In order to run a school system, you have to make purchases. There is a great deal of responsibility involved to make sure funding intended for the students is regulated with care. An added layer of review is necessary when these purchases involve federal grant funds. Some charter districts are a one-man or two-man operation, … Read More
Title I Supplemental Methodology Requirement
Does your new budget year start September 1? CSS is re-running our previous tip about a Title I annual requirement. Many charter districts are starting new budget years on July 1, and planning for Title I funds must be part of the new budget year – especially if you have multiple campuses in the same … Read More
Travel Pay from Federal Grant Funds
For any program to be successful, having well-trained teachers to implement it is a must. For this reason, staff travel is often necessary in federal programs. However, there are many rules and regulations about paying travel using grant funds. The LEA must have written travel procedures and detailed documentation of travel expenses. Travel can be … Read More
Beginning of Year Activities for Federal Programs
The 2025-26 school year is in sight, and it’s time to get organized to start the year off right! Planning and parental engagement are at the top of the list for the new year of federal programs, especially Title I. The CSS BOY Checklist will keep you in compliance with all the back-to-school federal requirements. … Read More
Stronger Protections, Shorter Timelines: New Mandates for Misconduct Reporting in Texas Charter Schools
Keeping students safe isn’t just a moral obligation…it’s the law. The 89th Texas Legislative Session introduced Senate Bill 571 and House Bill 4623, which tighten reporting timelines, expand definitions of reportable misconduct, and remove key legal immunities for charter schools in cases of sexual misconduct and failure to report. SB571 became effective immediately when signed … Read More
Don’t Get Caught Off Guard: New Board Meeting and Public Info Rules for 2025-26
Starting September 1, 2025, sweeping changes to board meeting practices and public information requests will go into effect for all Texas open-enrollment charter schools. These legislative updates reflect a push for transparency, accessibility, and parent engagement. Now is the time to prepare. With parent engagement and public transparency at the forefront of recent legislative changes, … Read More
Title I, Part A Overview
Title I is the largest program under ESSA, and understanding how it works can be a challenge, especially if you are new. Do you want to hear about Title I in a nutshell? Having a Title I program can provide many benefits for your school, so it pays to be “in the know” about how … Read More
Special Education Consolidated (Federal) Grant Application
Meeting the needs of special education students can be expensive for schools. Fortunately, the federal grant known as IDEA B is available to public schools to help fund IEP-related services for students. The Special Education Consolidated (Federal) Grant application is available now in eGrants and is due no later than 5:00 p.m. September 3, 2025 … Read More
Micro-Purchase Threshold Self-Certification for 2025-26 Due Oct. 1 (Optional)
Spending time gathering quotes for purchasing is time-consuming. You might be interested in an option to allow less quoting, but there are requirements to consider. You might have previously raised your micro-purchase threshold (EDGAR allowed starting 2021), but action is needed annually to maintain it. If you are new or want to make a change, … Read More
What Does It Take to Be a Successful Charter HR Professional?
Today’s HR Tip is an interview with an HR Expert – Charter School Success’s very own Jordan Elliott. Read below for Jordan’s valuable insights from her career as an HR professional How did you get into the field of HR in education? My real love for HR evolved while I was serving as Superintendent of … Read More