Best Practices for Employee Onboarding

Today’s Tip offers timely, useful guidance in the hiring process. Are you busy trying to fill positions for the 2020-2021 school year? What do you need to know? What does your new hire process look like? Not sure what you need or where to start? CSS is here to help! We can unload your plate … Read More

Onboarding to Bring Out the Best in My New Hires

Hiring the right team member is vital to the success of your organization and your students, and how you welcome and onboard your new hire is a critical component to ensuring their success and retention. Having a solid plan in place for HOW to onboard your new hire is as important as hiring them in … Read More

Open Enrollment Charter School – Application vs. Enrollment

Has your district started the student application process for the next school year?  If so, it is important to remember that applications and enrollments are two separate and distinct processes in which different information is gathered. What should occur during the Application Period? During the application period schools should only ask for basic student information. This application is typically … Read More

Financial Compliance and Accountability

Because Texans trust charter officials to spend money wisely and efficiently, the state’s financial accountability systems for public charters provides a report that annually examines school funding and compliance issues to confirm that spending has been appropriate.  This report is referred to as Charter FIRST. Districts and charters must also have an outside auditor examine their financial records each … Read More

What Information is Public Information?

In the spirit of transparency, the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) was adopted to help make governmental information accessible to the public. Charter schools, as a qualifying governmental body according to TEC 12.1051(a), must adhere to the regulations and responsibilities outlined in the act. This means that any member of the public for any reason … Read More

Open Meetings: What constitutes a quorum?

In the spirit of transparency, the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) was adopted to help make governmental decision-making accessible to the public. Charter schools, as a qualifying governmental body according to TEC 12.1051(a), must adhere to the regulations and responsibilities outlined in the act. One of the important definitions outlined in the TOMA is that … Read More

COVID-19 Six Weeks Submissions, Calendars and Attendance

In this unprecedented time, schools across the nation are working to support students in a remote instructional setting. In Texas, all school classrooms must remain closed for students through the end of the 2019–20 school year. In his press conference on the state’s response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, the Governor directed school … Read More

Mentor Program Allotment (MPA) Update

Update! CSS has new information about the Mentor Program Allotment Grant. The application is now available and can be found at https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/educator-initiatives-and-performance/mentor-program-allotment. The deadline to apply for this optional grant is June 8, 2020. Please be aware that there are summer requirements of the grant prior to funding being received. For more information, please read … Read More

Audit Firm Selection and Qualifications

In today’s Tip, we are discussing Audit Firm Selection and Qualifications. Auditing is a process of reviewing a Charter’s financial records to decide if they are accurate and align with regulations, state laws and accounting standard. Audits are conducted by third-party external auditors that are CPA (Certified Public Accountants) or by an auditing firm. External … Read More