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
Basic Grants Management
Grants can be a great way to add funds to your school budget, but dealing with grants is not simple. The payoff of receiving grants can be worth it if you are cognizant of the regulations and rules of the grant. Before you venture too far into the grant waters, take the time to understand … Read More
District Improvement Planning (DIP/LEA Plan) for Charter Districts
Famous astronaut Buzz Aldrin once said, “Shoot for the moon; you might get there!” Space travel takes planning, and so does having really great schools! Having a well-designed DIP/LEA PLAN (aka LEA Plan per TEA) can help your organization have focus and reach its goals, but in some cases, it is also required by law. … Read More
Applying for Sub System of Time & Effort
Better to be safe than sorry! You might not have any split-funded staff in your federal grants next year, but it is better to get on the list just in case. Why would I need it you ask? If you end up needing to split-fund an employee with a federal grant later in the 2025-26 … Read More