Waco Independent School District trustees will vote on moving forward Thursday with yet another third-party partnership to run educational operations, this time for an “integrated early learning innovation center.”
An item on the Waco ISD school board agenda sets the stage for a state-supported partnership with Waco’s Economic Opportunities Advancement Corp. The regional nonprofit already provides federally funded Early Head Start and Head Start services at multiple Waco ISD campuses.
The agenda item proposed by Superintendent Tiffany Spicer does not give details such as location, size or student eligibility for the center but describes it as a “gold standard for school readiness.” Waco ISD staff Tuesday said they could not provide further information until the 6 p.m. Thursday board meeting at Waco ISD’s Conference Center, 115 S. Fifth St.
Spicer proposes to use a framework created by Texas Senate Bill 1882, which allows school districts to contract with third parties to operate “in-district charter schools” to improve performance.
According to the agenda item, the 1882 partnership would allow the district to draw down an additional $1,000 to $1,500 in state funds per student.
This is the second 1882 partnership that Spicer has proposed to the board in the past month. Board members on Feb. 26 gave preliminary approval to Third Future Schools as the sole applicant starting this fall to oversee two elementary schools: South Waco and Dean Highland. The district will present the contract during a special meeting on March 30.
The Waco Bridge has filed an open records request for financial and operational details of the Third Future deal.
Waco ISD previously partnered with the local nonprofit Transformation Waco to oversee several struggling campuses between 2018 and 2024.
Extending a partnership
EOAC already operates Head Start programs for children ages 3-5 at West Avenue and South Waco elementary schools, as well as Brazos Early Head Start on Edna Avenue, which includes services for babies and toddlers.
Head Start and Early Head Start are “free, federally funded programs designed to promote school readiness for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers from families that meet income eligibility requirements,” according to childcare.gov.
Waco ISD Board President Jose Vidaña said he’s awaiting details on the proposal but he sees a need to enhance early childhood programs.
“One of the hardest things for us … (is) trying to catch (young children) up on the reading levels, and if we can get a jump on that … it’ll benefit the district in the long run,” he said.
If Waco ISD’s board of trustees approve EOAC as the applicant, the district will present more details in April.
Waco ISD is among a growing number of districts statewide that have established 1882 partnerships. Wichita Falls ISD recently expanded its 1882 partnership with Third Future Schools from one campus to three campuses. Midland, Ector County and Austin ISDs also established partnerships with Third Future Schools.
“This type of partnership allows a school district to collaborate with an external partner to support the operation of a campus while maintaining district oversight and accountability,” Waco ISD stated in its board agenda memo. “The intent of this partnership is to strengthen student outcomes, expand educational opportunities and provide additional resources aligned with district goals.”
