Collaborative Comprehensive Needs Assessment for 2025-26 (CCNA)

We know it’s not even spring break yet, but it’s not too early to begin planning for next year! The time is now to set up meeting dates for your annual Comprehensive Needs Assessment that leads to your 2025-26 District and Campus Improvement Plans! Make a plan for gathering data since campuses must first look … Read More

Indirect Cost Rate Request for 2025-26

Everyone likes money, and we have an excellent money tip for you today! If you receive grants, indirect cost rates can be a good deal for you, but you must act by March 28, 2025! Indirect costs are the costs grantees can add to their grant draw downs to recover their organization-wide administrative costs of … Read More

Title III Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Requirements

Involving parents can be challenging, especially when language and cultural barriers are involved. Whether you are in a shared service arrangement (SSA) or receive Title III funds directly, you are required to provide parental engagement activities specifically targeted towards your Emergent Bilingual learners’ families. Today’s article will assist charters with understanding what qualifies as parent, … Read More

Mid-Year Review of Federal Grant Funds

Check-ups are important! They keep us on track. The middle of the school year is a good time to check up on your federal grant funds by conducting a mid-year review. The purpose of the mid-year review is to give you an opportunity to see if you are still on track to expend your federal … Read More

Federal Report Card Requirements

The grades are out! How did you do? Each year the federal report cards are released to the public. In Texas there are two types of report cards – state and federal. The state report cards are on hold due to the litigation involving the A-F accountability ratings. However, the wheels of the federal government … 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

Random Validations Begin – Title I, II, and IV

Is your name on the list? No, not Santa’s list! TEA selected LEAs for random validations for Title I, II, and IV, and the list was posted on November 13, 2024. You can rest easy that if you are selected for validation, you do have time and assistance to prepare. If you weren’t selected this … Read More

ESSER Year 5 Annual Reporting Phase I Due January 15, 2025

ESSER reporting lives on even after the money does not! We are entering year 5 of reporting which will involve data from 9/1/23 to 8/31/24. This year, the reporting will be done in two phases with Phase I being due January 15, 2025. ESSER annual reporting is very complex; therefore, today’s article will point you … Read More

ESSA Title I School-Parent Compact

Educating children is a shared responsibility between the school and the home. When schools and parents work together, we see greater student success. One of the ways to help our students achieve academic success is through effective communication with parents. In a Title I school, the heart of communication begins with a written agreement between … Read More

School Improvement Ratings, Funding, and LASO Grant Cycle 3

We are in year two of the A-F accountability ratings being held up in court challenges; however, federal ratings continue. The federal list of schools in need of improvement was released on August 26, 2024. New this year, funding for schools identified for improvement will become part of the LASO Cycle 3 grant (more to … Read More