In the spirit of giving thanks this November, we can appreciate the funding that federal grants provide. While we are thankful for the money to help our students, the paperwork might not put you in the holiday spirit. Not to worry, CSS has compiled all the information on the latest report. Today’s article is about … Read More
Title I Comparability of Services Due Nov 14, 2025
Fall is in the air, and the holidays are quickly approaching, but before you get to leave and have your turkey and pumpkin pie, the annual “Comparability testing” for Title I must be done. This “test” is completed each year to make sure local (FSP) staffing and funds are distributed (budgeted) equally between Title I … Read More
Title I Paraprofessional Requirements
As you get ready to hire and plan for next year, CSS has important information to share regarding the qualifications of paraprofessionals on a Title I schoolwide campus. Whether you currently have Title I paraprofessionals or you are looking to add new ones, ALL instructional paraprofessionals on a schoolwide campus must meet highly-qualified requirements prior … 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
LASO Cycle 3 Grant – Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities Due Dec 13, 2024
Superintendents, watch your email on October 14! Superintendents will receive the link to apply for LASO Cycle 3 which is a bundled application for multiple grant funding opportunities. Perhaps TEA is getting ideas from Progressive on this bundling thing? Like TCLAS and the previous LASO grant, charter districts will be able to pick and choose … Read More
Silent Panic Alert Technology (SPAT) Grant – Due Dec 12, 2022
Your school may have previously benefitted from the School Safety and Security grant that the State issued in an effort to prevent school violence. More safety funding is being made available with the SPAT Grant being due in the very near future. The SPAT grant is to purchase silent alert technology, and to be honest, … Read More
LASO Grant – Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities
Ready to “round up” some new funding? The latest release of post-COVID funding is called LASO (aka TCLAS II), and CSS is here to be your partner as we wrestle up all the dirt on this new grant that is due December 22, 2022. Preliminary training for LASO has already happened in October (don’t worry, … Read More
Maintenance of Equity Requirement Due Dec 9, 2022
Many small charter schools are exempt from the Maintenance of Equity requirement; however, if you have multiple campuses with duplicate grade spans, your LEA will not be exempt. The MOEquity requirement is part of compliance for receiving ARP funds: ESSER III, ESSER Supplemental, or TCLAS. The purpose of checking for MOEquity is to ensure that … 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
Title I, Part A Paraprofessional Requirements
Clarity. Having a clear understanding of the often-murky waters of Title I regulations is a good thing! The Federal Program Compliance Division at TEA has recently posted updated guidance on the requirements for paraprofessional positions funded fully or in part by Title I, Part A federal grants. If you have any paraprofessionals, you will want … Read More