, virtual charters, Texas Education Agency, Debbie Graves Ratcliffe, Robert Scott, Barbara Hinkle, Kirsten Christophersen

MORE IN THE ARCHIVES
One click gets you all the newsletters listed below

Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events

Keep up with happenings around town

Kevin Curtin's bimonthly cannabis musings

Austin's queerest news and events

Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle