SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio charter school that was told its doors must close may be able to stay open after all.
It wasn't student performance, but clerical errors that put the future of San Antonio Technical Academy in jeopardy. Now, there's a chance the state may reconsider its policy of counting those errors against charter schools. The principal and students are overjoyed about new support coming from Austin.
SATA senior Ashante Jacko came from New Orleans in April.
"I tried to go to other schools and they all denied me, but when I came here they took me in. They took care of me and gave me the work I actually needed," she said.
Jacko is one of the charter school's 127 students.
"Over 90 percent of our students are at risk," said SATA Principal Dr. Benjamin Johnson. "And that doesn't mean they're not intelligent. That doesn't mean they're not capable. What it does mean, however, is that there are gaps in their learning."
Johnson said his school fills those gaps. He said the main goal of the school is that the students graduate with a GED or high school diploma and learn a lot about many types of technology.
It all came crashing down in March, however, when the Texas Education Agency reported the school had received "three strikes" according to Texas House Bill 3281, and would have to shut down. Johnson said all three strikes resulted from clerical errors in recording "at-risk" information and mislabeling money. None had to do with student performance.
"To me, it really hurt my feelings that the school was going to close down. I will graduate but I know a lot of the other kids, this is very much the only option that they actually have in order to do something with their life," Jacko said.
Johnson contacted state Sen. Jose Menendez, who rallied other senators to help amend the bill.
"They just added that one little clause saying that charter schools won't be revoked for clerical errors," Johnson said.
It still has to pass the House and Senate, but if it does, Gov. Greg Abbott already told Johnson he'll sign it.
"I'm very excited," Jacko said.
Johnson said he's almost sure the school will stay open now.