A moratorium is being considered while the town tries to establish a campus. With a proposed moratorium gaining steam, Westlake's hope for its own charter school rests with the Texas Senate. Next week, the Senate Education Committee will consider House Bill 6, which would halt the creation of open-enrollment charter schools for two years. The bill cleared the state House earlier this month, prompted by members' criticism of the schools' poor performances and lack of oversight. But Westlake officials hope that senators will either kill the proposed moratorium or make changes to the bill so that it would allow the Westlake school to be formed.
Charter schools are free from many regulations that apply to public schools.
They were created with the idea that increased flexibility would improve education. In December, Westlake announced plans for Westlake Academy, a 400-student charter school offering classes from kindergarten through 12th grade. Town residents would be given first chance at enrollment. Eventually, Westlake wants the proposed charter school to have an International Baccalaureate program , a rigorous course curriculum that requires graduates to speak multiple languages and to write a 4,000-word thesis. Westlake had hoped that one of those 120 charters would not be renewed this year.