Texans Can Academies announced its policy today for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the attached current income eligibility guidelines (IEG).  Each school/site or the central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by anyone on request.

Starting on July 22, Texans Can Academies will begin distributing letters to the households of the children in the district (Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio) about eligibility benefits and any actions households need to take to apply for these benefits. Applications also are available at 325 W. 12^th Street, Dallas, Texas 75208, or at each Texans Can Academies campus. Households can also apply online at https://schoolcafe.com.

Criteria for Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits

The following criteria will be used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits:

Income

1. Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels

Categorical or Automatic Eligibility

1. Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Program Participant

1. Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster
2. Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start

Income Eligibility

For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must fill out free and reduced-price meal application and return it to your campus admission’s office or contact Felecia Morris, Executive Director of Student Nutrition Services at email: fmorris@texanscan.org or (214) 875-4104. Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information:

1. Names of all household members
2. Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member
3. Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for

“No Social Security number”

1. Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct

Categorical or Program Eligibility

Texans Can Academies is working with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible. Texans

Can Academies will notify the households of these children that they do not need to complete an application. Any household that does not receive a letter and feels it should have should contact Student Nutrition Service, Attention: Felecia Morris, Executive Director, at 214-875-4104. A copy of the letter to the household and the meal application can also be found on our Student Nutrition Service website at www.texanscan.org.

Any household that wishes to decline benefits should contact Student Nutrition Service, Attention: Felecia Morris, Executive Director, at 214-875-4104 or the campus Admission’s clerk.

Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may also be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year.

Determining Eligibility

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Executive Director of Student Nutrition Service, Felecia Morris, will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Official’s eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Chief of Schools, Dr. James Ponce, at 214-944-1985.

Unexpected Circumstances

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the attached current income eligibility guidelines.

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information on this application. You do not have to give the information, but if you do not submit all needed information, we cannot approve your child for free or reduced price meals. You must include the last four digits of the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. The social security number is not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a Food Assistance (FA), Family Investment Program (FIP) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) case number or other FDPIR identifier for your child or when you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number. We will use your information to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced price meals, and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs. We may share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules. Nondiscrimination Statement: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http:// www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632- 9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

It is a PRIME day to read at Texans Can Academies. Through the schools’ reading process, known by staff and students as “Marquez Reading”, Texans Can Academies focuses on helping students improve reading accuracy, become more comfortable with reading, think through text-based material and write in response to reading. President and CEO of Texans Can Academies, Mr. Richard Marquez, developed the research-based process, and it is integrated into the classroom instruction of all Texans Can Academies campuses every day. 

Marquez Reading was designed to address the most tested skills in all standardized exams, improve low reading scores and support special education needs to help all students succeed. 

Texans Can Academies are a unique network of 14 charter schools located in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. The schools are tuition-free, open enrollment, public high schools of choice serving students who have struggled in a traditional high school setting. 

Texans Can Academy - Dallas Oak Cliff welcomed a new sports and information technology summer camp to its campus last week. Beyond the Ball: IT Immersion Experience offered summer students the opportunity to explore the world of sports technology careers in the NBA, NFL, MLB and NBA2K.

The very first Beyond the Ball: IT Immersion Experience took place from June 17-20 at Texans Can Academy - Dallas Oak Cliff. At-risk students got the opportunity to learn from leaders in the IT and sports industries and took a hands-on approach to learning what goes into the team and individual players’ performance behind the scenes. Near the end of the program, students demonstrated teamwork by competing in an esports tournament, using skills gained from previous lessons while learning about gaming and esports career opportunities.

“We were very excited for the opportunity to work with Beyond the Ball and to be the very first school to host the IT Immersion Experience,” said Cynthia Miles, principal of Texans Can Academy - Dallas Oak Cliff. “We wanted to bring some kind of tech training to our summer students and this program made a big impact on our students that want to be professional athletes.”

During the camp, Texans Can Academy students learned a variety of skills, including: how to design and build technology apps and inventions used to improve player performance; how to turn NBA2K and gamer skills into big business through coding, entrepreneurship and togetherness; how to analyze player analytics like an NBA scout using technology; and how to create a career pathway that leads to exciting careers in the sports industry.

The four-day schedule kicked off on Monday with an orientation and life skills lesson with a math element, where students created their own wearable shot counters. “The Combine” incorporated timed basketball shooting drills with life skills to teach students statistics and the importance of work ethic. The second day began with a “Team Talk” life skills lesson. Additional lessons throughout the day included the coding and inputs that go into gaming and controllers and learning about gyro sensors and how they capture and observe data in the sports world. Most of the third day was observed for the esports tournament, where students competed on teams to showcase what they have learned about the technology behind the sports. Students toured the new Geekletes facility in DeSoto on Thursday, while meeting and discussing gaming careers, entrepreneurship and real estate with Geekletes CEO Danny Martin.

As part of the program, students had the opportunity to learn from leaders in the IT and sports industry. Speakers included:

• Thelvie Cullins Jr., a 2016 Top Ten Educator of the Year recipient and calculus teacher at the School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas, taught students about how math can be applied to free throws through quadratic equations, parabolas and other techniques.
• Harry A. Kennedy, CEO of HAK Electronics, educated students about the math behind certain aspects of sports and gaming and taught the basics of Arduino, an open-source electronic prototyping platform enabling users to create interactive electronic objects.
• Mondrick Jones, a player analytics manager for the Dallas Mavericks, taught students analytical and engineering skills while applying life lessons.
• Reggie Johnson, an advance scout for the Dallas Mavericks, discussed NBA careers off the court with students.
• Danny Martin, CEO of Geekletes, gave students a tour of the new Geekletes esports facility and discussed gaming careers, entrepreneurship and real estate.

Beyond the Ball was started with the mission to expose youth to the many careers that exist in the sports world beyond hitting, catching, kicking or dunking a ball. The organization aims to end the epidemic of the educational system losing minds of minority boys to sports dreams.

“Being the mother of two boys, I have always worked to prepare them for success in the real world,” said Erica Molett, founder of Beyond the Ball. “Witnessing my oldest obsess over NBA dreams has always made me nervous. I told him there are millions of boys around the globe with the same goal and they are all trying to fit through the eye of the same needle. Statistics say that only three in 10,000 high school students will be drafted to the NBA. As the remaining 99.97% step into the real world, will they have the STEM and literacy aptitude to excel beyond the court or field?”

The Beyond the Ball: IT Immersion Experience goes beyond providing students with skills they can use in their future technology and sports industry careers. Additional benefits of the program include equipping students with advanced study techniques and habits for the future, preparing students with life skills and employment guidance to help obtain their career pathways, interaction with industry professionals and hands-on application for technical product designs such as drones, apps and cell phones.

“After working with the hardworking and ambitious students of Texans Can Academy - Dallas Oak Cliff this year, it was an honor to launch our inaugural Beyond the Ball camp with Principal Miles and her campus,” said Molett. “Our camps will make a real-world connection between sports, mathematics, literacy, IT and science, which should improve academic performance and introduce new career options.”

As a value-added organization, Texans Can Academies strives to provide students with services and resources beyond the classroom. The organization upholds the mission to provide every student the opportunity to pursue their dreams while removing barriers that keep them from attaining their education.

For more information about the Beyond the Ball: IT Immersion Experience, please visit www.hakelectronics.com/beyondtheball. For more information about Texans Can Academies, please visit www.texanscan.org.

Char'd, a Southeast Asian Kitchen, is celebrating Father's Day by offering dads a free customizable bowl when they bring someone with them that purchases a bowl on Sunday, June 16th at their Richardson location in CityLine Plaza at 1251 State Street, Suite 800, Richardson, TX 75082. The restaurant is steps away from the DART CityLine station.

Char'd gives guests the freedom to mix and match different Asian cuisine with customizable bowls. The chefs have a modern interpretation to traditional recipes. In addition to customizable bowls, the menu at Char'd offers steamed buns, spring rolls, poke bowl, homemade ice cream, local craft beer, and a large selection of wine, among many other delicious options.

Char’d, a Southeast Asian Kitchen, is celebrating the grand opening of its Richardson location by giving away free customizable bowls to the first 150 guests that attend the grand opening event. The celebration starts at 5:00 p.m. on June 13, 2019 at 1251 State Street, Suite 800, in CityLine Plaza.

Char’d gives guests the freedom to mix and match different Asian cuisine, including Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean flavors, with customizable bowls. The chefs have a modern interpretation to traditional recipes. In addition to customizable bowls, the menu at Char’d offers steamed buns, spring rolls, poke bowl, homemade ice cream, local craft beer, and a large selection of wine, among many other delicious options.

To celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, June 16th, dads will get a free customizable bowl when they bring someone with them that purchases a bowl.

The Richardson restaurant is located in CityLine DFW, a mixed-use development offering restaurants, entertainment and retail, and is steps away from the DART CityLine station.

In addition to the newest location in Richardson, Char’d has a restaurant in Mansfield and will also be opening a Fort Worth location in Summer 2019.