Flannery Capstone Reference Guide by Megan Flannery

Capstone Reference Guide Still want to know more?

Check out my references!

Prepared by: Megan Flannery

Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................3 Notes...................................................................................................................................................................................4 Works Cited ...................................................................................................................................................................7 Bibliography..................................................................................................................................................................9 Submission One........................................................................................................................................................12 Topic Analysis .................................................................................................................................................... 13 Annotated Bibliography ................................................................................................................................ 17 Submission Two .......................................................................................................................................................25 Outline.................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Plan of Work........................................................................................................................................................ 30 Submission Three ...................................................................................................................................................33 Analysis and Evaluation of Controversy ............................................................................................... 34 Submission Four ......................................................................................................................................................37 Interviews ............................................................................................................................................................ 38 Civic Engagement ............................................................................................................................................. 43 Appendices ..................................................................................................................................................................45 Appendix A: Charter School Report ......................................................................................................... 46 Appendix B: Proof of Civic Engagement ................................................................................................ 83 Appendix C: Additional Interview ............................................................................................................ 86

Introduction Given that my final Capstone submission was formatted in such an untraditional manner, I wanted to include my previous submissions separately. Instead of relying on infographics and other visuals, this document is made up of formal research and academic writing (and is formatted as such). This document is meant to support the material presented in my submission five. Though it is closely connected to my submission five, it is not structured the same way and does not involve any additional commentary beyond this point.

You can navigate this one on your own!

Notes

Works Cited "13 Reasons Why Your Brain Craves Infographics." NeoMam. Web. 15 Dec. 2015. "2014 Comprehensive Report on Texas Public Schools." Comprehensive Report on Texas Public Schools. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. "About NCSE | NCSE." About NCSE | NCSE. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. "Ban Comic Sans." Ban Comic Sans. Web. 15 Oct. 2015. Batdorff, Meagan. "Charter Funding: Inequity Expands." UARK DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REFORM. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. Bhatia, Yasmin. "Yasmin Bhatia: Funding Gap for Charters Exacerbates Teacher Shortage." The Dallas Morning News. The Dallas Morning News Inc., 3 Nov. 2015. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. "Charter for Controversy." Americans United for Separation of Church and State. 1 June 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. "Charter School Finance." Charter School Finance. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. "CHILDREN AT RISK." CHILDREN AT RISK. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. CREDO. Charter School Performance in Texas. Stanford University, 22 July 2015. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. GET THE FACTS. Texas Charter School Association. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. Kopplin, Zack. "Texas Public Charter Schools Are Teaching Creationism." Slate, 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 20 Sept. 2015. "Mission." St. Edwardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. Maloney, Catherine, et al. "Evaluation Of New Texas Charter Schools: Final Report (200710)." Texas Center For Educational Research (2011): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015.

"Nonregulatory Guidance -- Charter School Program State Educational Agencies (SEA) Grant."Nonregulatory Guidance -- Charter School Program State Educational Agencies (SEA) Grant. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. "Strategic Plan." Texas Charter Schools Association. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. "Texas." National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. Texas Business Leadership Council, (TBLC). "Education Priorities For The 83Rd Texas Legislature: Policy Recommendations For Public Education And Higher Education." Texas Business Leadership Council(2013): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. Texas Charter School Movement History and Statistics." Texas Education Policy Resources On The Web. Web. 15 Oct. 2015. Texas Constitution, Article 7 Texas Education Code, Title 2, Chapter 12 "Texas Freedom Network." Texas Freedom Network. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. "Trying to Keep Religion Out of Charter Classrooms, by Edgar Walters." The Texas Tribune. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. U.S. Constitution, Amendment 1 "What’s Wrong with Texas Charter School Funding?" What’s Wrong with Texas Charter School Funding? Web. 14 Oct. 2015.

Bibliography "13 Reasons Why Your Brain Craves Infographics." NeoMam. Web. 15 Dec. 2015. "2014 Comprehensive Report on Texas Public Schools." Comprehensive Report on Texas Public Schools. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. "About NCSE | NCSE." About NCSE | NCSE. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. Ausbrooks, Carrie Y. Barron, Edith J. Barrett, and Theresa Daniel. "Texas Charter School Legislation And The Evolution Of Open-Enrollment Charter Schools." Education Policy Analysis Archives 13.21 (2005): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. Baker, Bruce D., et al. "Spending By The Major Charter Management Organizations: Comparing Charter School And Local Public District Financial Resources In New York, Ohio, And Texas." National Education Policy Center(2012): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. "Ban Comic Sans." Ban Comic Sans. Web. 15 Oct. 2015. Batdorff, Meagan. "Charter Funding: Inequity Expands." UARK DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REFORM. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. Bhatia, Yasmin. "Yasmin Bhatia: Funding Gap for Charters Exacerbates Teacher Shortage." The Dallas Morning News. The Dallas Morning News Inc., 3 Nov. 2015. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. Boston, Rob. "A Charter For Controversy?." Humanist 74.3 (2014): 34-35. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. "Charter for Controversy." Americans United for Separation of Church and State. 1 June 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. "Charter School Finance." Charter School Finance. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. "Charter Schools in Texas: Facts and Figures." Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. Web. 20 Sept. 2015. 9

"CHILDREN AT RISK." CHILDREN AT RISK. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. CREDO. Charter School Performance in Texas. Stanford University, 22 July 2015. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. GET THE FACTS. Texas Charter School Association. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. Grosskopf, Shawna, Kathy J. Hayes, and Lori L. Taylor. "The Relative Efficiency Of Charter Schools." Annals Of Public & Cooperative Economics 80.1 (2009): 67-87. Business Source Complete. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. Herdman, Paul A., and Corp. New American Schools Development. "Understanding The Basic Bargain: A Study Of Charter School Accountability In Massachusetts And Texas." (2002): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. Kopplin, Zack. "Texas Public Charter Schools Are Teaching Creationism." Slate, 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 20 Sept. 2015. "Mission." St. Edwardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. Maloney, Catherine, et al. "Evaluation Of New Texas Charter Schools: Final Report (200710)." Texas Center For Educational Research (2011): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. "Nonregulatory Guidance -- Charter School Program State Educational Agencies (SEA) Grant."Nonregulatory Guidance -- Charter School Program State Educational Agencies (SEA) Grant. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. Penning, Francisco, and John R. Slate. "Charter Schools In Texas: An Overview." International Journal Of Educational Leadership Preparation 6.3 (2011): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. Schulte, Don P., and John R. Slate. "Charter Schools: The 65% Instructional Expenditure Ratio And College-Readiness." International Journal Of Educational Leadership Preparation 6.1 (2011): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. "Strategic Plan." Texas Charter Schools Association. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. 10

"Texas." National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. Texas Business Leadership Council, (TBLC). "Education Priorities For The 83Rd Texas Legislature: Policy Recommendations For Public Education And Higher Education." Texas Business Leadership Council(2013): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. Texas Charter School Movement History and Statistics." Texas Education Policy Resources On The Web. Web. 15 Oct. 2015. Texas Constitution, Article 7 Texas Education Code, Title 2, Chapter 12 "Texas Freedom Network." Texas Freedom Network. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. "Trying to Keep Religion Out of Charter Classrooms, by Edgar Walters." The Texas Tribune. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. U.S. Constitution, Amendment 1 Wei, Xin, Deepa Patel, and Viki M. Young. "Opening The "Black Box": Organizational Differences Between Charter Schools And Traditional Public Schools." Education Policy Analysis Archives 22.3 (2014): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. Weissert, Will. "Jeb, George P. Bush Push Charter Schools In Texas." Fort Worth Business Press 25.8 (2013): 19.Small Business Reference Center. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. "What’s Wrong with Texas Charter School Funding?" What’s Wrong with Texas Charter School Funding? Web. 14 Oct. 2015.

Should legislatures modify the Texas Education Code to regulate charter schools more strictly in order to uphold curriculum standards and enforce separation of church and state?

Capstone Submission One I. Topic Analysis

II. Annotated Bibliography 12

Topic Analysis Outline I.

Topic Question: Should the state of Texas modify the Charter Clause of the Education Code to impose stricter regulations on charter schools that continue to receive government funding?

II.

Underlying Social Problems: a. A. Social Problems: Students in public charter schools are not receiving the same education as those in traditional public schools. Some people claim that this is a problem, and that students are being taught religion in state-funded institutions or simply that charter school students are unable to perform at the same college-readiness level as those who graduate from public schools. Others argue that the discrepancies between traditional public and charter school curriculum are actually benefiting charter school students and providing for them in ways other schools cannot. b. B. Scope of the Social Problems: Over 238, 000 K-12 students in Texas attended a charter school in the 2013-2014 academic year (“Texas”).This number is significantly higher since the Texas Education Agency estimates that “approximately 130,000 students opted to attend a charter school in Texas during the 2007‐08 school year” (“Charter”). While open-enrollment charter schools do not receive state tax revenue, they have “received $250 more per student in federal funds than traditional districts and $3,914 more per student in state funds” (“Charter”). This is important to take into consideration when debating whether or not these funds are being put to good use or if they could be utilized elsewhere.

III.

Proponent Stakeholders a. A. Proponents’ Position: Charter schools are not properly educating our students and should either be shut down or regulated more strictly by the government. b. B. General pro stakeholders (use qualifiers) i. 1. Those who value separation of church and state ii. 2. Parents who are concerned with charter students’ performance 13

iii. 3. Teachers who don’t support charter school curriculum c. C. Specific pro stakeholders i. 1. Americans United for Separation of Church and State ii. 2. Texas Freedom Network iii. 3. National Center for Science Education IV.

Proponents’ Issues, Arguments, Evidence, and Plans/Actions a. A. Issue 1 (Religion): Some public charter schools are teaching religious beliefs in the classroom i. 1. Argument: this act violates the constitutional belief of separation of church and state by teaching religion with taxpayer money b. B. Issue 2: (Money) Some charter schools are misusing their federal funds i. 1. Argument: despite spending more per student than traditional public schools, charter schools do not perform significantly better c. C. Issue 3: (Governance/Equity) Charter schools are not monitored as closely as traditional public schools, and therefore can manipulate the curriculum for their own purposes, creating unequal education for students i. 1. Argument: The state of Texas needs to monitor and regulate charter school systems, otherwise certain students will have an unfair advantage over others. d. D. Examples of Pro Plans/Actions i. 1. Shut down/eliminate charter schools ii. 2. Regulate charter school textbooks/curriculum iii. 3. Have government entity hold charter schools more accountable

Examples of Proponents’ Values (i.e. self-reliance, security, equality, liberty) a. A. Pro Stakeholder:Values: freedom of religion b. B. Pro Stakeholder:Values: equality c. C. Pro Stakeholder:Values: liberty

VI.

Opponent Stakeholders a. A. Opponents’ Position: Texas should not impose additional regulations on charter schools. b. B. General con stakeholders (use qualifiers) 14

i. 1. Charter schools ii. 2. Businessmen iii. 3. Politicians c. C. Specific con stakeholders i. 1. National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ii. 2. Texas Business Leadership Council iii. 3. Texas Charter School Association VII.

Opponents’ Issues, Arguments, Evidence, and Plans/Actions a. A. Issue 1 (Success): Some recent studies have proven that charter school students perform better than traditional public school students i. 1. Argument: Clearly charter schools are doing something right if they are having higher success rates with their students b. B. Issue 2: (Opportunity) Charter schools act as a tuition-free alternative to public schools i. 1. Argument: many poorer families may not have access to a private school or to a public school with high success rates; charter school provides these families with tuition-free alternatives c. C. Issue 3: (Funding) Charter schools are not funded the same as traditional public schools i. 1. Argument: Charter schools do not receive the same amount of funding from the government as public schools do, and therefore should not be held to the same standards as public schools. d. D. Examples of Opponents’ Plans/Actions i. 1. Expand charter school systems ii. 2. Provide charter schools with more funding iii. 3. Permit more self-regulation within charter school system

VIII.

Examples of Opponents’ Values (i.e. self-reliance, security, equality, liberty) a. A. Con Stakeholder: Values: equal opportunity b. B. Con Stakeholder: Values: success c. C. Con Stakeholder: Values: liberty

IX.

Definitions/Explanations: 15

a. Charter School: a publicly funded independent school established by teachers, parents, or community groups under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority. b. Traditional Public School: a school supported by public funds c. Government Funding: money given by government agencies to nongovernment organizations and individuals d. College-Readiness: the combination of skills, knowledge, and habits of mind necessary to fully participate in college-level courses; typically, this is determined by studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performance on a standardized test X.

Limits: While I may refer to other charter schools in other states to explain different charter systems, the only one I am concerned with is the charter school system in Texas.

Annotated Bibliography Ausbrooks, Carrie Y. Barron, Edith J. Barrett, and Theresa Daniel. "Texas Charter School Legislation And The Evolution Of Open-Enrollment Charter Schools." Education Policy Analysis Archives 13.21 (2005): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. This article examines charter schools both in theory and in practice. Specifically, it examines the active charter schools in Texas during the 2001-2002 academic year. It does a good job of providing the history of charter schools in Texas and brings up many of the questions that my paper will address. There are also some useful references (though all of them are 10+ years old) that help document the Texas legislation surrounding charter schools. Carrie Barron Ausbrooks holds a Ph.D. in educational administration and specializes in education law. She currently works at University of Texas Arlington. Ausbrooks, along with Barrett, has conducted a five-year study documenting the evolution of Texas open-enrollment charter schools. Edith J. Barrett is also a professor in UTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School of Urban and Public Affairs. Theresa Daniel is currently the Dallas County commissioner after working for the school district for eight years. Prior to that, at the time she wrote the paper, she was earning her Ph.D. from UTA. This paper was also delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Southwest Educational Research Association in 2003. The paper was published in the Education Policy Analysis Archives (EPAA) in 2005, after being edited by Sherman Dorn, a professor at the University of South Florida with a particular interest in the study of education policies. EPAA is a peer-reviewed journal designed for researchers, policy makers, and practitioners concerned with education policies. Baker, Bruce D., et al. "Spending By The Major Charter Management Organizations: Comparing Charter School And Local Public District Financial Resources In New York, Ohio, And Texas." National Education Policy Center(2012): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. This study analyzes charter school spending in New York, Ohio, and Texas. They compare the per-pupil spending of charter schools to traditional public schools 17

in these three states. Specifically in Texas, they look at KIPP. Bruce D. Baker is a professor at Rutgers University. His primary areas of research are education finance and the economics of education. He has many publications on these topics. He put this study together along with two doctorate students from the University of Colorado, Ken Libby and Kathryn Wiley. This study was published by the National Education Policy Center. The NEPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal is to create and circulate peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. While the study covers more than just the scope of Texas and its charter schools, it can still be beneficial in comparing the success of these schools across the country and examining the different policies associate with each. Boston, Rob. "A Charter For Controversy?." Humanist 74.3 (2014): 34-35. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. This article critiques charter schools for violating the separation of church and state and calls for higher state government regulation of charter schools. Boston even provides specific examples from charter schools in Texas. Boston is the director of communications at Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Americans United are a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational organization committed to preserving the constitutional principle of separating church and state. Essentially anyone is welcome to join. The Humanist is a bimonthly print magazine that provides ethical critiques and commentary on central issues of the time. It is published by the American Humanist Association, which strives to defend civil liberties and secular governance. While the magazine is overseen by a series of editors, there is no peer-review process. Though this source isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as academic or credible as others, it does provide some solid examples of separation of church and state violations within charter schools that I can research since the article reflects a widely-shared concern. "Charter Schools in Texas: Facts and Figures." Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

This document was created and published by the Texas Association of School Boards and provides facts and figures about charter schools in Texas. Most of its sources come from either Texas state legislation or the Texas Center for Educational Research. The Texas Association of School Boards is a voluntary, nonprofit, statewide educational association that serves and represents local Texas schools. The document does a good job of summarizing and explaining charter school legislation and policy; it also introduces some recent figures surrounding charter schools, particularly in regards to accountability and performance, without displaying a bias or offering recommendations based on the research results. Grosskopf, Shawna, Kathy J. Hayes, and Lori L. Taylor. "The Relative Efficiency Of Charter Schools." Annals Of Public & Cooperative Economics 80.1 (2009): 67-87. Business Source Complete. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. This analysis actually supports charter schools, offering that they are more efficient than traditional public schools. Shawna Grosskopf is a professor emerita at Oregon State University for the economics program. She uses directional distance functions to model and measure the relative productivity and performance of charter schools. Similarly, Kathy J. Hayes is a professor of economics at Southern Methodist University. Lori L. Taylor is an associate professor of economics and public policy at Texas A&M University. This analysis was published in the Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics. Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics is a journal that features papers on theoretical and empirical developments in economics. The journal is geared towards academics and practitioners in the fields of business and economics. The journal is published on behalf of the International Centre of Research and Information on the Public, Social, and Cooperative Economy (CIRIEC). CIRIEC is an international organization that was originally founded to ensure the continuity of the journal. This analysis is very formulaic and relies heavily on financial data, rather than introducing other factors that affect the issue as well.

Herdman, Paul A., and Corp. New American Schools Development. "Understanding The Basic Bargain: A Study Of Charter School Accountability In Massachusetts And Texas." (2002): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. This paper examines charter schools in Massachusetts and Texas and their state authorizers. Herdman argues that while the state does a good job of monitoring the equity of charter schools, the culture it creates is still prohibiting charter schools to flourish as they could. Herdman references Hassel’s paper “The Charter School Challenge” and highlights the strategies in which charter schools might achieve systemic reform. Paul A. Herdman served as senior manager at New American Schools and is now President and CEO of the Rodel Foundation of Delaware, a foundation dedicated to building a better system of public education in Delaware. Herdman presented this paper at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association in 2002. While Herdman definitely favors moving towards charter schools and away from the traditional system of public school, he still brings up important issues that the state needs to address in regards to charter schools. Kopplin, Zack. "Texas Public Charter Schools Are Teaching Creationism." Slate, 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 20 Sept. 2015. This article examines some of the curriculum being taught at Texas charter schools, curriculum that includes religious ideas such as creationism. The investigative piece provides examples of what some charter schools are teaching in their classrooms which go against public school regulations. The author, Zack Kopplin, is a science education activist who fights against creationism being taught with public money. The article was published in Slate, an online magazine that covers political and cultural news. The article also mentions another group that speaks out against charter schools teaching creationism or other religious ideas, the Texas Freedom Network. The Texas Freedom Network works to advance a mainstream agenda of religious freedom and individual liberties to counter the religious right. They act to protect religious freedom, defend civil liberties, and 20

strengthen public schools. On the other side of the issue is the Responsive Education Solutions charter system, the largest charter school district in Texas. Responsive Ed is the same district that has been accused of violating the separation of church and state. They are obviously in support of expanding charter schools and also value the ability to choose their own textbooks. Though this article may not be the most scholarly or have a lot of hard evidence within it, it provides me with additional resources and stakeholders that I can research further. Maloney, Catherine, et al. "Evaluation Of New Texas Charter Schools: Final Report (200710)." Texas Center For Educational Research (2011): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. This is the final report for a four year evaluation of Texas charter schools. The evaluation was funded by the Texas Education Agency and was conducted by the Texas Center for Educational Research. The Texas Center for Educational Research (TCER) conducts and communicates nonpartisan research on education issues to serve as an independent resource for those who make, influence, or implement education policy in Texas. This report was created for the same government agency that oversees the charter schools in Texas. It contains many informative statistics and also explains many terms and concepts surrounding charter schools. It also provides information to help TEA create and implement new programs and policies. Penning, Francisco, and John R. Slate. "Charter Schools In Texas: An Overview." International Journal Of Educational Leadership Preparation 6.3 (2011): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. This journal article was peer-reviewed by the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration and published in the International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation. The International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership is an online, refereed scholarly journal from George Mason University in Virginia and Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. The journal is dedicated to enriching the education policy and leadership knowledge base and to promoting exploration and analysis of policy alternatives. The article was produced 21

by the Connexions Project and also published in the Connexions Content Commons. Connexions is a Content Commons of free, open-licensed educational materials in fields such as music, electrical engineering and psychology. This article compares charter school performance and funding to that of traditional public schools and also emphasizes the higher percentage of minority students who attend charter schools rather than traditional ones. Francisco Penning has acted as a principal for both charter and traditional public schools in Texas. Schulte, Don P., and John R. Slate. "Charter Schools: The 65% Instructional Expenditure Ratio And College-Readiness." International Journal Of Educational Leadership Preparation 6.1 (2011): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. This study found a correlation between charter schools’ instructional expenditure ration and college-readiness. Typically, students whose schools had higher instructional expenditures performed better on college-readiness tests. Don P. Schulte is a retired professor of education leadership at the University of Texas at El Paso and former superintendent of the Socorro Independent School District. This journal was peer-reviewed by the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration and published in the International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation. The International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership is an online, refereed scholarly journal from George Mason University in Virginia and Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. The journal is dedicated to enriching the education policy and leadership knowledge base and to promoting exploration and analysis of policy alternatives. The study was produced by the Connexions Project and also published in the Connexions Content Commons. Connexions is a Content Commons of free, open-licensed educational materials in fields such as music, electrical engineering and psychology. "Texas." National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. 29 Sept. 2014. Web. 20 Sept. 2015. This is the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ website for charter schools in Texas. After a summary of the state’s charter school law, it includes observations about the growth, quality, and innovation of charter schools and 22

provides recommendations for the state on how to expand charter schools. The National Alliance is a nonprofit organization committed to bettering public education through the expansion of charter school systems. Naturally, the National Alliance is going to support charter schools; however, their website still does a good job of distinguishing the need for more quality charter schools, not just charter schools in general. The National Alliance is supportive of the Texas Charter Schools Association and the recently implemented Senate Bill 2 from the 83 rd Legislative Session. It also mentions the Quality Framework, which is a process through with charter schools can better measure their effectiveness. Although this organization is clearly biased towards charter schools, it does present some solid information surrounding ways to improve the charter school system in Texas. Texas Business Leadership Council, (TBLC). "Education Priorities For The 83Rd Texas Legislature: Policy Recommendations For Public Education And Higher Education." Texas Business Leadership Council(2013): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. This paper presents Texas education policy recommendations from the Texas Business Leadership Council (TBLC). The TBLC is made up of CEOs and senior business executives statewide who work towards creating a prosperous and competitive business environment in Texas. Most of its members are businessmen and women who are not personally involved in Texasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; education system. In this paper, the TBLC calls for a removal of the cap on charter schools so that more families will have options when it comes to public schools in Texas. While this paper was published on ERIC, it was not peer-reviewed by anyone outside of the TBLC. The TBLC can work as one of my stakeholders in the case for more charter schools in Texas and less regulation of them. Texas Education Code, Title 2, Chapter 12 This is the portion of the Texas State Constitution that outlines the rules and regulations for charter schools in Texas. The oldest amendments date back twenty years, but there are some amendments that were made as recently as 2013. This is the legal document that dictates what is and isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t permissible for charter schools. It 23

goes into detail about the number of charter schools permitted, their funding, and their governance. Wei, Xin, Deepa Patel, and Viki M. Young. "Opening The "Black Box": Organizational Differences Between Charter Schools And Traditional Public Schools." Education Policy Analysis Archives 22.3 (2014): ERIC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. This study examined the difference in teacher experience for teachers of charter schools and teachers of traditional public schools in Texas. The paper was published in the Education Policy Analysis Archives (EPAA) in 2014. EPAA is a peerreviewed journal designed for researchers, policy makers, and practitioners concerned with education policies. Xin Wei is a senior research analyst at SRI International. She has a doctorate in educational psychology from Stanford University. Deepa Patel is a research analyst at SRI International who works on research projects surrounding K-12 education reform and teacher development. Viki Young is a senior researcher within SRI Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Education Division. She holds a Ph.D. in education policy analysis from Stanford University. The paper was written for policymakers and school leaders in order that they can restructure school organization to make the teachers more effective and the experience more beneficial for all parties involved. Weissert, Will. "Jeb, George P. Bush Push Charter Schools In Texas." Fort Worth Business Press 25.8 (2013): 19.Small Business Reference Center. Web. 19 Sept. 2015. This article from the Fort Worth Business Press introduces Jeb and George P. Bush as two additional supporters of expanding charter schools across Texas. It also discusses some other politiciansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; views on charter schools. The Fort Worth Business Press is a publication that acts as a guide to local business news, events, and trends. Will Weissert is a political reporter and writer for the Associated Press. Though the brief article may not contain a lot of evidence, it does provide names of stakeholders and their respective positions.

Should legislatures modify the Texas Education Code to regulate charter schools more strictly in order to uphold curriculum standards and enforce separation of church and state?

Capstone Submission Two: Presentation of Research I. Outline

II. Plan of Work 25

Presentation of Research Outline Students in public charter schools are not receiving the same education as those in traditional public schools. Some people claim that this is a problem, and that students are being taught religion in state-funded institutions or simply that charter school students are unable to perform at the same college-readiness level as those who graduate from public schools. Many of these organizations, such as Texas Freedom Network or Americans United for Separation of Church and State, propose that charter school curriculum be regulated the way traditional public school curriculum is. Others, like the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools or the Texas Business Leadership Council, argue that the discrepancies between traditional public and charter school curriculum are actually benefiting charter school students and providing for them in ways other schools cannot. This Capstone project will investigate the question of should the state of Texas modify the Texas Education code to enforce stricter regulations on charter schools. Exigence This issue is something that needs to be addressed because in recent years, the state of Texas has been reevaluating many of its public education policies in order to increase student performance and success. In 2014, Texas ranked 39 th in the nation for public education, yet Texas public school enrollment numbers continue to surge as now over five million students attend a Texas public school (TEA). Many families are looking for alternative schooling options, such as charter schools. In recent years, the number of charter schools permitted in Texas has increased. It is important that these schools be monitored since over 130,000 students in Texas attend a charter school (“Charter”). Key Terms Below is a list of terms that will be mentioned throughout my Capstone. Proper understanding of these terms as they are used in this context is crucial to the reader’s comprehension of my paper.



Charter School: a school that is established by a charter, is run by teachers, parents, etc., and uses tax money but does not have to be run according to the rules of a city or state (Merriam-Webster)



Public School: a school that gets money from and is controlled by a local government (Merriam-Webster)



Government Funding: money provided by the government to pay for something (Cambridge)

Scope In this capstone, I will address whether or not the Charter School Clause in the Education Code (Title 2, Subtitle C, Chapter 12) should be modified so charter schools need to be more strictly regulated by the government of the state of Texas if they are to continue to receive government funding. I will not be addressing whether or not they should receive funding, nor will I cover how public school funding should be managed within the state. I am evaluating simply the legislation of Texas charter schools, not of charter schools throughout the nation. Narrative My Capstone addresses charter schools in Texas and whether or not they need to be more closely monitored by the state in order to provide charter school students with an equal education to that of traditional public school students. There are two ways to look at how an education might be considered “unequal.” On the one hand, a student simply may not have the resources or time available to learn the same material, and is therefore receiving a lesser education out of a lack or neglect. On the other hand, if a student receives different types of material (not just the same material presented in a different way), then he may be receiving a lesser education because he does not have access to standard information. These are the two claims that have been made against Texas charter schools in recent years. As Texas public school enrollment continues to grow, more and more children are being educated and influenced by the work of public schools. However, Texas only ranks 39 th in 27

the nation for education standards. There is a clear need to reevaluate Texas public school standards, resources, and alternatives. The alternative to attending a traditional public school in Texas is to either attend a private school (which requires paid tuition) or attend a charter school. As the Texas public school community expands, so does the charter community. While traditional public schools are regulated by the state, charter schools are not, despite the fact that they are partially funded by tax payer money. Certain civil liberties groups, such as the Texas Freedom Network and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, have accused charter schools of using religious textbooks and violating the religious freedom of its students. These groups believe that if charter schools remain public and receive government funding, then they need to be held to the same standards as traditional public schools. Others, who want to save costs in education funding, accuse charter schools of misusing their funds. Even though charter schools typically spend more money per student than traditional public schools, charter schools donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t perform significantly better than traditional public school students. Most of these organizations donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t encourage the elimination of charter schools. They call either for more government supervision of charter schools or for charter schools to stop receiving funding from taxpayers. Opponents of these arguments are charter schools themselves, businessmen, and many politicians. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools supports the spread of charter schools throughout the country and has specific suggestions for Texas policymakers to enact in order to strengthen the charter school presence within the state. Others, such as the Texas Business Leadership Council and politicians like Jeb Bush, believe that charter schools benefit our society and maintain that charter schools do an efficient job of educating students. They argue that certain studies reveal better testing results than traditional public schools. They believe the state should provide free alternatives to traditional public schools. They defend charter schools by arguing that while they receive some state funding, it is not identical to traditional public school funding and therefore, they should not be held to the same standards as traditional public schools.

In my Capstone, I will breakdown and analyze each side of the argument, evaluating both their logical and their moral reasoning. I will look at these issues in terms of values as well as evidence. I will ultimately make a decision as to whether or not charter schools need more government regulation and offer support for my claim.

Plan of Work I am writing to present an overview of my plan of work to complete my Capstone project for the fall semester of 2015. I will need to accomplish submissions 3-5and each submission’s corresponding work and research over the course of the next eight weeks. I feel that I have the resources to complete the project well and on time. Project Overview This Capstone considers whether or not charter schools should be subject to closer regulation by the government if they are to continue to receive public school funding. After presenting stakeholders, values, and arguments on each side of the issue, this Capstone makes a claim regarding the best course of action. This decision is based on the logical and moral reasons found in the stronger side’s argument. Tasks The following is a list of tasks that must all be met in order for my project to be completely and thoroughly finished: 

State the central research problem in the form of a precise and open normative question



Outline the major steps in the project design

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Utilize technology to identify both print and online sources adequate in number and quality to the demands of the project

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Evaluate the reliability of sources

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Clarify why a given topic is worth investigating

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Define key terms

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Identify the limits of the research project

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Present research in a clear, thorough, and coherent manner

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Interpret the research data

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Locate and interview in person experts on your social controversy

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Identify the stakeholders, social problems of concern to stakeholders, and competing positions in the controversy

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Identify and clearly formulate the issues, arguments, and evidence involved in the research topic 30



Identify the plans made and actions taken by various stakeholders in order to bring about their proposed solutions

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Use critical thinking to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the alternative positions

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Use moral reasoning to analyze the ethical components of the alternative positions

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Formulate my own position on the controversy

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Present a policy-based solution to the controversy

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Indicate how that solution is warranted by logic or evidence as well as moral reasoning

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Argue persuasively for my position

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Revise in response to feedback

Work Completed I have already completed the following tasks: 

State the central research problem in the form of a precise and open normative question



Outline the major steps in the project design



Utilize technology to identify both print and online sources adequate in number and quality to the demands of the project



Evaluate the reliability of sources



Clarify why a given topic is worth investigating



Define key terms



Identify the limits of the research project



Present research in a clear, thorough, and coherent manner



Interpret the research data

Work Remaining I have the following tasks left to accomplish during the remaining weeks in the semester: 

Locate and interview in person experts on your social controversy



Identify the stakeholders, social problems of concern to stakeholders, and competing positions in the controversy 31



Identify and clearly formulate the issues, arguments, and evidence involved in the research topic



Identify the plans made and actions taken by various stakeholders in order to bring about their proposed solutions



Use critical thinking to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the alternative positions



Use moral reasoning to analyze the ethical components of the alternative positions



Formulate my own position on the controversy



Present a policy-based solution to the controversy



Indicate how that solution is warranted by logic or evidence as well as moral reasoning



Argue persuasively for my position



Revise in response to feedback

Discussion I am on schedule thus far; however, this is dependent on my results from submission one. If I need to tweak or alter my main question, I will need to repeat some of the tasks I’ve already completed, which may put me somewhat behind schedule. If this is the case, I have spaced out the remainder of my work enough to allow for completing additional tasks that might come up. I also have access to resources such as the Writing Center, peer editors, and librarian assistance which will help me succeed. Conclusion I am confident that with my resources and time management strategies I will complete this task on time. I now have a well-planned schedule that will allow me to accomplish tasks in a timely manner and I have enough resources at my disposal to make up for lost time if there is a problem that should arise during the course of my work.

Should legislatures modify the Texas Education Code to regulate charter schools more strictly in order to uphold curriculum standards and enforce separation of church and state?

Capstone Submission Three: Analysis and Evaluation of the Controversy I. Critical Thinking Analysis and Moral Reasoning 33

Normative question: Should Texas legislature modify the Charter School Clause in the Education Code (Title 2, Subtitle C, Chapter 12) to more strongly regulate charter school curriculum in order to provide all public school students with equal and efficient education, monitor the use of taxpayer funding, and enforce the separation of Church and State? Issue #1 Educational Standards Proponents argue that charter schools are not providing students with the proper education they need to be successful. They argue that because it differs from other public schools, it does not provide students with the same education, therefore creating a disadvantage later in life. Opponents argue that charter school students are actually performing better than traditional public school students in some areas. Critical Analysis: 

Evidence is there to support the opponents; there have been studies conducted to show charter school students outperforming traditional public school students in certain areas. However, this data is not uniform across the board and is still relatively new. Furthermore, these studies look at charter schools in a large group and do not focus on each school’s individual performance. Even if there is one school that is inept at teaching its students what they need to know for the future, it could still result in hundreds of students being ill-prepared for college and beyond.



Much of the proponents’ argument requires time to truly tell whether or not these schools are preparing students for the future. Charter schools have only been present in Texas in recent years and new charter schools continue to pop up—can we accurately measure the long-term impact the unique education has on students? Can we group all charter schools together in the same group?

Ethical Analysis: 

While teaching methods and/or approaches may vary, public school ought to be regulated enough so that every public school student (regardless of school) has the 34

opportunity to receive the same education. Otherwise, we could potentially be creating inequality in society. At this point in their lives, children are unaware of what they need most; adults in society have the obligation to care for them and make sure that these needs are met. If we as a society provide them with a substandard education, we are not meeting one of their basic needs (as laid out in the Texas constitution). Issue #2 Economics (Funding) Proponents argue taxpayer money should not go to charter schools if they are not subject to state regulation. Opponents argue charter schools donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t receive identical funding to traditional public schools and therefore, should not be held to the same standards. Alternatively, they argue that charter schools should receive more funding from the state, claiming that they could perform better if they had additional funding. Critical Analysis: ď&#x201A;ˇ

While it is true that charter schools do not receive the same funding as traditional public schools, charter schools do still receive some taxpayer money. Traditional ISD public schools receive facilities funding from the state, but charters do not. They also do not receive funding from the tax revenue. However, they receive some state funding based on student enrollment and student average daily attendance (ADA).

Ethical Analysis: ď&#x201A;ˇ

Taxpayers should not be required to support (even indirectly) a cause or teachings that they do not believe in. This is especially true if taxpayer funds are being used to violate freedom of religion rights. The government has an obligation to its citizens to protect their freedoms. If the state misuses taxpayer funds by supporting a cause that is not supported by its citizens, it breaks the social contract theory that the people pay the state in order to support the rights and betterment of the people.

Issue #3 Religion Proponents argue charter schools are using public funding to teach religious beliefs in the classroom, violating the separation of Church and State. Opponents argue charter schools are offering various points of view in the classroom, beyond the singular view (expand) offered in traditional public schools, and that students are free to choose their beliefs for themselves. Critical Analysis: 

Some textbooks used in charter schools do contain Christian bias and also downplay scientific discoveries that are standard in traditional public school curriculum. Even if not all of the charter schools use these textbooks, the ones that do are leading students astray, misguiding students to believe in ideas other than scientific facts. There have been previous rulings concerning this type of activity—in Edwards v. Aguillard, the Supreme Court ruled that teaching creationism in the public classroom is unconstitutional.

Ethical Analysis: 

It is not ethical to teach religion or religious ideas at a secular school. We as a society have deemed this inappropriate and a violation of religious freedom. Therefore, to allow this—and especially to fund it with money from those who may not support these religious beliefs—would be unethical.

Discussion and Conclusion While there is a fairly strong critical argument for charter schools, proponents of stronger charter school regulation seem to have a better ethical case. The numbers are there to provide an argument for the validity of the effectiveness of the charter school curriculum so far; however, even if the students are receiving a solid education, their rights and the rights of their families need to be respected and preserved by state institutions. It is also important to note that most of these studies are relatively new and that the long-term effects of charter school education have not fully been measured or studied. 36

Should legislatures modify the Texas Education Code to regulate charter schools more strictly in order to uphold curriculum standards and enforce separation of church and state?

Capstone Submission Four: Interviews and Civic Engagement I. Expert Interviews

II. Civic Engagement 37

Interviews Interview One: Zack Kopplin, activist for separation of church and state in public classrooms I was very fortunate to get a hold of Zack Kopplin directly, as he is the author of one of my sources and is also the front man for a related separation of church and state movement in Louisiana. Though most of his work and research is related to his native state of Louisiana, Kopplin attended university in Texas, familiarizing him with some of the charter school curriculum here, and is still quite knowledgeable in terms of federal law surrounding separation of church and state. Though I was unable to meet with him directly, as he no longer resides in Texas, I did manage to interview him via email: Are you familiar with the controversy surrounding charter schools? Yes; I researched some of the larger charter school systems in Texas that were teaching creationist ideas in their curriculum. Are there charter schools that are teaching creationism and other religious ideas? Unfortunately, yes. Certain charter school systems use textbooks and curriculum that support creationism and question proven scientific facts. Can you provide an example? There’s one workbook that claims that evolution cannot be tested, something biologists have been doing for decades. It misinforms students by claiming, “How can scientists do experiments on something that takes millions of years to accomplish? It’s impossible.” What is your stance on charter schools? When bad charters that teach creationism are allowed to remain in the system, it prevents other charter operators from opening better schools. What are your thoughts on the proposed legislation to regulate charter schools more closely? 38

It is clearly past time for Texas to tighten the rules surrounding charters and enforce accountability to prevent any other religious programs from subverting the public education system. While Kopplin’s interest and time was greatly appreciated, I felt a little disappointed that this personal exchange didn’t shed much more light on the subject than his previous article and research already did. Perhaps this is because Kopplin has shifted his attention back toward Louisiana policy, and therefore relied on past knowledge and research to answer my questions. Email interviews are also never as authentic or candid because of the time allowed to provide a premeditated and edited response, although it did allow for brevity (something my in-person interviews lacked). I have not heard back from Kopplin regarding my follow-up questions. Interview Two: Arnoldo G. Alaniz, Assistant Director, Division of Charter School Administration, Texas Education Agency Upon first communication with Ms. Leung (the research specialist for the charter school division), it was clear that she was a little skeptical to meet with me, though I explained that I was just looking for information to incorporate into a school paper. She even asked to review my list of interview questions before agreeing to any such interview. In order to accommodate her concerns, I was forced to revise my approach and conduct this interview with a different objective in mind. Instead of really hearing one position’s side or the other (because TEA has to remain impartial as part of the governing entity that oversees public schools), I am using this interview to collect more background understanding of the issue and further my comprehension of some of the complex structures in place in Texas’ education system. Ms. Leung then directed me to Arnoldo Alaniz, who answered my questions. Here is the interview: What makes charter schools different from other public schools in Texas? Charters were established in Texas in 1995. The first generation had 20 schools. A 15 member board of elected officials had the power to authorize charter schools. Senate Bill 2 in 2013 gave the commissioner that power instead. There are four different types 39

of charters: homerule, campus or district, open-enrollment, and college or university. There aren’t any homerule charters in Texas, the board of trustees of local school districts authorize campus or district charters, previously the board was the authorizer of open-enrollment schools, but now it’s the commissioner, and there are only about five college charters in the state. Really only about 16 of the 1000 school districts have charter options. The most common type of charter school is open-enrollment charter. Their governing board isn’t elected, it’s appointed by their governing entity. Most are created by nonprofits, so the nonprofits appoint the board. In order to establish a school, they have to apply to have their charter approved (it’s like a job interview). Once authorized, they have to act on what’s in their charter. They are required to state their education plan and describe it within their charter, but they have to offer the same curriculum standards and the graduation requirements are the same. They do have more flexibility in who to hire—their teachers aren’t required to be certified; teacher certification varies by charter. They also aren’t limited to serving just members of their school district, but can alternatively narrow their scope even further. They can start earlier in the year, have more flexibility with their school calendar, there’s no performance contract for teachers (many charters include these, but they aren’t required to). Is the funding for charter schools different? Charter schools don’t pull from the local tax revenue, and they also don’t receive facilities funding. This is something that’s become a new movement, actually. There was a Dallas Morning News article just recently on charters pushing to receive this type of funding. I don’t believe that it’s necessarily correct that this lack of funding hinders charter schools… I mean, look at IDEA schools—they pay 10-15% higher salaries to their teachers without any additional funding from the state. I think that there are certain charter schools that will always want more funding even when they receive it. What are some of the restrictions placed on Texas charter schools? There is a state enrollment cap. Otherwise, it’s pretty much the same as those placed on school districts. They do have to adhere to what is written in their charter, though. 40

What is the main purpose of charter schools? It’s right there in the law: “1) improve student learning 2) increase the choice of learning opportunities 3) create professional opportunities 4) establish a new form of accountability for public schools 5) encourage different and innovative learning methods.” Number four is really important because if you’ve got an ISD low-performing school, it loses money when students switch to charter schools, so it motivates them to improve performance. This has actually been in the news recently—there’s stagnant enrollment for AISD, which is odd, so they’re investigating this. But charter schools are really meant to foster a healthy competition. The main thing is to offer parents a choice. An authorized charter school that’s just as bad [as a poor-performing ISD school] isn’t really providing parents with a choice. The hope is to continue to strengthen the current portfolio in Texas: close poor performance schools and approve high-quality schools. Who decides charter school curriculum? The charter holder board; though it does have to be laid out in the charter itself and approved. Are charter schools held accountable by the same governing power as traditional public schools? This is in a state of flux right now; there’s this shifting paradigm with the policy shift from the SBOE (State Board of Education) to the commissioner as the authorizing power. For the most part, yes. Senate Bill 2 gave the commissioner teeth to close poor performance schools. It really is dependent on the commissioner (which is currently Williams). There have been several unsuccessful attempts to modify SB 2. There are two types of performance evaluations for charter schools: what we call “Charter FIRST” and the accreditation rating. Charter FIRST is a financial rating that is different than ISD evaluations. For the accreditation score, there are three ratings: either check, you’re good, approved, warning, or probation. With the three strikes rule, if there is poor performance (in either eval or a combination of both) over three consecutive years, 41

then the charter is revoked. In the first year after SB 2, six charters were revoked; fourteen in the second year. The general expectation is that this number will go down over the years. While Mr. Alaniz was very quick to direct me back to the written legislation rather than offer up his own feedback or viewpoint, there were times when it was clear he was holding back some of his own concerns and hesitations regarding the charter school system and how it’s operated. Additionally, though Mr. Alaniz is clearly very knowledgeable and has worked in TEA with charter schools for over ten years now, there were some moments when he struggled to effectively explain the situation, and recognized that even the “experts” still have some difficulties fully comprehending all of the legislation on the matter.

Civic Engagement Since my solution offers a sort of compromise between the opponents’ and proponents’ arguments, I decided that for my civic engagement I would reach out to an organization dedicated to educating the public on Texas education. The organization I found was Children at Risk. Children at Risk is a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the lives of children in Texas through research, education, and influencing public policy. Their top four “causes” are public education, human trafficking, health and nutrition, and parenting. They believe that a quality education provided by public schools is essential in helping children succeed. Therefore, they provide research on some of the best schools in Texas, offering a list of school rankings along with other informational guides and assessments. They also specifically provide a report for charter schools in order to dispel the myths but also analyze the realities so that parents may discern for themselves the best course of action to take for their student. This document, “The Status of Charter Schools in Texas” provides valuable research surrounding charter schools and contains information pertinent to weighing the pros and cons of attending a charter school; however, the document is still fairly lengthy and contains large, intimidating charts that most families probably will not take the time to read. For my civic engagement, I took the central material from this document and presented it in the form of an infographic, making it more accessible to the average reader. What I appreciate about Children at Risk is that they understand there are some charter schools that should be expanded and others that should be closed down, based on performance and student success. Children at Risk has no bias for or against charter schools, but instead just wants to present accurate information surrounding decisionmaking that will affect Texan children. While this information could sway parents to become more active in voicing their opinions on charter school legislation, it is not meant to favor one side of the argument or the other, so long as it is promoting quality education for children in Texas. As I was creating the infographic and communicating with Children at Risk representatives, some of my faith in humanity that I had lost after spending the majority of the semester 43

listening to everything wrong with our stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s politics was restored. Although Children at Risk is not a political group, they are an organization dedicated to speaking out on behalf of those who otherwise do not have a voice in society, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that I really admire. While most of the facts and figures I was dealing with during this project were somewhat familiar to me because of all of the research I had done, it was refreshing to put it to use in a manner that I felt like would really benefit the people who deserve it the most. I think this experience goes to show that whatever cause you hold dear to your heart, you can find a group or organization that will fight for that cause alongside you.

Should legislatures modify the Texas Education Code to regulate charter schools more strictly in order to uphold curriculum standards and enforce separation of church and state?

Capstone Appendix A I. Charter School Report 45

Should legislatures modify the Texas Education Code to regulate charter schools more strictly in order to uphold curriculum standards and enforce separation of church and state?

Capstone Appendix B I. Proof of Civic Engagement 83

The following is my initial email correspondence with Mandi Kimball, the Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs at Children at Risk. From: Megan Rose Flannery [mflanne@stedwards.edu] Sent: Monday, November 02, 2015 8:24 AM To: Mandi Sheridan Kimball Subject: Undergraduate Research Project Good morning, My name is Megan Flannery and I am a senior English Writing and Rhetoric major at St. Edward's University. For my capstone paper, I am researching Texas charter schools and the controversy that surrounds them. I've spent the past few months researching various organizations who discuss the charter school versus traditional public school debate, and I must say, I admire your organization's approach the best. Children at Risk's mission is so incredibly important, but one that I feel is often (unfortunately) overlooked or overshadowed in our society. I know that you helped put together "The Status of Charter Schools in Texas" in hopes of "dispelling the myths and analyzing the realities" and I was wondering if there was something I could do to help your cause of educating people about Texas schools so that we can help provide students with a better quality education. I know that I am just an undergraduate student and that you must have plenty of resources available to you, but I am a strong writer with solid communication skills and a willingness to contribute to the cause. One suggestion that came to mind as I was looking at your website is potentially creating infographics to communicate some of your research in a more time-efficient, aesthetically-pleasing manner for viewers (such as parents) who may not have time to read a 35 page written report. This is something I would be more than willing to do if you felt it could be beneficial to your organization and the cause. If there are other ways I could contribute my time and talents, please let me know. I appreciate any feedback or suggestions you might have for me. Thank you so much for your time and your dedication to making Texas a better place for children. Best, Megan Flannery

From: "mkimball" <mkimball@childrenatrisk.org> To: "mflanne" <mflanne@stedwards.edu> Sent: Tuesday, November 3, 2015 10:46:43 AM

Subject: RE: Undergraduate Research Project Hi Megan, Thanks for reaching out. Go Hilltoppers! I went to St. Ed's :). I'd love to chat and would greatly appreciate assistance with infographics! Any chance you can chat via phone next Thursday? Again, thanks for reaching out and for all the kind words. Mandi

Mandi Kimball Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs CHILDREN AT RISK 713.869.7740 www.childrenatrisk.org ________________________________________ Hi Megan, It was great speaking with you yesterday. Again, thank you for your interest and willingness to work with CHILDREN AT RISK! Your contribution to our work is greatly appreciated. Morgen Brown oversees our social media, info graphics, etc. She is excited to work with you. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to assist your efforts. Good luck with finals and Happy Holidays! Best, Mandi Mandi Kimball Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs CHILDREN AT RISK 713.869.7740 www.childrenatrisk.org

Should legislatures modify the Texas Education Code to regulate charter schools more strictly in order to uphold curriculum standards and enforce separation of church and state?

Capstone Appendix C I. Additional Interview 86

After communicating with Mandi Kimball via email, I was able to conduct a brief phone interview with her. How would you describe Children at Risk? We’re a research organization that tries to look at the whole child. Really we consider all children to be potentially “at risk.” What is it that you do for Children at Risk? I work with government relations. I do a lot with human trafficking. My internship at the capitol during my time at St. Ed’s actually led to my involvement. How are you involved in the charter school debate? We really just provide data and information. We aren’t on one side or another; we just try to put education first. The political or territorial turf wars are unimportant. A lot of our research has to do with how to better maximize federal dollars. How do you feel about my suggestion to redesign the Charter School Report as an infographic? I love it! We get funded to conduct the research, but don’t receive money for things like graphic design, which is unfortunate, because who really reads through all of this information? You’ve got to think about how, in a snapshot, you can get the reader to understand the information you have. We’re thrilled about your interest in this.