This must be the year for unexpected surveys from TEA! In July, CSS told you about the Survey on Reporting Real Property, and on Aug 22, TEA Grant Compliance announced another new survey requirement called the “Indirect Cost Utilization Survey.” All LEAs that were issued indirect cost rates (IDCR) in the last 3 years (2020, … Read More
New Home Language Survey Effective August 9, 2023
Does the back-to-school rush have you running behind? Well, you are not alone! Just last week TEA released a new Home Language Survey (HLS) to use when enrolling new students starting August 9, 2023 ! Unfortunately, the enrollment packets you have so nicely prepared will need an adjustment. The Home Language Survey is an important document … Read More
Defining Your PTO and Leave Policies
Charters have a lot of options and opportunity to exercise creativity when it comes to defining PTO and local leave policies for their organization. A thoughtful and robust leave policy can be a critical part of the charter’s enticing total rewards and benefits package, which can impact recruitment, retention, and morale as it speaks to … 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
Inventory & Supply Management
For most schools, Inventory is the last thing that you consider keeping track of throughout the year until audit time comes around. Per the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Financial Accountability System Resource Guide (FASRG), every school in the state of Texas is required to maintain an Inventory & Supply system using an acceptable software. Auditors … Read More
Real Property Survey Due July 21, 2023
Surprises can be nice, but not when they come in the form of an unexpected report! TEA Grant Compliance announced a new survey requirement that is due July 21, 2023. The last time this survey was done was Oct 2019! It’s been a while, so you will have to do some digging to complete this … Read More
Make the PEIMS process easier by using the XML Validation Tool
Have you ever waited for hours to process your PEIMS file through TSDS only to find that you have errors you need to research and work through? Then, to make matters worse, you have to do the same long process again just to see if you corrected the error. If so, The XML Validation Tool … Read More
Campus Improvement Plan or Charter Instructional Plan
Would you travel to a destination without a plan or a road map? Probably not. And just like a road map, your Campus Improvement Plan or Charter Instructional Plan (CIP) provides your team with a pathway to define your goals, create evidence-based strategies to target the goals, and determine how they will be monitored and … Read More
Charters and ISDs: Two Peas in a Pod or Apples and Oranges?
Did you know that public charter schools have existed in Texas for more than 25 years? It is a bit surprising that some common myths and misconceptions about charters persist despite their overall positive impact. It is important that charter leaders be aware of those misconceptions and have the tools on hand to set the … Read More
Federal End of Year Activities for Charter Districts
Welcome to our handy end of year checklist! It contains all things federal that you need to finish up the activities for year! The purpose of this document is to keep you informed of all the documents that are required this time of year and the deadlines that they are due to TEA. This will … Read More