TEA Posts “Generation 29” Charter Applicant Interview Schedule

The TEA has posted the schedule for the eight remaining charter applicants seeking to open new charter districts to be interviewed by agency staff and State Board of Education (SBOE) members.

• Note: We previously reported that there were nine remaining charter applicants. The number was subsequently reduced to eight after one of the applicants (Alchemy Studios and Labs) withdrew.

The interviews — conducted virtually — will be livestreamed, and will be archived for later viewing, here. There will be no public testimony during the interview process.

These are the surviving applicants, with links to their applications — along with the name of the applicant’s sponsoring entity (if different from the name of the proposed charter), and the proposed general area the charter proposes to serve:

Friday, May 10th

• 9:00am-11:00am, Entrepreneur High School (REAL ED TEXAS), San Antonio area.
• 1:00pm-3:00pm, Frank Lui Jr. Academy for Music and Arts, Houston area.

Tuesday, May 14th

• 1:00pm-3:00pm, Houston L.E.A.D. Preparatory Academy, Houston area.

Wednesday, May 15th

• 9:00am-11:00am, Infinite Minds (INFINITE MINDS SCHOOL), D/FW area.
• 1:00pm-3:00pm, Pathway Academy (EVOLVING FUTURES), Big Spring ISD/ Coahoma ISD/ Forsan ISD.

Thursday, May 16th

• 9:00am-11:00am, Unparalleled Preparatory Academy (UNPARALLELED EDUCATION, INC.), Austin area.
• 1:00pm-3:00pm, Visionary STEM Academy (CATALYST VISIONARY EDUCATION), all or part of Kaufman, Hunt, Rockwall and Van Zandt counties.

Friday, May 17th

• 9:00am-11:00am, The Texas Girls School (THE SCHOOL FOR GLOBAL THINKERS), Lake Travis ISD/Leander ISD.

What’s Next
The education commissioner, some time later this month, will forward his list of charter finalists to the SBOE.

The public will have its only opportunity to present testimony to the SBOE about the commissioner’s choices for new charters on a to-be-designated day during the week leading up to the board’s Friday, June 28, general meeting.

Any charter not vetoed by the SBOE during the general meeting would still have to clear the hurdle of resolving any “contingencies” identified by TEA staff to receive final clearance to open no earlier than the 2025-26 school year.