ESSA Newsletter

Welcome to March! As we spring forward into a busy season, this month’s ESSA newsletter is your go-to guide for timely reminders, helpful resources, and key updates to keep everything on track. Take a few minutes to scan what’s ahead...and remember, the three of us are always just an email or call away if you need support. We’re grateful to partner with you in this work!

- Tami Knight, Monica Diaz, and Mercedez Rassi

www.esc15.net/titlei

Be on the lookout! TEA will send a GovDelivery the first week of March with instructions and a link to complete the Real Property Survey.

**** All school systems must complete the form ****

(even if you do not have any real property to report)

For purposes of this survey, real property generally includes land, buildings, permanent structures, and improvements attached to the land (for example: construction projects, HVAC systems, roofing, or major renovations).

Many districts used ESSER funds for construction, HVAC replacements, and other facility improvements — these must be reflected on the survey.

The last survey was completed in 2023, so please review any federally funded projects completed since that time. If you are unsure whether something qualifies as real property, report it anyway. It is better to include it for review than to leave it off. If you'd like a copy of what your LEA submitted in 2023, you may request a copy by emailing Nick Davis at TEA (nick.davis@tea.texas.gov).

Watch for the GovDelivery message in early March and plan to complete the survey promptly. Once the notification is posted, we will update this newsletter article to include applicable links, so come back later and revisit the online version.

TEA has shared that federal appropriations for 2026–27 have been approved. The U.S. Department of Education is required to award funds for ESEA, McKinney-Vento, IDEA, Perkins, and Adult Education on July 1 when they become available, so we are not anticipating delays in funding like last year.

Funding levels are expected to remain steady, with some programs potentially seeing a slight increase. Planning amounts should be available in May, pending the release of formula data from USDE.

Watch for a To the Administrator Addressed letter in March with additional details regarding appropriations and next steps.

Final amounts and carryover for ESSA and RLIS grants became available February 27 (Click here for the GovDelivery). Here are some things to keep in mind for these funds:

• School systems must amend their grant applications to include final amounts and carryover. Deadline to amend your application is June 2, 2026!
• Excess Carryover - if your LEA has exceeded the 15% carryover limit for Title I-A, you must complete and submit a waiver request before your funds will be released. Watch for an email with a Qualtrics survey, delivered via email to the superintendent listed in AskTED.
• If you are an ESSA Support Contracting district, Tami or Mercedez will reach out to your district to initiate these amendments once funds become available. Please look out for those emails!
• You must adjust your local budget to included final amounts and carryover. Check your local policies and procedures to see whether you should do this upon submission of your amendment or once you receive a NOGA.
• Best practices for managing these grants include: carrying over zero dollars, drawing down funds regularly (we recommend monthly), and ensuring that grant funds are used to benefit the current grant year students.

It's time to disseminate your Federal Report cards!

At a minimum, the LEA must—

• Post direct links to the State, LEA and campus report cards on its website;
• Notify parents of all students about the availability of the report cards and the options for obtaining them;
• Provide appropriate translation (either oral or written) upon request;
• Make hard copies available to parents upon request; and
• Make hard copies available for viewing in public locations.

As per guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, the expectation is that each LEA shall have the federal report cards posted on its website for a minimum of 3 years.

Sample parent notification letters in English and Spanish that LEAs may customize are available on the TEA Federal Report Card Web Page. TEA strongly encourages LEAs to translate the sample letter into a language and format that all parents can understand.

LEAs are not required to use the sample parent notification letters, but they must make the federal report card information readily accessible to the public, and LEAs must notify parents of the availability of the federal report card information no later than Wednesday, March 11th.

Note: the links posted to your website must be the actual PDF for each report (in other words, do not simply link the TEA webpage and expect parents to search for your report).

For the 2025-26 ESSA Consolidated Compliance Report, TEA has included new and updated program compliance self-check sections. To assist school systems in understanding these changes and in completing the Compliance Report, TEA has created the 2025-26 Program Compliance Self-Check Guide.

Some of the more important changes include:

• Added language to all the "Parents' Right to Know" compliance items that all documents should be provided in "an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language that the parents can understand."
• Added added compliance item related to using funds under Title I, Part A to provide a language instruction educational program as determined under Title III. Most districts will answer N/A to this question!

While you're planning for the 26-27 school year, you might want to take a look at the 25-26 Program Compliance Report to see how your program measured up and where you might be able to improve. Visit TEA's ESSA Consolidated Compliance Reports Resources page for more information.

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

ESSA:

• Title I-A FAQ (08/25)
• Title I-D FAQ (11/22)
• Title II-A FAQ (09/25)
• Title IV-A FAQ (09/25)
• ESSA Private Nonprofit Equitable Services (09/25)

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

Did you know TEA recently updated the ESSA Consolidated Compliance Reports Program Compliance Self-Check Guide (Version 8.1)? To help you navigate these changes, we’ve revised our District and Campus Compliance Checklists to align with the updated requirements for the 2025–2026 grant year and beyond.

All updates in our checklists are easy to spot and marked with NEW in bold red text. We encourage Federal Programs staff to take a look, as these items will be reported in July 2026 with the submission of the 2025–2026 ESSA Consolidated Compliance Reports.

*Reminder: these are not new requirements; they are simply new items on the compliance report.

As always, we’re here to help—reach out anytime with questions or for support!

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!

We had to reschedule our Spring ESSA update due to a conflict with a TEA-ESC obligation. Please update your calendars. We apologize for any inconvenience.

TEA's Department of Grant Compliance and Administration (GCA), in partnership with the ACET LEA CNA Committee, is launching Statewide Office Hours for 2026. These bi-weekly sessions are designed to provide timely updates, practical guidance, and an opportunity for open discussion with districts across the state.

Office Hours will be held on Thursdays from 2:00–3:00 p.m. and began February 12, 2026. The next session will take place March 12.

Each session will include:

• Department Updates & Hot Topics (20–25 minutes)

• Division-Specific Focus + Open Q&A (35–40 minutes)

Agendas will be shared the Monday prior to each session via GovDelivery.

District staff are encouraged to register and participate in these valuable conversations to stay informed and connected. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LJOrFAg9TXOJ_EuA6pScpQ

*once you register, you'll receive a calendar invitation for all scheduled events*

Mark your calendar for May 27 (9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) for a statewide virtual training on the 2026–27 ESSA Consolidated Application. This session will walk through key components of the application and include sample data entry to help you feel confident and prepared. Registration information will be shared in mid-March. Stay tuned for details!

Save the date for GCA Con, November 10–12, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. This conference brings together grants, compliance, and family engagement professionals for focused learning and collaboration.

This year, GCA Con will be held in lieu of the annual Parent and Family Engagement Conference and the Title I Compliance Academy, combining both focus areas into one comprehensive event. Approximately 50% of breakout sessions will center on Parent and Family Engagement (PFE)—with continued support for PFE Liaisons—while the remaining sessions will focus on ESSA program compliance to strengthen implementation across districts.

Registration information will be released in late March to assist with budget planning—be on the lookout for details!

Note: GCA = Grant Compliance and Administration

Make plans to join us April 8–10, 2026 at the Royal Sonesta in Houston for the 2026 Spring ACET Conference! This in-person event brings educators together for collaboration, professional learning, and meaningful connections with colleagues across the state.

Want to make the most of your experience? Arrive early for the Pre-Conference on April 7, designed to provide focused learning and preparation ahead of the full conference.

Registration is $550 for the main conference, with an additional $100 for the Pre-Conference. See the At-a-Glance below for more details, and we hope to see you there!

Click here to register or FMI

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last month’s ACET Virtual Academy—it was a great success! In addition to the Spring Conference, be sure to mark your calendars for two more virtual learning opportunities this year.

• Summer Virtual Academy - June 25 (9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.): ACET will host a Summer Virtual Academy featuring 8 high-impact sessions, 4 specialized tracks, and a TEA-led general session—designed to provide practical learning you can immediately put into action.
• Fall Federal Program Director Academies - Sept. 22 and Oct. 6 @ 9-3: In place of a fall in-person conference, ACET will offer two virtual Federal Program Director Academies on September 22 and October 6 (9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. each day). Join TEA and leading FPD experts for two focused days designed to strengthen compliance, sharpen your skills, and equip you with ready-to-use strategies to maximize every federal dollar and lead with confidence.

With Spring approaching, LEAs and Title I, Part A campuses should reflect on the Parent and Family Engagement (PFE) activities that took place in the Fall, to ensure compliance with Title I, Part A PFE requirements noted in Sections 1112 and 1116 of the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA). Please review the following reminders and take appropriate action to ensure they are carried out:

Please ensure that your teams are aware of these requirements and take necessary steps to ensure that the requirements are implemented with fidelity to build partnerships with families and for the goal of having a positive impact on student educational outcomes.

For Further Information

If you have any questions or need further assistance related to trainings and/or technical assistance available, please reach out to the PFE Contact at your regional Education Service Center (ESC Contact information can be found on the TEA Title I, Part A website - Contact Information Section).

To access resources for implementing Title I, Part A PFE requirements, please visit the Title I, Part A Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Initiative website.

If you have any questions related to compliance monitoring activities related to the implementation of the Title I, Part A PFE requirements, please contact the Federal Program Compliance Division at ESSAsupport@TEA.Texas.gov.

Magical Mondays is a weekly after-school initiative dedicated to strengthening the bond between students, families, and educators. Held on school days, the program features themed sessions ranging from career exploration to cultural arts. While parents engage alongside younger children (Pre-K–5), older students (6th grade+) are encouraged to attend independently to foster responsibility. It’s more than just an after-school program—it’s a community hub providing the tools and environment needed for holistic student support.

Are you tired of hosting family nights where the same few faces show up? Do your traditional events feel more like a compliance checklist than a chance for genuine connection? This session will move beyond the traditional model of “filling seats” and “checking boxes.” We’ll explore how to transform family involvement from a one-time invitation into a true partnership. By focusing on building authentic relationships, we can shift the mindset of our school communities. You will leave with actionable strategies to create environments where parents feel valued as partners, not just one-time guests.

The Anita Villarreal Innovation in Engagement Award honors Texas schools that are redefining parent and family engagement. Beyond the prestige of the accolade, winning programs serve as a blueprint for schools across the state—proving that when we share our successes, every student benefits. Join the movement to strengthen our educational communities through innovation. Apply today at www.pfetexas.net/theanitas.

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