Many small charter schools are exempt from the Maintenance of Equity requirement; however, if you have multiple campuses with duplicate grade spans, your LEA will not be exempt. The MOEquity requirement is part of compliance for receiving ARP funds: ESSER III, ESSER Supplemental, or TCLAS. The purpose of checking for MOEquity is to ensure that … Read More
PEIMS Changes for 2022
Does your district have a truancy prevention plan in place? Per the 2022-23 Student Attendance Accounting Handbook (https://tea.texas.gov/finance-and-grants/financial-compliance/student-attendance-accounting-handbook) “A child engages in truant conduct if the child is required to attend school under the TEC, §25.085, and fails to attend school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in … Read More
Completing the 2021-22 ESSA Compliance Report
We know compliance reporting is the least fun thing to do at the start of school, but it can’t be avoided if you have ESSA funds. Each year, LEAs who accept Federal funds must complete a compliance report to verify activities have been implemented according to the program guidelines and the approved grant application. Hopefully, … Read More
Beginning of Year Activities for Federal Programs
The sun is setting on summer even though it doesn’t feel like it in this Texas heat! There are many things you must remember to do, so CSS has created a federal checklist to help keep you organized. Stay “cool” with compliance, and start checking them off today! The CSS Federal Programs Team works directly … Read More
Action Required – ESSER III URL Update
Perhaps you have been making changes to your website to get ready for the 2022-23 school year, or your plans for ESSER III funds or COVID protocols have changed. If your charter district received ESSER III funds, the “Use of Funds” plan and the “Return to In-person Instruction (RIPICS)” plan must be posted on your … Read More
Charter School Budget Overview: Best Practices and Processes
Effective financial management starts with a good budget. A realistic budget is a critical management and accountability tool for charter schools at every stage in their development. The process of establishing a budget forces charters to review and prioritize programs and improvements, helping them allocate resources to areas that are key to academic success. It … Read More
Summer PEIMS
It is incredibly important that your Student Information System (SIS) Calendar accurately reflects what occurred in your district each day! In order to receive full ADA funding each of your campus calendars must include at least 75,600 operational minutes, including all applicable waivers. Operational minutes include all daily minutes from the start of student instruction … Read More
Prekindergarten: Qualifications, Documentation & PEIMS Coding
Prekindergarten programs are different and more complex than the other grade levels offered in your district. To receive ADA funding for the students in your PK program there are specific age requirements and qualification criteria that must be met. Once you register a student for your PK program, they become subject to compulsory attendance until … Read More
Pro Tips for Recruiting the Best of the Best
Having stellar employees is key to your charter school’s success. However, you only have a small window of time for selection: the opportunity to explore candidates and decide who will gain that coveted spot on your charter school’s team. To make the most of it, you’ll need a well thought out recruiting strategy: a plan … Read More
Indirect Cost Rate Request for 2022-23
Money! Now that we have your attention, did you know you can claim indirect costs on your federal grant awards and keep the money no strings attached? To do so, Charter Districts must first request an indirect cost rate, and today’s article is about how to go about obtaining one. Indirect Costs are the costs … Read More