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
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
District Accreditation Status for 2022-23
The grace period from COVID is over, and, after two years of accreditation statuses being on hold, TEA has resumed issuing ratings. On January 26, 2023, TEA issued a memo announcing the release of ratings on February 9, 2023. For the previous two years, all LEAs were rated “Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster;” however, … Read More
Mid-Year Federal Grants Review (ESSA & IDEA-B)
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 grants by conducting a mid-year review. How would I go about doing that you ask? CSS has an excellent training resource in our Mid-Year Federal Grants Review Online Course – … Read More
Beginning of Year Activities for Federal Programs
The sun is setting on summer even though it doesn’t feel like it in this Texas heat! There are many things you must remember to do, so CSS has created a federal checklist to help keep you organized. Stay “cool” with compliance, and start checking them off today! The CSS Federal Programs Team works directly … Read More
Action Required – ESSER III URL Update
Perhaps you have been making changes to your website to get ready for the 2022-23 school year, or your plans for ESSER III funds or COVID protocols have changed. If your charter district received ESSER III funds, the “Use of Funds” plan and the “Return to In-person Instruction (RIPICS)” plan must be posted on your … Read More
ESSA Grant Application
Summer is not vacation time in the federal world. Federal staff are busy planning and writing grants to receive funds for the upcoming school year. At CSS, we have been working with our clients to help them understand the changes in the grant application. The ESSA Grant Application is the TEA required application for LEAs … 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
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
Random Validations Begin – Title I, II, and IV
It is highly doubtful you are raising your hand shouting “pick me” for random validation of your federal program compliance. Face it, it’s not like winning the lotto! You can rest easy that if you are selected, you do have time and assistance to prepare. Read on to find out what the random validations will … Read More