Sam Houston State University will launch a charter school program this fall by opening eight elementary schools in the Greater Houston area.

The first of its kind in the state of Texas, the primary purpose of the charter school program is to allow SHSU student teachers to complete their practicums under the supervision of certified educators, charter school Superintendent Ronny Knox said.

“This program has been in development for several years and we are very excited to enroll students and see the schools in action,” said Stacey Edmonson, SHSU College of Education dean. “What is most exciting is the opportunity to positively impact students while increasing our capacity to develop future-ready teachers.” 

Still in the process of signing leases, Knox said the program will partner with established day care sites. Potential school locations include The Woodlands, Magnolia, Spring, Klein, Humble, Houston and Pasadena.

The charter schools will begin with kindergarten through second grade and will add a grade level each year until they reach capacity at fifth grade. All students who apply will be accepted until the classrooms are full and the teacher-to-student ratio will be 1-to-20.

Beginning in July 2018, Knox said the charter schools will follow a year-round schedule with six-week periods and one week of enrichment, followed by a two-week break.

The project was originally slated to begin last fall, however, concerns from partnering school districts delayed the program, Knox said.

The curriculum at all eight schools will include math, science, social studies and literacy as well as art, music and physical education. The classes are designed with “flexible grouping,” which allows students who are excelling to learn with higher grade levels.

Also different from traditional schools, the charter schools will have standard-based grading, meaning that when a student accomplishes a standard at a certain percentage, he or she can move to the next standard.

Knox said although SHSU does not have plans to expand the charter schools to other grade levels or areas of the state, university officials hope to establish additional sites in the Greater Houston area. Extracurricular activities and school buses could also be in the program’s future.

“Our curriculum will be produced and vetted by SHSU professors, and we’ve got national experts on education, so [our students] are going to get the best of the best,” Knox said. “Our goal is that when our students transition into sixth grade, they will be better prepared and outperform their counterparts.”

Knox said he is in the process of accepting applications for both students and qualified teachers for all eight charter schools. Applicants can contact 936-294-3347 for information.