Basic Grants Management

Grants can be a great way to add funds to your school budget, but dealing with grants is not simple. The payoff of receiving grants can be worth it if you are cognizant of the regulations and rules of the grant. Before you venture too far into the grant waters, take the time to understand … Read More

ESSA Consolidated Grant Application

Summer is grant writing time in the federal world! This can often be our busiest time of year with closing out previous year grants, and planning and applying for the next round. One of the main ones is the ESSA Consolidated Grant Application that is the formula grant (non-competitive) for the major title funds (Title … Read More

Gun Free Schools Report

When is your last day of school? We have a task for you to do the day AFTER that date. Thank goodness gun incidents are rare; nonetheless, all charter districts that receive any federal funds must submit the Gun Free Report (PR6000) by June 29, 2024. This is the one case where you should not … Read More

Travel Pay from Federal Grant Funds

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

End of Year Federal Activities for Charter Districts

CSS is there to keep you organized in the end of school madness! Our handy checklist below contains “all things federal grants” that you need to finish up the year! You will find all pertinent TEA deadlines that you can add to your calendar today! CSS hopes you have an incredible end of the year … 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