This October may bring more a trick than a treat if you are selected for program monitoring validations on your ESSA-funded programs! The good news is that if you are picked, you will have until almost Christmas to submit the paperwork. If you weren’t selected last year and aren’t selected this year, you can bet … Read More
AI Is Here: Is Your Staff Handbook Ready?
Why it Matters Generative AI is showing up everywhere, from lesson planning to grading helpers, and staff are using tools like ChatGPT and Copilot whether schools are ready or not. To protect student data, support innovation, and stay compliant with FERPA and Texas Education Code, now is the time to add an AI section to … Read More
Special Education Teacher Certification
Filling vacancies in teaching positions could be a challenge, especially when it comes to special education. When it comes to certification, charter schools must go by their approved charter EXCEPT when it comes to ESL and Special Education teachers. SPED and ESL teachers must be certified in all charters, so obtaining permits while teachers are … Read More
School Improvement Ratings, Funding, and LASO Grant Cycle 4
What is the latest on federal funding for school improvement? The list of schools in need of improvement under the federal system was released on August 14, 2025. Similar to LASO 3 last year, funding for schools identified for improvement will become part of the LASO Cycle 4 grant. As usual, intervention activities and written … Read More
Completing the 2024-25 ESSA Compliance Report
CSS is redistributing the compliance report tip as a friendly reminder that it is due September 30, 2025! The prior year is not truly complete in the federal world until compliance reporting is complete. The back-to-school rush is at hand, but annual compliance reporting for Title funds is upon us! With a due date of … Read More
2023 State Report Card Dissemination
Be ready this year with an influx of report card distributions. Due to the 2022-23 and 2023-24 state accountability ratings being released late after a drawn-out court challenge, the state report cards (SRCs) are just now being released by TEA. In the prior two years, the FEDERAL report cards were still distributed, but the State … Read More
Risk Level Assessment for 2025-26
Low is usually good when you step on the scale, but you know what else you want to be low? Your risk level with TEA! Federal regulations require TEA to annually evaluate each grant recipient’s risk of noncompliance with the federal statutes, rules, terms, and conditions of their award. To comply with this requirement, TEA … Read More
Title I School-Parent Compact
You’ve probably heard the saying “It takes a village to raise a child.” The same is true about educating a child. When schools and parents work together, we see greater student success. Parents and schools agree that we want our students to be successful. One of the ways to help our students achieve academic success … Read More