Collaborative Comprehensive Needs Assessment for 2024-25 (CCNA)

Now that Spring Break is over, the rest of the year will sail by, and planning for next year is in the works! It is the best time to start writing down your ideas because it is almost time to start the needs assessment process that is required before you can apply for federal funds … Read More

Basics of State Compensatory Education Funds

At-risk students are in the greatest danger of not completing high school. Effective planning to meet their needs, even in early childhood, can help prevent students from dropping out. Each charter district with qualified students receives a State allotment of State Compensatory Education (CompEd or SCE) funds to provide direct services to At-risk students. Of … Read More

New Grant Opportunities in eGrants

You might have noticed some new grants appear in your eGrants screen recently under “Grants/Apply for eligible grants.”  Oddly enough, you might not even be eligible. This article is to explain the grants and how to respond in eGrants to either apply or reject them.  Action is required by all Charter Districts. What is the … Read More

Indirect Cost Rate Request for 2024-25

This tip is important because it is about money! In order to get it, you will have to take action by the end of March. Have you heard about indirect costs in grants? Indirect Costs are the costs grantees can charge back to their grant to recover their organization-wide administrative costs of managing federal grants, … Read More

Title III Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Requirements

Charter districts are often in shared service arrangements (SSAs) for Title III federal funds. Whether you are in a SSA or receive the Title III funds directly, you are required to provide parental engagement activities specifically targeted towards your Emergent Bilingual learner families. Today’s article will assist LEAs with understanding what qualifies as parent, family, … Read More

ESSER Annual Reporting Due Feb 16, 2024

CSS previously ran this tip in November; however, we are releasing it again as a reminder because the deadline is near! The clock is winding down for ESSER funds. Someday the paperwork will come to an end too, but not this year! This is not the first year of ESSER annual reporting (APR), but just … Read More

Need-to-Knows about State and Federal Report Cards

Schools are all about grading, but sometimes the schools are graded themselves. This is the case with the Federal Report Cards. Please be aware that the Texas Education Agency produces TWO types of report cards annually – the School (State) Report Card (SRC) and the Federal Report Card (FRC). Usually, CSS distributes this tip with … Read More

Title I School Improvement Grant and Comprehensive Ratings

Update: The Title I School Improvement grant is now open in eGrants. For campuses with Comprehensive Progress or Comprehensive Reidentified ratings, you should see the grant in eGrants if eligible. Please read below for CSS’ previous tip from November. The Legislature can’t seem to get enough of Austin, and the A-F ratings are tied up … Read More

Random Validations for Federal Program Compliance – Phase 2

Phase I of random validations for federal program compliance monitoring ended on Oct 23rd. If you dodged that bullet (yee haw!), take heed — there is another round that begins Nov 28! For charters, this mainly concerns two areas of compliance: the Unsafe School Choice Option (USCO) and the Title I Ed Flex waiver. CSS … Read More