Local Charter School Releases Statement Regarding Charter Approval

A several-year effort for a new Public Charter School in San Marcos has come to an end.

In August, Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath advised the State Board of Education of his decision to grant eight Generation Twenty-Five charters including CLEAR Public Charter School in San Marcos.

However, on Sept. 11, the board voted to reject three of the eight new charter schools seeking to open in 2021 across the state.

In response to the decision, the school released a statement to the community.

“As you may know, CLEAR was vetoed by the State Board of Education. We were shocked, saddened, and disappointed about the outcome,” CLEAR said in a statement. “Our hearts are saddened that CLEAR will not be opening this coming year. Many families, community members, and friends have supported us over the last several years.”

According to the Texas Tribune, the decision came after traditional public leaders and advocates argued the state couldn’t afford to fund the schools during the current pandemic.

CLEAR started the process in 2018 with the aim of developing a community that “empowers personalized learning and achievement through choice, leadership and resiliency in a rapidly approaching future.”

While it will not open its doors in Fall 2021, representatives said the work will continue.

“We have made great strides in bringing awareness to the needs of families and children, especially those in rural Texas,” CLEAR said. “CLEAR has enlightened the need for choice and opportunities. We see it everywhere in the conversations and actions being taken surrounding education today. For this we are making a difference. This could not have happened without each of you.”

CLEAR intends to “continue to impact education in a positive way and shed light on the lack of opportunities and overall systemic inequities of our educational institutions.”

“Nothing is too good for our children and the generations to come. We will strive to celebrate the great things that are happening in public education.”

The full statement can be read below. 

Over the past few years, CLEAR Public Charter School has worked to apply for authorization for charter approval in the state of Texas.

After completing final steps of the state’s charter process, the Texas Commissioner of Education granted CLEAR approval to operate in the 2021-2022 school year.  As you may know, CLEAR was vetoed by the State Board of Education.

We were shocked, saddened, and disappointed about the outcome. Our hearts are saddened that CLEAR will not be opening this coming year. Many families, community members, and friends have supported us over the last several years.

However, the work continues. We have made great strides in bringing awareness to the needs of families and children, especially those in rural Texas.

CLEAR has enlightened the need for choice and opportunities. We see it everywhere in the conversations and actions being taken surrounding education today. For this we are making a difference.

This could not have happened without each of you. We are truly thankful to the community for your support and for welcoming opportunities for the children of Texas.

CLEAR will continue to impact education in a positive way and shed light on the lack of opportunities and overall systemic inequities of our educational institutions.

Nothing is too good for our children and the generations to come. We will strive to celebrate the great things that are happening in public education. However, we will not stand idly by and let these inequities go unnoticed. This is our promise to you!

– CLEAR Public Charter School