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
ARP Maintenance of Equity Test
Note: CSS is re-running this Tip from November because MOEquity testing was delayed by TEA, and now is up and running again. We are seeing red this February –red tape that is! The extra COVID funds sure are nice, but with them comes extra reporting. CSS has another compliance test to warn you about that … Read More
Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) is here!
Districts may begin submitting data for the 2020-2021 school year to OCR. The portal to do so, opened up on December 13, 2021. You may submit and make changes up until the data submission period ends on February 28, 2022. What is CRDC? CRDC stands for Civil Rights Data Collection, and it is a universal … Read More
Coming Soon! IDEA -ARP Funding for Special Ed
We hope you like some twist in your peppermint this holiday season, because this news is going to be different! Coming in “mid December” is the release of the IDEA -B Formula ARP funding along with the same for IDEA-B Preschool ARP funding. You are accustomed to getting normal IDEA increases and carryover this time … Read More
Independent Contractor or Employee?
As we encounter the end of one year and the beginning of another, many year-end accounting tasks are upon us, including the issuance of W2s and 1099s to those who have performed work for us during 2021. To determine who needs to get which type of tax form, we must be able to properly classify … Read More
Reporting Requirements for the Annual Report and 2019-20 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR)
The countdown has begun! No, not for New Years (although 2022 is not far off!), but rather for the public hearing to share your Charter District’s annual TAPR results. All LEAs must hold a public hearing to discuss the annual report within 90 days of the reports being released by TEA. The main portion of … Read More
Risk Management
Risk management is a critical charge that school leaders must proactively address. From the Board to the Superintendent, to the central administration and campus leaders, we all play a part in effectively managing the risks at our schools. What is Risk Management? Risk Management is defined as the identification, assessment, control, and avoidance, minimization, or … Read More
Bilingual/ESL Allotment (PIC 25/35) and Written Policy and Procedures
New audit requirements can be a “spooky” topic, but here at CSS, we don’t want to leave you in the dark! Beginning with fiscal year 2022, you will be required to attest that you have written policies and procedures for your bilingual and/or ESL program. Although the same will be required for your State Compensatory … Read More