The Texas Legislature signed SB 1882 into law in 2017. This bill incentivizes districts to create district-charter partnerships to improve student outcomes by offering two benefits: partnerships may receive additional state funding for the partnership school, and schools that received an overall F rating under state accountability are eligible to receive a two-year exemption from specific accountability interventions. 

No, districts may also pursue benefits for Innovation schools. Innovation Schools include existing district schools that received an acceptable overall A, B, C, or D rating the year prior to becoming a partnership school and newly launched schools with a new county district campus number. 

Any district that authorizes an eligible partner to run a school may be eligible for Partnership School benefits.

To be eligible for benefits, partner organizations must be non-profits (including state-authorized charter schools), institutions of higher education, or government entities.

To meet the state’s definition for “good standing,” the partner must have at least three years of experience operating a Texas charter school and must have received acceptable academic and financial accountability ratings for the three preceding school years. In addition, the partner may not be associated with a charter that has been revoked.

The partner has responsibility for personnel, as well as authority over decisions related to curriculum, calendar, and assessments. The district holds the partner accountable through a performance contract outlining academic goals for the school, as well as the division of roles and responsibilities.

To be eligible for the exemption, the partnership school must have received an “Improvement Required” rating in the year prior to entering the partnership.

For schools with a first, second, or third consecutive unacceptable rating, the accountability intervention exemption begins the academic year after the school seeks approval for partnership benefits. For schools with four or more consecutive unacceptable ratings, the exemption begins in the school year the district applies for benefits. The exemption lasts for two years.

Districts are only exempt from interventions outlined under TEC 39A.101 and TEC 39A.111 (formerly TEC 39.107(a) and (e)) related to the performance of an approved partnership school. Specifically, the agency may not impose that the campus prepare and submit a turnaround plan, as outlined in TEC §39A.101, appoint a board of managers, as outlined in TEC §39A.111(1), and/or close the campus, as outlined in TEC §39A.111(2).

Approved partnership schools may receive additional state funding for each student on an annual basis for the duration of the partnership. This funding is available to schools that receive less per-pupil state funding than they would receive if they were a state-authorized charter school.

Pre-K partnership early childhood centers will manage their own application processes. Families will apply directly with the centers. Additional information regarding partnership sites will be posted in the coming weeks.

Yes. Per statute, the district must authorize partnership schools as a campus or in-district charter.

Yes. Districts should reference their local board policy for information regarding the local process.

Possibly. Districts pursuing a partnership must use the TEA’s model resources or similar resources for their Local Partnership Authorizing Policy, Local Campus Partner Application, and Local Campus Partner Evaluation Form.

Yes. Districts and partners are required to create a service-level agreement outlining services the district will provide to the partnership school, which can include transportation and other support services.

Yes. Partner boards may not include any members of the independent school district’s Board of Trustees, the Superintendent, or staff responsible for evaluating the Local Campus Partnership Application or overseeing the Partnership Performance Contract. Partner board members must attend a TEA-approved board training within a year of the approval of benefits.

Yes. District staff may not comprise a majority of any board with which the district approves a Partnership Performance Contract.

Yes. Districts may not appoint a majority of the members of the governing board of the partner organization.

Yes. Local policy determines conflicts of interest. However, districts must provide an assurance that no member of the governing body of the partner will be related within the first degree of affinity or consanguinity with any members of the independent school district’s Board of Trustees, the Superintendent, or staff responsible for granting the charter or contract to partner to operate or overseeing the performance contract.

Yes. Please reference the Partnership Performance Contract Evaluation Form for specific criteria regarding provisions.

To be eligible for Partnership School benefits, performance contracts must have a minimum term of three years with a maximum term of ten years. The district and the operating partner negotiate the length of the agreement.

Districts must hold a public hearing to either extend or terminate the agreement.

Yes. See the Partnership Performance Contract Evaluation Form for contract requirements.

Yes. See the Partnership Performance Contract Evaluation Form for contract requirements.

No. To receive partnership school benefits, districts must provide an assurance that the Partnership Performance Contract is not contingent on receiving an acceptable accountability rating.

For a partnership school to be eligible for benefits, the partner must manage the principal or school leader.

The partner or the district can employ staff. The district and the partner should outline employer and employee arrangements in the performance contract. The partner must employ at least one FTE to manage the school.

If the partner hires the employees directly, the partner may add performance pay benefits separate from the district’s performance pay system. If teachers hired by the district directly have performance pay benefits in their contracts, they will be eligible for the program.

The partner has the sole authority to select, reassign, or terminate administration or teaching staff. The partner has the sole authority to determine whether any open positions exist in the school, and has the initial and final authority to approve the assignment of a district employee applicant to the partner. The partner must hire and manage at least one employee.

Yes. There is no limit on the number of Texas Partnerships that can receive benefits in a district. Districts may submit the District Partnership Benefits Application and Local Board-Approved Charter Authorizing Policy (Attachment A) just once. However, they must submit the Local Campus Partner Application (Attachment B) and the Partnership Performance Contract (Attachment C) for each partnership school.