Ministry Today

Family Praise Center is a model of how a church can use a charter school to impact the practical and spiritual needs of a community.

Driving onto the sprawling campus of Family Praise Center in San Antonio, I was intrigued by the number of portable buildings scattered everywhere and workers scurrying here and there. It seemed they were preparing for something of gigantic proportions. I jumped out of my car and gave myself a partial tour of the grounds--which house a church and a charter school--receiving many "Good morning! How are you?" greetings along the way.

Inside the main building I discovered many more people hurriedly walking to their destinations but always pausing to offer a friendly, "Hi, may I help you?" The main building housed administrative offices for the school and the church, as well as a cafeteria and classrooms.

"Dr. Linda Britton's office," I inquired. "Down the hall to the right," was the reply.

It was just a few days before school was to begin, and preparation was the top priority. Everywhere I looked there were people with purpose and excitement on their faces. As I rounded the corner, I found Britton's office--a charter school hub full of people and conversation.

I was quickly introduced to Britton, the school superintendent, who greeted me with a warm smile and a confident hello. She escorted me into a large room and explained, "This used to be the church sanctuary; it should be quieter in here."

We began a discussion on Texas Charter Schools, a division of the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Charter schools were created to offer an alternative to the mainstream public education system. Most states have a similar division and though regulations may vary, the purpose of these schools is fairly uniform.

There are two basic types of charter schools in the state of Texas: open enrollment and at-risk charter schools. These schools are funded by the state, and limited federal funds may be available. Open enrollment charters may be granted to nonprofit organizations with their 501(c)(3) exemption or to a university, college or governmental organization. In some instances parents have organized, obtained their nonprofit status and been awarded a charter.

While charter schools may take on a variety of faces in their expression, all charters fall under the state educational regulations. The specific regulations may vary from the public school system but are more apt to fall to additional sources of accountability. This is designed to help assure the success of these schools rather than to create additional requirements for them, according to the TEA.

Family Praise Center's charter school, The School of Excellence, was birthed in the hearts of pastors Rick and Robin Hawkins, who believed that one of the best ways to serve east San Antonio was through education. They wanted to reach out to the community surrounding the church and minister to families with at-risk children.

"It all starts with a vision," Britton told Ministries Today. "The house [Family Praise Center] has always had a vision for equipping the family for ministry, and that often begins with the children." She shares how the Hawkinses had a vision of ministry to young men and women.

"I first heard about charter schools from a friend in Houston and thought perhaps this type of school could work together with the Hawkinses' vision of ministry," she explains. "The Hawkinses and I met for Sunday dinner, and we talked about the possibilities, and Pastor Rick told me to go for it."

Britton says San Antonio had two charter schools in existence at that time. She visited both. She also called officials in the state capital of Austin and talked to the TEA, gathering as much information as possible on charter schools. At that time applications were only offered in cycles rather than yearly or monthly.

"We finally received, and then filed, our application in 1997," Britton recalls. "We were granted our charter in March 1998 and our School of Excellence began with 307 students in August of that same year. When school started in August 2001, our enrollment was about 1,200 students. We now have two campuses and are making plans for a third."

Open enrollment charter school populations may include any student who is accepted in the public school system. Schools must accept any student who applies for entry, as long as the school has not reached maximum occupation. The number of student capacity is established by the TEA when charters are granted. The exception is if a student has been removed from public school for disciplinary action or has been convicted of delinquent conduct.

The charter school population in Texas depends greatly on the location and focus of the school. There is a broad base of ethnic diversity as well as socioeconomic factors. According to the TEA, there are approximately 50 percent more gifted and talented students in public schools compared to charter schools, and the special education student population runs 33 percent higher in public schools. These figures include charter schools with populations of at-risk students.