ESSA Newsletter

Welcome to the September Region 15 ESSA Newsletter!

We know the start of the school year is always a whirlwind, so we’ve pulled together the latest updates, resources, and quick to-do lists to make things a little easier. And remember—you don’t have to figure this all out alone. If you have questions or need support, our team is just a call or email away.

- Tami Knight, Mercedez Rassi, and Monica Diaz

www.esc15.net/titlei

Entitlements
As of August 7, TEA had received confirmed allocation amounts from the feds. Revised planning amounts were released the week of August 11, 2025. Your entitlement may have increased or decreased a smidge, but in Region 15, these changes were not substantial.

Grant Applications
Here’s the latest on applications and NOGAs:

• The ESSA Consolidated Application in eGrants is staying the same.

• New, corrected NOGAs were issued on August 15, 2025.

• If your district already received a NOGA, you’ll need to submit an amendment if you want to budget for the revised planning amounts (or you can wait until final amounts/carryover).

• If your application is still in negotiation, check with your grant negotiator to see if your budget can be updated.

• Districts that haven’t submitted yet should use the revised planning amounts when completing their original application.

Carryover
Carryover funds remain available, but remember: they’re meant for unexpected needs, not long-term planning. Large carryover amounts can raise concerns about program planning and performance.

• Your district will know the local carryover amounts once the fall closeout process is complete.

• TEA won’t issue official NOGAs for carryover until after January 30, 2026—but your district may spend locally and then reimburse yourselves once funds are released in early spring.

Period of Availability
The U.S. Department of Education has confirmed that these funds may be obligated starting July 1, 2025 (or the start date of the revised NOGA, whichever is later).

Reminder: 24-25 Compliance Reports - due soon!

The 2024-25 ESSA Consolidated Compliance Reports and Rural Low Income Schools (RLIS, if applicable) are available in eGrants. You may access them under the Compliance Reports tab. TEA has posted resources for completing the compliance report, linked here:

• Mockups, Instructions, and Videos
• What happens if LEA reports Not in Compliance?
• Program Compliance Self-Check Guide

Both compliance reports are due by September 30.

If you contract with the ESC for ESSA Support, Tami or Mercedez have completed the report(s) on your behalf.

Just a reminder about Post-Award Compliance Reviews....

As part of the ESSA post-award compliance review, TEA will select a 25% random sample of districts to submit documentation supporting two items:

1. Homeless Reservation Worksheet - documentation to support the amount included for your 25-26 Homeless Reservation (line 2 on the ESSA Application PS3101 schedule)
2. Title II and Title III SNS Professional Development Worksheet - documentation regarding the funds used for district PD for these programs.

For more information, please see the GovDelivery sent May 16. The LEAs who were selected have been notified.

In order to help schools implement compliant programs, TEA has published frequently asked questions for various program areas.

ESSA:

• Title I-A FAQ (06/23)
• Title I-D FAQ (11/22)
• Title II-A FAQ (09/24)
• Title IV-A FAQ (07/24)
• ESSA Private Nonprofit Equitable Services (08/24)

This planner was developed in a partnership between TEA and the Title I Statewide Initiative. It provides a monthly guide for ESSA programs.

TEA is providing an overview of the 2025-26 ESSA Program Monitoring validation. You may learn more about the session by clicking here. We strongly encourage you to attend this session.

TEA's Program Monitoring Website

When: Thursday, Sept. 25 @ 9:30-11:30

Registration: Register Here

If you have a participating Private NonProfit school, you are required to submit an Affirmation of Consultation by September 30.

TEA is conducting a virtual training session on September 5 (9:00-10:30 am). You may register here.

Our 2025-2026 ESSA Workshops have also been tentatively scheduled. Please note that these dates are subject to change! We often receive notice of trainings we are required to attend after we create our PD schedule. We do our best to communicate changes promptly and we appreciate your understanding!

Title I schoolwide programs run best when principals know what’s expected — and feel equipped to handle it! In this session, federal program directors will receive a ready-to-use training toolkit designed to help principals understand the “why” and “how” behind schoolwide program requirements. From documentation do’s and don’ts to simple systems for staying organized, this session offers practical tools and resources you can use right away to make compliance a little less complicated — and a lot more doable.

Click here to register for access to this on-demand course!

Parent Day will be on October 17, 2025, at the Waco Convention Center—an exciting event created just for parents and caregivers! Parents will walk away with practical tips, valuable resources, and fresh inspiration to help them thrive at home and in school life.

Is there anything we can do to help you with your ESSA programs? Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. Our contact information is below.

Email: federalprograms@esc15.net
Website: www.esc15.net/titlei
Location: 612 South Irene Street, San Angelo, TX, USA
Phone: 325-658-6571
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Region15ESC
Twitter: @Region15ESC