Texas Center for Arts + Academics (TCA+A) will expand its after-school conservatory classes to engage new audiences.
Texas Public Charter Schools Association (TPCSA) selected TCA+A to take part in an Education Savings Accounts (ESA) pilot program.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (April 30, 2025) – TCA+A is pleased to announce an upcoming expansion of its after-school conservatory classes, aimed at exposing more students to the arts. Currently, this non-profit organization provides after-school programs within the public charter school districts of Texas School of the Arts (TeSA) and Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (FWAFA). The after-school, tuition-based conservatories welcome all students, including those outside the charter schools, offering a variety of classes in dance, music, theatre, and visual arts, available in both group and private formats. By keeping these conservatory classes accessible to the broader community, students who are not enrolled in the schools can benefit from the rigorous curriculum, enhance artistic knowledge, and further develop skills.
Recently, the Texas Public Charter School Association (TPCSA) gathered a significant number of charter school leaders to discuss and prepare for upcoming legislation in Austin. They devised a strategy to implement pilot programs aimed at testing the application of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) within charter schools. TCA+A proposed the expansion of its conservatories as a pilot initiative and was selected as one of five organizations in the state to be pioneers in offering services that may eventually benefit students receiving ESAs. TCA+A provides an exceptional platform that delivers high-quality fine arts after-school conservatory classes at an affordable price, emphasizing its commitment to fostering a self-sustaining arts culture within the community.
“All students deserve access to the arts. Expanding our conservatories will allow students to take part in programs that will encourage creativity and social-emotional learning. Our programs in the arts allow students to enjoy themselves while solving problems and thinking critically, leading to improved academic performance, self-confidence, and overall well-being.” – Krista Langford, TCA+A Director of Admissions & Community Outreach
On April 24, 2025, the Texas Senate forwarded legislation to establish a statewide private school voucher program to Governor Greg Abbott for his approval. Abbott has indicated his plan to sign the bill, which would initiate the program at the beginning of the 2026-27 academic year. The proposed legislation allocates $2,000 to homeschooled students, a group that stands to gain significantly from access to conservatory classes.
“With the school voucher plan expected to be signed into law soon, we are proud to share that TCA+A was selected as one of only five charter school systems in Texas to pilot Education Savings Accounts (ESA) for families who choose to homeschool their children. While this initiative will not impact our audition-based admissions process for enrollment in our charter school districts, it does provide an exciting opportunity to expand our after-school fine arts conservatory programs. Through this pilot, we look forward to reaching more students across the DFW metroplex and broadening access to high-quality arts education.” – Anika Perkins ED.D., TCA+A President/CEO and Superintendent
Instead of taking a passive approach and merely watching the changes unfold, TCA+A is actively pursuing opportunities for growth. TCA+A aims to expand its services by partnering with diverse non-profit organizations, public educational institutions, and a community of homeschooling families. While the conservatory and summer programs have historically been available to all students within the community, extending to additional locations across the metroplex will allow a larger number of students to take advantage of the TCA+A experience.
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ABOUT TEXAS CENTER FOR ARTS + ACADEMICS (TCA+A)
Texas Center for Arts + Academics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to inspire and empower students with a lifelong passion for learning, academic achievement, and artistic excellence. TCA+A manages two public charter schools, Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts and Texas School of the Arts, three premier choirs, and after-school conservatory programs that provide a vast array of professional training in Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts. TCA+A is located in the creative hub of Fort Worth, Texas with more than 1,000 youth enrolled in its schools, conservatories, and summer programs annually.
MORE INFO:
Keep track of TCA+A’s schools Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts and Texas School of Arts by following us on social media:
Facebook: @TexasSchoolOfTheArts, @texascenterforartsacademics, @fortworthacademyoffinearts
Homepage: https://www.artsacademics.org/
Complete copy of the Annual Report for TCA+A here
For more information on LASO grants visit: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/health-safety-discipline/learning-acceleration-support-opportunities-laso
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Flor D. Cabrera | Director of Marketing and Communications | Texas Center for Arts + Academics flor.cabrera@artsacademics.org | 817.766.2390 (ext 113)