One of the best things about summer is the opportunity for new learning in the form of various workshops or conferences. Professional development that supports your improvement plans and is part of an ongoing goal can often be supported by federal funds. If you are considering funding travel for PD out of federal grant funds, … Read More
Title I Paraprofessional Requirements
Summer is coming and soon you will be hiring for next year! As you look to acquire new talent, please be aware of the qualifications that Title I-funded instructional paraprofessionals must possess. The “highly qualified” requirements for Title I-funded instructional paraprofessionals were retained when NCLB was reauthorized as ESSA. TEA has forms to complete when … Read More
TCLAS Grant Changes and Possible Survey Due April 6, 2024
If you have funding from more than one TCLAS decision, the information in today’s article might come as good news for you! TEA is allowing money to be moved between TCLAS decisions in some cases. However, if you wish to do so, you must complete a survey by April 6! No TCLAS funds? You can … 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
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
Gearing Up for SAFE Grant Cycle 2 – Compliance Report Due Jan 31, 2024
The SAFE Grant Cycle 1 grant is yet to be due on Jan 26, 2024, and the few who applied early are just starting to receive their NOGAs. To make matters more confusing, TEA is gearing up for the next grant called SAFE Grant Cycle 2. SAFE grant Cycle 1 was for charters that still … 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
ESSA Basic Program Requirements: Fiscal and Program
Federal funds don’t just provide money to your schools. They create programs. By focusing on solid programs, you can add to your school’s repertoire and improve your ability to serve students. But programs funded by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) are regulated by many rules that can seem confusing at times. As a savvy … Read More
Implementing the New EDGAR: Travel Costs
For any program to be successful, having well-trained teachers to implement it is a must. For this reason, travel is often necessary in federal programs. However, there are many rules and regulations about paying travel expenses using grant funds. The LEA must have written travel procedures and detailed documentation of travel expenses. Travel can be … Read More